Participants

Public/Government

The public/Government is responsible for engaging their city into the Cities Programme. The most senior representative (Mayor, administrator, Chief Executive or other) writes a letter to the UN Secretary General indicating the desire to participate.

Local government may also assist in the establishment of the local secretariat that will manage the project process. The Mayor or other senior members of the local government should actively engage in the local secretariat by providing resources and expert opinions.

Private/Business

Private companies are invited to help resolve complex social, economic and environmental issues. The innovative process is designed to ensure that private businesses will receive direct benefits. This is one of the key elements that differentiates the Cities Programme from other urban development or Corporate Social Responsibility Programmes.

Civil Society

The participation by the civil society is vital to the success of the Cities Programme. They are equal partners to business and government and fulfil an important role providing ideas, expertise, guidance and direction to the issues under consideration by individual cities.

Academia

Falling within the category of civil society, academia can play a vital role in this process: assisting with and/or conducting research, providing local and international context and providing brain-power and resources on specific projects as chosen by individual cities.  Academia is thereby asked, within the context of the Cities Programme, to assist with the concrete application of theory and research to real-life urban issues.

For further details of participants, please contact the International Secretariat.