By 2025, almost 1.2 billion people will be living in urban areas in the Commonwealth, according to UN estimates.
For the first time in human history there are as many people living in the cities as in rural areas. Yet mass migration brings with it huge upheavals in living conditions. Those who set foot in the city often end up in squalid slums with little or no access to education, healthcare or sanitation.
Burgeoning cities create opportunities for wealth creation and poverty alleviation, yet social development only succeeds where settlements are properly planned. We embolden civil society groups to work with professionals, policy makers and governments to address together the many challenges brought by urbanisation.
Our funding generates research that increases understanding on issues such as migration and displacement caused by climate change. Working with partners including the University of Oxford, we help to ensure that ground-breaking studies inform debate at forums such as the Commonwealth Consultative Group on Human Settlements.
In support of the United Nations' Habitat Agenda, we continue to examine the changing state of Commonwealth cities and share examples of progress in sustainable urbanisation. Through ComHabitat, a major partnership between government and non-profit associations, we promote the goal of adequate shelter for all.