In theory, cities offer egalitarian opportunities, writes the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). However, the reality often means “penalties” for women, including violence, poverty and unequal amounts of unpaid care work. The estimated 43 megacities of the future “will not function well if women don’t have an equal say in how they are planned and administered”, it writes.
According to UNDP, “women and girls need equitable resources and opportunities which can be crafted through gender-inclusive urban planning and socioeconomic policies”. It is currently involved in “Designing Cities That Work For Women” – a study developed in conjunction with the professional services firm Arup and the University of Liverpool that looks at contemporary city life from the perspective of women of different ages, ethnicities, sexual orientation and socio-economic backgrounds to find ways to make urban planning work for both men and women.
Quality basic education, infrastructure such as safe cycling routes, and modern urban design that promotes gender inclusion are highlighted as key factors, but policymakers must also embrace female leadership, continues UNDP. It gives examples such as Athens, Bogota, Nairobi, Dakar and San Francisco – all of which have proven that the “cities that embrace female leadership see greater socioeconomic and sustainable development”.
The World Habitat Day report “Mind the Gap. Leave No One and No Place Behind” showcases how women-led models of planning can transform cities. Its recommendations include creating a ‘Designing Action Plan’, setting out how the needs and challenges faced by women and girls can be addressed in urban development. “Raising awareness of gender-based issues could persuade politicians that voters want women and girls to be included, not ignored,” says UNDP.
