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Published on: 18/04/2011

In 2011, the World Bank’s Knowledge Council selected urbanisation as one of the Knowledge Platforms eligible for three year seed funding by the Bank. The Global Urbanization Knowledge Platform is a collaborative partnership between researchers, policymakers, the private-sector, and knowledge brokers including the World Bank Group. It aims to become the leading “go-to” hub for urban knowledge.

This means moving beyond a static repository, and beyond conferences and workshops, towards an open-source knowledge exchange

Topics are demand-driven, requested by participants, within four thematic pillars: economic, social, environmental and governance.

Four platform components are envisaged:

  • an open, online forum
  • rolling, dynamic knowledge exchanges in real-time; this involves voting on topics (new urban policies, research or problems) during rapid fire showcases to be further discussed and summarised for dissemination online
  • 'thought-leaders'
  • a data platform

Global Urbanization Knowledge Platform structure

Partners that have already signed on to the Global Urbanization Knowledge Platform include the World Bank, McKinsey Global Institute, Cities Alliance, : Indian Institute for Human Settlements, MIT Dept of Urban Studies & Planning, Brookings Institution and eminent researchers like Edward Glaeser and Vernon Henderson.

One of the first thought-leader presentations is Glaeser's Triumph of the City

The official launch of the platform will take place during six or more events on June 2011. The aim is to be fully operational from July 2011 onwards.

Read the Global Urbanization Knowledge Platform leaflet

Source: World Bank, Urban Development Issue Brief, Apr 2011 ; Making Cities Work, 11 Feb 2011

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