11 – Sustainable cities and communities

  • Our Childhood: A toolbox for local governments fostering child/youth inclusion

    Our Childhood: A toolbox for local governments fostering child/youth inclusion

    Our Childhood toolbox aims to support local governments in their attempts to sensitise and include children and youth in local (political) affairs while pursuing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The toolbox enables long-terms, cross-sectoral collaborations for inclusion of children and youth in localising SDGs. It offers support to local governments and engaged practitioners in…

  • SDG Clubs – A Guide for Municipalities and Schools

    SDG Clubs – A Guide for Municipalities and Schools

    This guide provides a step-by-step approach for local governments to create Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) clubs in schools, empowering youth to engage with local issues, practice leadership, and contribute to sustainable development through interaction with the UN’s Agenda 2030. It takes the reader through: The SDG Clubs Toolbox results from Kibaha Education Centre’s work within…

  • The “Know Your Neighbor” initiative builds stronger communities

    The “Know Your Neighbor” initiative builds stronger communities

    Since its launch in April 2018, the “Know Your Neighbor”- initiative has continued to grow and make a significant impact in Lusaka’s communities. The initiative was established as part of one of ICLD’s previous ITP programme – Inclusive Political Leadership. We spoke with Patrick Mwamba Salubusa, Councillor of Lusaka City Council’s Kapwepwe Ward, to explore…

  • Umeå and Kherson

    Umeå and Kherson

    Citizen Dialogue for Inclusive Reconstruction The partnership between Umeå and Kherson focuses on advancing democratic processes through inclusive urban planning, with citizen dialogue as a central pillar. A key achievement has been the development of an open-source digital tool that allows citizens to explore city maps and submit feedback directly on planned development initiatives. While…

  • A cry for justice by “invisible squatters” – Colonial legacy, local democracy, and the quest forhuman rights in land dispossession by Kakuzi PLC in Makuyu, Murang’a County, Kenya

    A cry for justice by “invisible squatters” – Colonial legacy, local democracy, and the quest forhuman rights in land dispossession by Kakuzi PLC in Makuyu, Murang’a County, Kenya

    This thesis examines the enduring impact of colonial legacies on local democracy and human rights concerning land dispossession in Makuyu, Murang’a County, Kenya, focusing on the experiences of ‘invisible squatters’ affected by Kakuzi PLC. Through the lens of decolonization and post-colonial thinking practices theories, the research reveals that historical injustices rooted in colonial land policies…

  • Tactical Urbanism for Inclusive Transport

    Tactical Urbanism for Inclusive Transport

    Tactical urbanism, a citizen-led, resource-efficient strategy for urban improvement, is largely unexploited in rapidly urbanizing African cities. This approach promotes safety, inclusivity, and democracy, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 11. In response to prevalent urban challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa such as slums and inequality, tactical urbanism could enhance urban landscapes by involving communities in low-cost…

  • The role of trust in achieving sustainable community-based disaster risk management – case studies from the Philippines

    The role of trust in achieving sustainable community-based disaster risk management – case studies from the Philippines

    Impacts of disasters are felt acutely at community level, as a consequence communities in the Philippines are among the most affected by the increase in disaster risks. This realization led to an increase of community-based approaches, such as community based disaster risk management (CBDRM). However, literature acknowledges a recurring failure of projects to be sustainable…

  • Locally-led Adaptation as a Silver Bullet? Complexities, Needs, and Responses in Climate Adaptation at the Volta Coastline, Ghana

    Locally-led Adaptation as a Silver Bullet? Complexities, Needs, and Responses in Climate Adaptation at the Volta Coastline, Ghana

    Sea-level rise increases the exposure of low-lying communities to climate risks along the eastern coast of Ghana, while adaptation responses are reactive and insufficient to secure fishing livelihoods in highly vulnerable areas. To better address needs, Locally-led Adaptation (LLA) promotes just climate governance by shifting power to local actors to enable context specific and place-based…

  • Drawing rural paths onthe urban margins:An Ethnographic Study of Peacebuilding, Displacementand Place-making in Medellín Largest Informal Settlement

    Drawing rural paths onthe urban margins:An Ethnographic Study of Peacebuilding, Displacementand Place-making in Medellín Largest Informal Settlement

    This thesis provides an in-depth ethnographic analysis of La Nueva Jerusalén, Medellín’s largest informal settlement, exploring the complex interplay between displacement, place-making, and a territorial perspective within the urban margins. It examines how displaced populations engage with and transform their newly inhabited urban spaces, forging communities at the intersection of rural and urban dynamics amid…

  • Understanding the Complexities of Urban Flood Governance: A Case Study of Ruiru, Kenya

    Understanding the Complexities of Urban Flood Governance: A Case Study of Ruiru, Kenya

    Urban flooding presents a significant challenge in developing cities, where rapid urbanisation, population growth, and infrastructure development intersect with natural processes and climate change. This study examines how governance structures influence urban flood management in Ruiru, Kenya. Through thematic analysis, this study explores local experiences with flooding, evaluates existing governance structures, and examines their effectiveness.…