Aiming to fortify the resilience of urban environments globally, UN-Habitat and Resilient Cities Network have formalized their partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The agreement was signed on the first day of the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) Retreat 2025, held from February 17th to 21st in Barcelona. This significant week-long event annually gathers city networks and their representatives from around the globe to set strategic agendas for the upcoming year. The first day saw the convergence of key urban stakeholders, including leaders from UCCI, ICLEI, Association Internationale des Maires Francophones, Regions4, FMDV – Global Fund for Cities Development, C40 Cities, and UCLG, underscoring the collaborative spirit that marked the occasion of the MoU signing.
This strategic alliance is designed to enhance the resilience of cities against the growing challenges posed by climate change, urbanization, and social inequalities. The MoU lays the groundwork for a dynamic collaboration that leverages the strengths and expertise of both organizations. Through this agreement, UN-Habitat and Resilient Cities Network (RCN) aim to strengthen the advocacy for resilient policies at both global and local levels, influencing decisions that foster sustainable urban development and climate adaptation strategies, while also focusing on expanding knowledge and building capacity around urban resilience.
An integral part of this collaboration is the development of a comprehensive Human Settlements Resilience Framework, which will guide cities through the challenges from early warning, risk reduction, crisis response, to post-crisis recovery and reconstruction. Additionally, this framework will ensure that urban planning integrates robust resilience strategies.
Esteban Leon, head of the City Resilience Global Programme (CRGP), expressed his enthusiasm about the formalization of the partnership: “This collaboration has been ongoing for several years, and today, we are formalizing what has already been a strong partnership. UN-Habitat’s CRGP was born in collaboration with the City of Barcelona, funded by both the Barcelona City Council and the Regional Government of Catalonia. Signing this agreement here, surrounded by UCLG and other key partners has certainly a special meaning.”
Highlighting the role of collaboration in resilience, Lauren Sorkin, Executive Director at Resilient Cities Network pointed out the foundation of trust that underpins effective partnerships: “At RCN, we often say that change moves at the speed of trust. This formalization underlines our longstanding collaboration and shared commitment to practical and impactful resilience work, grounded in mutual respect and trust with UN-Habitat.”
The initiative also seeks to involve a broad spectrum of stakeholders in the resilience-building process. This inclusive approach aims to ensure that diverse community needs and perspectives are considered in developing and implementing resilience strategies, making the efforts more comprehensive and culturally sensitive.
The partnership between UN-Habitat and the Resilient Cities Network is expected to drive significant progress in urban resilience, setting a precedent for future collaborations aimed at making cities safer, more adaptive, and sustainable.
