ISOCARP has established an important, multi-faceted partnership with UN-HABITAT over the past several years. One of the pillars of this partnership is our active engagement in successive sessions of the World Urban Forum. The last three sessions – Nanjing in 2008, Rio in 2010 and Naples in 2012 – have been particularly significant in terms of ISOCARP’s involvement.

The theme of WUF 7 in Medellin, Colombia, in April 2014, is “Urban Equity in Development: Cities for Life”. In preparation for WUF7, UN-HABITAT has already approached ISOCARP to be a strategic partner in the Dialogue entitled “Spatial Fix – Urban Planning and Design for Social Cohesion”, which is led by the Urban Planning and Design Branch of UN-HABITAT.  The outcomes of Dialogues are very important in terms of shaping the urban agenda, and UN-HABITAT’s focus within that, for several years ahead.

There are several types of side events at WUF, the most important of which are the Networking Events. ISOCARP will lead a Networking Event on “Building equitable cities: Bringing Planning Back in.”

This event will take place on 8 April, 17.30 in the Red Pavilion – Room 16. See http://wuf7.unhabitat.org/tableEvents?event=Networking

This Networking Event can make a direct contribution to the Dialogue on Spatial Fix by emphasizing how urban planning and planners can adjust their spatial solutions in order to make cities more inclusive and equitable.

ISOCARP will again have an exhibition booth which will not only be a space where information on ISOCARP will be distributed, but it will also serve as a meeting ground for planners (not just our members, but others as well). The ISOCARP booth will be in the White Pavilion, booth no 17.

Finally, WUF7 will also see, as is the norm, some critical (closed) meetings such as those of the Habitat Professionals Forum and the World Urban Campaign. ISOCARP has a leading role in these.

All these activities make WUF7 a very exciting prospect for enhancing ISOCARP’s visibility and reputation, and ensuring that we play an important part in influencing the post-2015 development agenda, as well as the elements of the New Urban Agenda which is to be drafted by 2016 and adopted at the HABITAT-III conference the same year.

ISOCARP Vice President Shipra Narang Suri (shipra@isocarp.org) will be the contact person for ISOCARP Members at WUF.

She will be officially representing ISOCARP at various meetings and events at WUF, as well as serving as Moderator for the Dialogue on Urban Planning as well as the networking event.