Developing a Global, People-based Definition of Cities and Settlements: A Progress Report

The EU, FAO, OECD and WB are developing a global definition of cities and settlements to facilitate comparisons across countries. In this way, mayors can more easily compare their cities and learn from each other. Two definitions are being tested. The first captures cities and their commuting zones. The second defines cities, towns and suburbs, and rural areas.

This session will demonstrate why it is important to develop such global definitions. It will explain how this work supports the new urban agenda. It will describe these definitions. It will show the first global results and how everyone can freely access information about their city and country. Colombia, as one of 10 pilot countries testing these definitions, will share its experience and show what it has learned through this process. Interested countries can learn how they can also participate.

Finally, the session will cover what still needs to be done before this work can be submitted to the UN Statistical Commission in 2019.

Speakers:

Eugenie L. Birch, Professor of Urban Research, University of Pennsylvania

Lewis Dijkstra, Head of Economic Analysis, European Commission DG for Regional and Urban Policy

Robert Ndugwa, Head of the Global Urban Observatory Unit, UN-Habitat

Javier Pérez Burgos, Director de Descentralización y Desarrollo Regional, Colombia

Martino Pesaresi, Senior Scientific Officer, European Commission Joint Research Centre

Paolo Veneri, Head of Territorial Indicators Unit, OECD

Sameh Wahba (tbc), Director, Social, Rural, Urban and Resilience Global Practice, World Bank