Food security and sustainable urban-rural connections are critical to territorial resilience in East Africa, yet many challenges persist. Smallholder farmers, traders, and policymakers face obstacles such as inefficient value chains, poor infrastructure, and a lack of access to digital tools that could optimize food distribution and market participation. As cities grow and demand for food increases, there is an urgent need to integrate digital innovations into food systems to improve efficiency…

This White Paper is a collaboration of UN-Habitat’s Urban-Rural Linkages Program with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) as background for discussions at the upcoming UN Food System Summit Stocktaking (UNFSS+4). The paper draws upon recent working papers, expert group meetings including the GAIN-FAO-Rikolto Local and Traditional Food Markets Global Technical Meeting (June 2024), programmatic delivery, and reports from organizations referenced in this paper. Noting the…

Voluntary Metropolitan Reports (VMRs) have emerged as a key instrument for assessing and showcasing the progress of metropolitan areas in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the New Urban Agenda. The Methodological Guide on Voluntary Metropolitan Reports provides a practical roadmap for metropolitan authorities and relevant stakeholders to develop VMRs that not only document achievements but also drive structural transformations aligned with sustainable development, while…

This document discusses the inclusion of waste pickers in metropolitan waste management systems, highlighting their roles, challenges, and recommendations for effective integration. Several ways to improve waste management in metropolitan areas are described in this publication, starting with the people who work in this sector. Waste pickers contribute to the circular economy by transforming waste into valuable resources and are key allies in the fight against climate change.