If 2024 were a city, it would be buzzing with the energy of possibility, streets everywhere coming to life with collaboration, creativity, and bold ideas. At the heart of it all was Our City Plans, that turned visions of inclusive and participatory urban planning into tangible actions that resonated across borders. The results achieved held testament to our purpose, Our City Plans is not just about planning cities, but about empowering people to shape the spaces they call home.
A Digital Makeover
The year began with tools, but not just any tools; ones that talked, guided, and connected. The launch of our toolbox tutorial video opened the door for planners everywhere to confidently navigate the intricacies of participatory urban development. Meanwhile, a refreshed and reuploaded Our City Plans PDF offered a sleek, updated resource, ready to inspire action at the click of a button.
But we didn’t stop there. We invited planners to take the stage themselves, sharing how they had used Our City Plans in their own work. A new “Share Your Experience” feature on our toolbox page gave a voice to stories of transformation, from bustling metros to quieter towns.
And to top it all off, our newly introduced chatbot on the digital platform (a beta version at the moment), became an ever-ready companion, aiming to answer questions and smooth out the details, one query at a time, while also guiding users through the toolbox and the various functionalities of Our City Plans.
Events for Global Reach
As we expanded digitally, we also encouraged conversations that sparked ideas and action. We conducted three webinars on safeguarding the SDG 11.3.2 indicator and three trainings out of which, two were conducted in Central America and one in Bahrain. These events became arenas for thought-provoking dialogue, from discussing practical tools for inclusive urban planning to diving into the significance of safeguarding civic engagement through SDG 11.3.2. Then came “My Urban Vision,” our digital art competition that reimagined cities through creativity, with submissions pouring in from 29 countries. In October, a celebratory webinar for the winners unfolded into a rich conversation on how art, culture, and sustainability intersect to shape urban futures.
Visit our Youtube channel to watch all the webinars that took place this year with Our City Plans.
World Urban Forum 12
At the World Urban Forum 12 in Cairo, Our City Plans took a step further into the spotlight. Apart from conducting a series of successful events in collaboration with peer organizations, including a session on Planning and Financing Sustainable Mobility and Urban Infrastructure, which highlighted the toolbox's scalability and integration into global challenges like capacity building and financial mechanisms; an event on participatory planning titled Stronger Communities, Better Cities showcasing community-driven urban regeneration and citizen assemblies; and a session exploring localized methodologies in Nepal, Vietnam, and Argentina, our vibrant booth at the Urban Expo welcomed planners, professionals, and students, turning the forum into a space that exchanged ideas, shared insights, and deepened the impact of our work. The buzz of Cairo mirrored our own growing momentum, which is a testament to the connections we strived to achieve and the movement we nurtured.
Read our article here for more information about the events.
Mapping the Guardians of Participation by Safeguarding the SDG 11.3.2 Indicator
Perhaps one of the most significant milestones this year was the Safeguarding the SDG 11.3.2 Indicator campaign, which ran successfully throughout 2024. The final report revealed a staggering 2,506 survey responses from 876 cities across 136 countries. By October, official results included data from 103 cities across 49 countries and nine countries with comprehensive national-level results, a total of 152 official data points for the year. This marked a monumental step in advancing civic engagement and participation in urban planning worldwide.
Learn more about the SDG 11.3.2 indicator here.
12 Insights 1 Vision
We also shared knowledge with our community. We published 12 insightful articles on our news section, exploring how Our City Plans can be utilized for a variety of urban planning focuses, climate resilience, youth engagement, and much more. Each article aimed to demonstrate how the toolbox is an adaptable, powerful resource for urban planning professionals across the globe, tailored to meet the unique needs of diverse urban challenges.
An Award-Worthy Finale
The year also brought moments of recognition. Our LinkedIn presence, launched just months ago, grew into a thriving hub with over 2,000 followers. And in Lima, Peru, Our City Plans became a finalist in the prestigious Iberoamerican Biennale’s “New Rules” category, highlighting our role as groundbreakers in the field of participatory urban planning.
Looking Ahead
As 2024 comes to a close, the echoes of this transformative year remind us of what’s possible when cities and people dream big together. But this is not the end, rather it’s the start of a new chapter. The question isn’t what Our City Plans will do next, but how YOU will be part of it.
What’s your vision for the cities of tomorrow? Share it. Shape it. And let's make it a reality together.