This report presents an innovative pilot on how to count the costs for achieving SDG 11 developed by UN-Habitat and AidData. It furthermore presents UN-Habitat estimations on the total SDG and infrastructure investment gap as well as the total financing capacity available. Finally, the report discusses possibilities for bridging the investment gap for SDG 11 and urban infrastructure.

Agenda 2030 is now on its last decade and substantial finance is needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on time. Results from this UN-Habitat estimation show that while there is a profound SDG and infrastructure investment gap of a total $38 trillion over the next 10 years, the current total public and private investment capacity is considerably larger at $98 trillion.

Bolivia1stands out for its natural wealth, geographical and ethnic diversity, as well as for having one of the lowest population densities in the world (10/km², ranked 213 in the world), all of which have anthropological, cultural, historical, social and economic ramifications.
The last two decades have witnessed a remarkable decline in inequality. The Social Progress Index of 20183 places Bolivia in the 80th position of 146 countries analyzed (91st when only GDP per capita is considered…

This Policy Brief argues that successful initiatives to tackle Cali’s exceptionally high homicide rates also have potential for local economic development, and suggests ways that the significant value-added by informal enterprises can be harnessed to achieve wider economic objectives. It examines innovations in supporting micro-enterprise and crime reduction in Cali and the lessons for local economic development (LED), local government policy and NGO agendas.

Cities in sub-Saharan Africa are growing at an unprecedented rate due to internal migration and general population growth. Urban population growth brings with it many positive benefits, but in cash-constrained municipalities, this can be particularly problematic as the financial resources cannot keep pace with municipal infrastructure needs. This had not been as challenging in the past for several reasons: (1) cities were not growing as rapidly, (2) cities could rely on national governments for…

This discussion paper brings together the Indian experience on municipal finance to flag emerging issues for wider consideration among urban sector stakeholders across the countries in line with New Urban Agenda (HABITAT III) and its emphasis on sustainability, self-sufficiency and vertical /horizontal balance in the municipal finance. The paper examines the status of municipal finance with a particular reference to, financial management, mobilization of funds from own/external sources and…

This Policy Brief argues that successful initiatives to tackle Cali’s exceptionally high homicide rates also have potential for local economic development, and suggests ways that the significant value-added by informal enterprises can be harnessed to achieve wider economic objectives. It examines innovations in supporting micro- enterprise and crime reduction in Cali and the lessons for local economic development (LED), local government policy and NGO agendas.
The brief draws on…

The Territorial Strategy of Zapopan 2030 (ETZ2030 in Spanish), issued in 2015, is the output of the technical assistance provided by UNHabitat’s office for Mexico and Cuba to the municipal government of Zapopan, Mexico. ETZ’s diagnostics identified three main challenges in the municipality: i) the pressure of urban expansion on areas of high environmental value; ii) the fragmentation of urban areas with the proliferation of closed neighborhoods; and, iii) rising economic and social inequality.…

The geographic, cultural, social, demographic and economic advantages of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) have made KSA a key international player and economic world power. Historically, oil and gas have been the country’s primary exports, but KSA has begun investing in other strategic sectors of the economy. This push towards economic diversification is supported by Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which was adopted as a development roadmap for in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In its aim is to…