Habitat III Issue Papers - 10: Urban-Rural Linkages

Urbanisation is a process that profoundly reshapes peri-urban and rural areas and has the ability to both positively and negatively affect their economies, inclusiveness and sustainable development. In order for urban and rural areas to be sustainable, the current discourse of a political, social and geographical dichotomy must evolve to that of collaborative development and function linkages throughout the territory. Considering the ongoing urbanisation, inequality and poverty, there is a renewed interest in delivering complementary and mutually reinforcing rural, peri-urban and urban areas as an integral part of both the Post-2015 Development Agenda and the New Urban Agenda.

This issue paper on "Urban-Rural Linkages" is part of a series of thematic reports offering a comprehensive, expert-level view of the processes of urbanisation that characterise today’s century of cities — and look forward to what could and should come next. The 22 “issue papers” were submitted by a range of multilateral institutions. They will ultimately be used to guide discussion by 10 formal “policy units”, which will focus on the six thematic issues deemed important for the Habitat III process. Made up of independent experts, these units touch on housing, resilience, equity and other issues. Eventually, they will each provide formal input regarding the crafting and, especially, implementation of the New Urban Agenda.