Bridging the Urban Leadership Gap-The Arab Mayors Academy as a Platform for Knowledge Sharing,Capacity Building and Impact

This event convenes city leaders, UNESCWA, UN-Habitat, and key urban partners to demonstrate how knowledge sharing and capacity building can bridge the urban leadership gap and accelerate the translation of global urban commitments into tangible local results, contributing to inclusive and resilient cities and communities. Building on the success of the first two editions of the Arab Mayors Academy (2024 and 2025), and in preparation for the 2026 edition, the session spotlights the Arab Mayors Academy as an evolving and institutionalized platform co-led by UNESCWA and UN-Habitat/ROAS equipping mayors and senior municipal leaders with the knowledge and capacities needed to address complex urban challenges. The Academy offers a dynamic, demand-driven curriculum grounded in regional priorities and informed by UN-Habitat’s strategic vision 2026-2029, including its emphasis on housing as a cornerstone of inclusive and resilient urban development. It fosters a unique community of practice through peer-to-peer exchange, in-person workshops, virtual learning, and applied city assignments. Co-organized by UNESCWA, UN-Habitat/ROAS, and UCLG-MEWA, the event will feature insights from participants of the 2024 and 2025 cohorts, alongside experts in knowledge management and learning. It will highlight concrete stories, practical experiences, and demonstrated results showing how participation in the Academy has strengthened local governance, improved planning and coordination, and supported more evidence-based and results-oriented decision-making, including through new or enhanced policies, strategies, and initiatives. The event will also present the knowledge generated through the Academy and the modalities through which cities can engage with and benefit from it, including future editions, learning products, and peer-exchange mechanisms. The event aims to: • Position the Arab Mayors Academy as a leading platform for leadership development, capacity building, and knowledge exchange. • Showcase how leadership development drives concrete city-level action and impact. • Enable peer exchange and networking among city leaders. • Promote the Academy as a scalable model for strengthening municipal leadership across the region.