Urban Governance Health Tender

Rapid and unplanned urbanization results in poor health. The COVID-19 crisis has put city governments and urban communities at the frontline of the response. Enhancing urban governance for health and building resilient cities contribute to addressing these challenges. Switzerland with its strong focus on civic engagement and its experience in participative urban development plays a key role in catalysing action to create healthier urban environments in low- and middle-income countries.CountryregionTopicPeriodBudgetGlobalHealthOtherHealth systems strengtheningHealth educationSector not specified01.12.2019 - 30.11.2028CHF 5595660 The project in briefBackgroundRapid and unplanned urbanization is one of the major ecological and human challenges of the 21st century. UN Habitat predicts that by 2050 over 70 of the world population will be living in cities with an even faster growth pace in low- and middle-income countries. The inability of current urban infrastructure to cope with increasing demand for public services leads to adverse health and social impacts. While cities offer many opportunities for employment and access to better public services that can generate health they also pose major health risks. Deficiencies in strategic urban planning and in addressing social determinants of health such as employment income and housing often result in social inequalities poverty crime environmental hazards and unmet needs of vulnerable populations significantly affecting their health and well-being. Additionally these deficiencies are larger in poor peri-urban settings such as informal settlements which are often overcrowded lack basic services such as safe water and sanitation and are the focus of the re-emergence of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis. The COVID-19 crisis has put city governments and urban communities at the frontline of responding to the pandemic and building back better. Cities planned along separation lines have been disproportionately affected with unequal opportunities of access to essential resources housing employment water and sanitation and urban infrastructure required for a healthy life. COVID-19 is however also an opportunity to generate innovative solutions to initiate long-term urban resilience to health shocks. Initiated by Switzerland and building on good practices made in the WHO European Region a new global initiative strives to promoting good urban governance for health through the empowerment of city authorities and leaders multisectoral action and participatory urban planning with active involvement of communities. Swiss institutions championing urban planning and civic engagement for better living environments will play a key role in the initiative e.g. Geneva City Hub cantonal urban planning and zoning services Swiss Federal Office for Spatial Development. In a first phase the program will target 5 cities Douala Cameroon Khulna Bangladesh T