Since 1965, our Society of City and Regional Planners brings together individual and institutional members from 90+ countries with the vision to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable through integrative participatory urban and territorial planning.

In 2016, the Society initiated the ISOCARP Institute as a research spin-off for generating and disseminating knowledge for better cities and territories.

Our mission and objectives

Our mission is to mobilise professional urban and regional planners to co-implement the vision enshrined in the Sustainable Development Goals and the New Urban Agenda by:

  • creating a global network of practitioners
  • fostering planning research, training, and education
  • encouraging the professional exchange of knowledge
  • promoting the planning profession and excellence in practice in all its forms
  • developing and maintaining altruistic relations between members
  • enhancing public awareness and understanding of major planning issues at the global level
  • supporting and protecting planning interest and professional planners

One of the major connotations of ISOCARP is the one of being a real global network. Planners from all over the world can find in ISOCARP an association where to find the right people and opportunities to develop, disseminate and compare ideas, initiatives, proposals, and projects. In order to frame the multiplicity of the ISOCARP world, the national delegations operate a number of activities to keep all member informed on major events involving ISOCARP activities. National delegations have a relevant role in addressing future choices and challenges to be met by ISOCARP.

Our activities

Activate knowledge

The objectives of ISOCARP include the improvement of planning practice through the creation of a global and active network of practitioners. ISOCARP encourages the exchange of professional knowledge between planners, promotes the planning profession in all its forms, stimulates and improves planning research, training and education and enhances public awareness and understanding of major planning issues at a global level.

Publications and Awards

All ISOCARP activities are covered in publications such as the ISOCARP Review, the International Manual of Planning Practice (IMPP), Congress proceedings and special project reports. ISOCARP recognises excellence through the Society’s award programme.

Urban Planning Advisory Teams

ISOCARP Urban Planning Advisory teams (UPATs) assist sponsor organizations by offering the extensive experience and expertise of ISOCARP members to work on important local or international planning projects, programs and policy initiatives.

World Planning Congress

The Society’s main event is the annual World Planning Congress, which focuses on a globally-significant planning theme and which takes place in a different country each year. Prior to the congress Young Planning Professional Workshops are organized. This YPP programme seeks to bring together emerging young planning professionals from all over the world to tackle ‘real-world’ planning projects. Smaller-scale events such as seminars and working groups are also organized.

Young Planning Professionals’ Programme

A particular focus and commitment of ISOCARP is on young generations through facilitating knowledge for better cities with the youth. The Young Planning Professionals’ Programme is a crucial component of ISOCARP’s dedication to promote and enhance the planning profession. The objective is to contribute to the knowledge base and improve skills of young professionals, the future leaders of our profession.

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