Urban blogs
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Urban communities are devising their own solutions to build resilience
24 February 2015Community-led solutions to the challenges of climate change are creating more resilient city infrastructure, researchers have found
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If food security is the answer, is it time to change the question?
23 February 2015The growing number of people living in cities – and changes in rural-urban linkages – are re-shaping our relationship with food. Policymakers need to take note
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Collaboration and communication: how research can help cities to build resilience
19 February 2015As cities in Asia face up to the challenges of a changing climate, municipal authorities are finding partnerships with researchers can help inform practice and policy
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Local democracy as a substitute for data (and rather a good substitute too)
16 January 2015Why is there so little data on who faces poverty and where they live? David Satterthwaite examines why 'better' data is better than 'more' data
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World Toilet Day: People need equality and dignity when they 'have to go'
18 November 2014On World Toilet Day on 19 November, our photoblog details the work of IIED and its partners to tackle the fact that 2.5 billion people lack access to basic sanitation
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The IPCC and an urbanising planet
6 November 2014The IPCC's Fifth Assessment gets the importance of understanding and acting on urbanisation
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Achieving universal sanitation: Sharing the experience of the SDI affiliate in Blantyre, Malawi
27 October 2014Achieving universal sanitation is a major challenge. A joint delegation from Malawi came to World Water Week in Stockholm to share their work on sanitation in the city of Blantyre
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Climate-related 'loss and damage' in cities: exploring a new urban frontier
23 October 2014Highlighting and assessing the urban impacts of climate change can help cities find a more consistent, multi-level approach to climate adaptation
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Let's see what the BRICS teach us about urbanisation and economic growth
16 September 2014Our new interactive visualisation demonstrates the dynamics of urbanisation and economic growth in different countries. The visualisation shows that countries have very different dynamics from each other, which has implications for their economic, social and even environmental prospects.
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Can we change the goals of development without changing the implementers?
9 July 2014The latest draft of the Sustainable Development Goals and targets contains a stunning list of commitments, but fails to address how we will achieve them.
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A tale of two cities: Density regulations vs reality
30 June 2014Poor residents in South Asian cities live together in high numbers that easily surpass the limits set in planning regulations. What can be done to create more housing for the poor?
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If you want to go far, go together
24 June 2014How can urban development that reduces risk and boosts low-income residents' standard of living be supported? And how can community-led processes reduce poverty and build resilience? IIED staff and partners from Vietnam grappled with such questions last week in a workshop in Quy Nhon.
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The Multidimensional Poverty Index: Another underestimate of urban poverty
18 June 2014Yet another global study has understated the scale and depth of urban poverty, by failing to appreciate the differences between rural and urban contexts
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Namibia shows how to support low cost housing
13 June 2014Around a quarter of Namibians live in informal urban neighbourhoods; they live without secure tenure and without adequate access to services. So how has the country gained its reputation for progressive state action on housing?
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If we don't count the poor, the poor don't count
12 June 2014Research in several countries shows how governments and development agencies undercount the scale and depth of urban poverty
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The houses that Karachi's poor want
23 April 2014Karachi is building upwards to house its expanding population, but unregulated building leaves poor families at risk. An IIED film outlines solutions that could benefit the city, says Suzanne Fisher
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Wanted: Urban data revolution for post 2015 sustainable development goals
16 April 2014Around a billion people live in informal urban settlements that lack essential services and security, so the concerns of these people should be high on the agenda when agreeing a new set of sustainable development goals
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Co-learning for inclusive cities
9 April 2014Not so long ago in Zimbabwe, government officials and communities would have blamed each other for the poor state of high density, low-income neighbourhoods. But thanks to years of dialogue the two sides have come together.
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From slum-dwelling carpenter to US$1.25 million prize winner
8 April 2014There's a surprising name on the list of winners of this year's US$1.25 million Skoll Awards for Social Entrepreneurship
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Up in the air: Citizen scientists map food dangers in Nairobi
31 March 2014A balloon, a camera and some interviews are helping researchers map a hidden aspect of food insecurity in an informal settlement in Nairobi
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Reducing risks to urban health and building climate resilience
17 March 2014Climate change, health and urban resilience are all connected, and this means research and policy in these arenas must join up
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Work and shelter – two struggles, one reality
9 December 2013Urban development programmes have tended to treat livelihoods and shelter as separate problems to solve, when in fact they are closely linked. Grassroots organisations are increasingly seeking ways to tackle these challenges together.
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Setting the bar too low: is there really progress on UN development goals?
3 December 2013The UN report on progress towards the Millennium Development Goals seems so at odds with realities on the ground, says David Satterthwaite.
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COP19: Cities on the agenda at the climate talks
22 November 2013Cities finally got the attention they deserve at the UN climate change conference’s first ever Cities Day, but representatives from least developed cities and grassroots groups barely got a look in.
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To build climate resilience cities must assess diverse drivers of vulnerability
30 October 2013Three new studies from Vietnam show how research can help governments devise solutions that help their citizens adapt to the effects of climate change.