WHO Initiative on Urban Governance for Health and Well-being

Promoting good urban governance in cities to improve health and well-being of populations 

With the support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched an eight-year (2020–2028) Initiative on Urban Governance for Health and Well-being (UGHW). Grounded in the Healthy Cities approach, the Initiative aims to strengthen participatory, multisectoral and multi-level urban governance by 2028 to ensure that people’s health and well-being are central to decision-making, empower communities, engage sectors to positively influence the determinants of health, and promote effective governance across levels.

Urban governance is key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and health for all. Building on GPW13 and further emphasized in GPW14 (2025–2029), WHO highlights the importance of empowering people through health promotion and participatory decision-making.

The Initiative works directly with cities, mayors, local and national governments, urban community representatives, civil society organizations and international academic partners in six cities: Khulna (Bangladesh), Bogota (Colombia), Douala (Cameroon), Mexico City (Mexico), Pasig City, Metro Manila (Philippines) and Tunis (Tunisia).