The World Urban Pavilion, recognized as a global hub for SDG Cities by United Nations, is organizing a world summit on UN-Habitat's SDG Cities Initiative. This three-day event is organized in collaboration with UN-Habitat, City Investment Facility, and co-organised and hosted by Glocal Platform for Urban Finance.

The summit takes the next step in the Pavilion’s mission to empower cities to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by directly aligning economic growth and investment opportunities with the implementation of SDGs. The event will establish the foundations to create a comprehensive platform that fosters urban economic growth, while also encouraging investors to align their businesses and investments with the SDGs.

This summit is a global gathering to bring world-class entrepreneurs to connect, expand, share and network with urban innovations, approaches, and technologies. The summit will highlight untapped resources, tools, and technologies that have the potential to shift the form, function, and operations of cities and their work related to sustainability.

The primary objective is to facilitate a robust connection between cities and financial institutions and investors with innovations and entrepreneurs, effectively linking them with urban developments and innovative pilot projects to streamline the realization of sustainability initiatives. Together, cities and appropriate investments can catalyze urban development that is not only sustainable but financially sound, bridging the gap between urban ambition and robust financial support. The summit will highlight how cities are a compelling environment for investment, focusing on economic, social, and environmental outcomes.

The Glocal Platform for Urban Finance, one of the key partners of this global summit, already has an established network of investors, entrepreneurs, and private sector that can be leveraged to support cities in accessing and navigating investment opportunities and urban resources and modern knowledge, technologies, and processes. Through the Glocal Platform, the Summit aims to bridge the gap between urban ambition and financial support, shaping the future of sustainable urban development. To ensure alignment with the SDGs, investors interested in projects, programs, or pilots must meet specific criteria outlined in the accreditation form provided upon registration through the summit channel.

The summit's expectations are fourfold: First, to adapt established financial mechanisms and tools for urban finance, initially targeting selected cities; second, to foster international collaboration for mutual benefit and the greater public good; third, to supply urban finance models and tools enabling cities to execute pilot projects and facilitate development; and finally, to disseminate the knowledge and achievements from the chosen cities, creating a transferable knowledge product that inspires and propagates best practices.

This summit builds on the World Urban Pavilion’s and UN-Habitat’s SDG Cities session that was held during the 5^th Urban Economy Forum in October 2023. The session further explored how SDG Cities is being implemented in Canadian cities.

Participant Benefits

1. Access to the Glocal Platform for Urban Finance, SDG Cities, and Cities Investment Facility (CIF)'s networks and resources.
2. Access to Urban Economy Forum Partnership, a premier international organisation on urban economy
3. Access to pilot project through the Canada: Frontrunner of Urban SDGs program to invest in Canadian cities, such as Toronto and other Ontario cities.
4. Networking opportunities with a diverse range of stakeholders, including city leaders and investors from across different sectors and countries, forging connections within a global network.
5. Facilitated access to essential resources, enhancing the capacity of potential investors.
6. Exposure to new investment horizons and promising areas ripe for growth.
7. Tailored support and guidance for sustainable investment initiatives.

Organizing Partners:

-      World Urban Pavilion in Regent Park – Powered by Daniels

-      SDG Cities Initiative

-      UN-Habitat

-      Urban Economy Forum

-      Glocal Platform for Urban Finance

-      City Investment Facility