WeGO and Global Leaders Converge at UN Habitat Closed-door Dialogue to Develop the “Smart City Guidelines”
Geneva, May 28th – Today, a distinguished assembly of city mayors and experts gathered in Geneva for a clr dialogue hosted by UN-Habitat to develop the “International Guidelines on People-centered Smart Cities.” This initiative stems from the resolution passed during the second session of the United Nations Habitat Assembly in June 2023 (HSP/HA.2/Res.1). The dialogue presents a unique platform for leaders to share their experiences and provide strategic input on fostering smart cities that prioritize people and communities.
Led by Kazumi Ogawa, the Principle Coordination Officer of UN-Habitat and Andras Szorenyi, the Senior Policy Advisor of the Global Cities Hub led the discussion centered around enhancing digital capacities within public and private sectors, leveraging digital technologies for citizen engagement, and empowering local governments to spearhead people-centered smart city initiatives. Guiding questions included strategies to overcome barriers and seize opportunities for collaboration among governments, private sectors, communities, and civil society. The insights shared are crucial for shaping guidelines that will facilitate inclusive, sustainable urban development worldwide.
Participants included prominent figures such as Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (Bangladesh); Azhar Arshad, Mayor of Seberang Perai (Malaysia); and Kamelia Kemileva, Co-director of Global Cities Hub (Switzerland), and Eunbyul Cho, Head of Program Department of WeGO (South Korea). Other notable attendees were Jacquis Kemleu Tchabgou, Mayor of Dschang Municipality (Cameroon), and Theo Blackwell, Chief Digital Officer of London (UK), among others. Their collaborative efforts and shared expertise are vital in drafting comprehensive guidelines that will lead to the creation of smart cities with a focus on human-centric urban innovation and governance.
About WeGO
The World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO), is a membership-based international association of local governments, smart tech solution providers, and institutions committed to the transformation of cities into smart sustainable cities through facilitating public-private partnerships (PPP). WeGO was founded by 50 member cities in 2010 as the World e-Governments Organization, hence our acronym. In response to the evolving concept of smart cities, WeGO expanded its vision and mandate at the 7th General Assembly (2017) and its name to the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization. WeGO’s Secretariat is based in Seoul, Korea, and has regional offices in East Asia (Chengdu, China), the Mediterranean (Beyoglu, Turkey), Africa (Abuja, Nigeria), Middle East & North Africa (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates), Latin America (Cuenca, Ecuador), and Central Asia (Almaty, Kazakhstan). As the leading platform on smart city development, WeGO’s mission is to share knowledge and good practices in e-Governance; strengthen administrative efficiency and transparency; advance digital capacity; facilitate civic involvement; bridge the digital divide and inequality; and promote cooperation solidarity among cities and local governments around the world.
WeGO serves for its members as their international platform to improve the quality of life, innovate in the delivery of public services, and strengthen regional competitiveness.
Press Contact:
Name: Kakim Danabayev
E-mail: kakim@we-gov.org
Phone: +82-70-4202-9169