In many countries, the link between rural and urban areas is an increasingly important area of focus for sustainable development. There is also general agreement that any development of urban, peri-urban and rural areas should be “integrated”. The ten Guiding Principles and the Framework for Action outlining eleven areas of action are based on the premise that urban and rural areas should not be treated as separate entities when developing plans, policies and strategies. Rather, the aim is to harness the potential that their combined synergy generates.
UN-Habitat, in collaboration with the Food for Agriculture Organization (FAO) and other partners, organized a side event during the first UN-Habitat assembly titled “Strengthening urban-rural linkages to reduce spatial inequalities and poverty by leveraging sustainable food systems actions”.
The event brought together actors and partners from organizations working in both urban and rural sectors but also working on themes such as food, climate change, biodiversity, urban and territorial planning, economic development and finance. The event was attended by representatives of national governments, sub-national governments, civil society and other international organizations.
Following the side event at the closing plenary of the UN Habitat Assembly, Member States adopted a resolution on “Enhancing urban-rural linkages for sustainable urbanization and human settlements”, calling for new mechanisms to take into account urban-rural linkages, awareness raising and sharing of good practices, including addressing migration from rural to urban areas and providing a report on progress in four years at the next UN-Habitat Assembly.
Please find here the complete report of the side event.
