Weekly Urban News Update
In This Update
OneUrbanization as a key priority for foreign assistance

As a new President takes office, the Administration changes and a new Congress arrives in Washington, DC, we can expect many significant changes. With this in mind, IHC Global is very pleased to report that Interaction has for the first time included Urbanization as a separate chapter in its Foreign Assistance Briefing Book, which it prepares for the new Administration and incoming Congress.

The Briefing Book provides a context and opportunity analysis from the US INGO community for action by the US Government on a dozen key issues that are critical to global development and stability. The analysis in addition to its focus on urbanization also includes topics such as water and sanitation (a key concern of IHC Global) and health, as well as others that are shaped by urban growth and population concentration.

In its urbanization statement, Interaction recognizes the determining impact that urbanization will have on the achievement of global development goals and also acknowledges the importance of an urban framework in addressing them, saying that individual sector best practices will have to be increasingly adapted to include an urban approach.

In addition to working with InterAction on the inclusion of Urbanization as a key foreign assistance priority in the Briefing Book, IHC Global has also issued a separate statement identifying the strategic importance of addressing the challenges and opportunities that accompany urbanization and rapid urban growth. IHC Global's statement, "Equitable Urban Development: Grand Challenge for the 21st Century," may be found attached to the InterAction Briefing Book as well as on the IHC Global website.

To read the full statement, click here.
To read IHC Global's statement, click here.
ThreeFifteen innovative urban policies from around the globe

A new report was released earlier this week exploring the innovative urban policies that are taking hold across the globe, and creating positive changes for cities. From New York to Copenhagen, mayors and city managers have found new ways to combat the world's most pressing urban issues, ranging from poverty to climate change. And while the one-size-fits all approach to cities has been proven ineffective, this report serves as a encyclopedia of approaches that work because they are catered to specific cities.

To read the full report, click here.
EventRegistration for USAID course on land rights is now open

Registration is now open for USAID's second, free, Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on land tenure and property rights. Version 2.0 includes tailored study tracks and the option of an independent study to dive deeper into cross-sector issues, including climate change, food security, and humanitarian assistance. Classes will start January 23rd ad will meet for two hours each week until May 31st.

To register, click here.
Two The new U.S. political landscape and foreign assistance
In a blogpost Interaction Vice President Alicia Phillips Mandaville has written a letter to Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson, urging the new Administration to consider foreign assistance its "ace in the hole."  The letter picks up on Tillerson's Senate testimony to make the case that it is in the U.S. national interest to lead with development and humanitarian responses, as they support our strategic interest by building support and alliances all over the world.

To read the full letter, click here.
NewsIn the news and around the web
  • Does urbanization drive Southeast Asia's development? Find out here.
  • Three cities have made headway in making local progress on the SDGs. Learn which ones and how here.
  • Check out how a design competition changed the US approach to disaster response here.
  • Learn more about how sanctuary cities work, and what might happen moving forward here.
  • French Polynesia has signed its first "floating city" deal. Learn more here.
 
The art of the urban: graphic designer Herwig Scherabon visualizes the data behind gentrification in a creative new way. Here, East London's battle with income inequality is represented by the height of each structure, the flattest parts representing the most deprived neighborhoods. Source: Guardian Cities
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