The coronavirus pandemic is seriously limiting social interactions around the globe. Will such measures defeat the virus in dense urban areas? We asked Sameh Wahba, the World Bank's Global Director for Urban, Disaster Risk Management, Resilience and Land.

Agenda available here Cities are places of opportunity: 80% of global GDP is created in cities, helping hundreds of millions lift themselves out of extreme poverty. Over recent decades, cities have become a magnet for talent, investment, and for youth seeking a prosperous future.  The promise offered by cities is driving unprecedented population growth, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Globally, 4 billion people - more than half the global population - live in cities. By 2030, two-thirds of the world's population will live in cities, and a third of the world’s population will be housed in cities with 1 million or more inhabitants.  Rapid urbanization at this scale presents unparalleled challenges. The increasing population density, shocks from environmental pressures, growing infrastructure demands, and the increased expectations from residents and visitors to deliver services that improve their quality of life will all need to be met – at a sustainable cost. To meet the needs of a rapidly growing, younger, digitally savvy population, we ...

Agenda: Opening Session: 9:00-10:15 am ET”People, Markets and Cities” Keynote Session: 1:00-2:15 pm ETKeynote address: “Moving to Opportunity in the Developing World” Debate: “Regional Perspectives on Migration and Location Issues” Cities are engines of growth, which create jobs, agglomerate economics and diffuse knowledge. By the middle of the century, two-thirds of the population will live in cities. 90 percent of the urban growth will be in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Cities in developing countries lack efficient structure and have poor spatial connectivity, which prevents workers from accessing opportunities and marginalizes vulnerable and low-income groups. A large percentage of workers are unskilled, underemployed and poor. What is the role for urban and national governments to create opportunities for all, and facilitate human capital accumulation, improve spatial connectivity, and address the socio-economic segregation? The 6th Urbanization and Poverty Reduction Conference will bring together academics and development practitioners to discuss effective land, housing, transport and local labor market policies, and their implications for ...

Cities in the developing world are growing rapidly, both in number and size. While urbanization is known to spur economic growth, the migration of people from rural to urban areas can be associated with rising inequalities – both across urban and rural areas and within cities, especially in developing countries. Within this context, coupled with fiscal constraints, evolving global trade relations, extreme climate events, and technology disruption trends, national policymakers and city leaders are grappling with challenges in the delivery and financing of services, such as transport, water, waste management, and housing. How can countries harness the power of urbanization and cities for inclusive economic growth to improve the quality of life for all residents? This event will bring together leading policymakers, practitioners, and private sector thought leaders for a moderated discussion of how to make the urbanization process more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable both across and within cities in a changing global environment. To Learn More: Publication: September 2018 Indonesia Economic ...

This is a Facebook Live interview. Watch the replay! As part of our Spring Meetings 2018 Interview Series, we will be talking with Elizabeth Yee, Vice President of City Solutions, 100 Resilient Cities. She will be joined by Sameh Wahba, Director of the Social, Urban, Rural and Resilience Global Practice, World Bank Group.

This is a Facebook Live interview. Watch the Replay! As part of our Spring Meetings 2018 Interview Series, we will be talking with William L. Swing, Director General of the International Organization for Migration, to discuss how to encourage actions on migration at the global level and urban displacement.