On December 4, 2024, CityNet and the Quality of Life Initiative co-hosted a webinar exploring the Initiative’s program for cities and opportunities for engagement. The Quality of Life initiative, led by UN-Habitat, supports local authorities and nations around the world in enhancing the well-being and quality of life of individuals in the community through innovative tools such as the Quality of Life Index. The index provides a holistic understanding of quality of life by combining data at the global and local layers, enabling local leaders to make data-driven decisions aligned with the SDGs to fit their context.
Ms. Aisa Tobing, Deputy Secretary General of CityNet, delivered the opening remarks, underscoring the need to prioritize individuals’ quality of life and gather reliable data to address global challenges. Ms. Tobing also expressed strong support for the partnership between CityNet member cities and the Initiative. During the seminar, Ms. Agata Krause, Senior Specialist for Partnerships and Engagement and Ms. Yasmeen Alawamlet, Urban Planning & Technical Expert from the Quality of Life Initiative presented the framework of the Quality of Life indicators, emphasizing their role in fostering community-focused improvements through comprehensive global layer data collection.
Ms. Arang Ma from the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Mr. David Hanson from the City of Logan, and Ms. Phannisa Nirattiwongsakom from UN-Habitat in Udon Thani City shared their experiences with the Initiative and their reasons for joining. Over 50 participants joined the webinar, including representatives from Hue City, Jambi City, and Almaty City, who posed thought-provoking questions about the Index indicators and shared their insights on the Initiative.
The Quality of Life Initiative invites cities worldwide to join this transformative effort to improve community well-being. To join the Initiative, cities are asked to submit an official letter of interest signed by a senior city official who can oversee the city’s participation. Following that, your city and UN Habitat will complete an MOU to solidify the partnership. For inquiries on getting involved, please contact Ms. Agata Krause (agata.krause@un.org) and copy Ms. Pauline Bekkers (paulinebekkers97@gmail.com).
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Chris Di Gennaro is a Program Officer at CityNet, where he manages the Urban SDG Knowledge Platform, a joint project with UNESCAP and the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Previously, he worked at ESCAP to organize an urban innovation themed startup competition. Chris holds a Master of Korean Studies from Yonsei University and a Bachelor of Psychology from Vassar College. He is keenly interested in the workings of cities and facilitating sustainable urban development.
