UNOPS hosting urban development partnership

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) has been selected to host the Cities Alliance, a globally recognized urban development and poverty reduction partnership. In this role, UNOPS provides the partnership's secretariat and acts as the organization's Trustee.

The Cities Alliance is a global partnership that promotes the role of cities in developing countries to enhance sustainable development and reduce poverty. It provides grants for projects that improve urban development policies in developing countries, promote citizen engagement in urban governance and strengthen the capacity of cities to provide citywide services, especially to the urban poor.

The Cities Alliance, which was co-founded in 1999 by the World Bank and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), has expanded to include European and others donors, international organizations representing local authorities, multilateral and bilateral development organizations, developing country governments and non-governmental organizations.

Since its founding, the Secretariat was hosted by the World Bank, at its headquarters in Washington, D.C. Following a partnership-driven selection process, the Cities Alliance members selected UNOPS as secretariat, trustee and implementing partner. UNOPS role includes providing human resources and financial management services.

The Secretariat, which is headed by its Director, William Cobbett, is now based in Brussels, and is located in the same building as the UNOPS Brussels Office.

The Cities Alliance has played a catalytic role in promoting the importance of long-term, strategic planning for cities, as well as citywide and national approaches to slum upgrading. In its activities, the Cities Alliance promotes partnerships between its members, and between the urban poor, local governments and the private sector.

For more information, please visit:

The Cities Alliance website
UNOPS website