{"id":27722,"date":"2023-04-03T13:30:50","date_gmt":"2023-04-03T12:30:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/urbanpolicyplatform.org\/?page_id=27722"},"modified":"2025-12-03T15:48:55","modified_gmt":"2025-12-03T12:48:55","slug":"ifurl","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/urbanpolicyplatform.org\/ifurl\/","title":{"rendered":"IFURL"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

IFURL<\/strong><\/h1>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row”][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]Cities and villages are indispensable for the sustainable development of mankind, which urbanization processes are extremely important. In order to highlight the concept of\u00a0rural region revitalization<\/strong>, which has been neglected, UN-Habitat proactively responds to the ongoing United Nations\u2019 reform through innovation and opens itself to bold new tools, technologies, and ideas on sustainable urban and rural development. More on the work of UN-Habitat on urban-rural linkages<\/strong> can be found here<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″]

<\/div>
<\/div>[vc_single_image image=”26918″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row”][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”25942″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”5\/6″][vc_column_text]Urban rural linkages approach aligns with most Sustainable Development Goals<\/strong> and more explicitly Goal 11<\/strong> which “promotes sustainable cities and communities, and supports positive economic, social, and environmental links between urban, peri-urban, and rural areas.<\/em>”<\/p>\n

Over 195 member States committed to the New Urban Agenda (NUA)<\/strong> which promotes sustainable development in both urban and rural areas with a vision of Leaving No one behind.<\/strong><\/q><\/span> As the United Nations agency for human settlements which comprises of not only cities but also the surrounding settlements, UN-Habitat is mandated to foster the implementation of SDG 11<\/strong> and NUA.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/6″]

<\/div>
<\/div>[vc_single_image image=”27712″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https:\/\/unhabitat.org\/about-us\/new-urban-agenda”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row gap=”3″][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”26247″ img_size=”600×370″ alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”https:\/\/urbanpolicyplatform.org\/songyang”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]The International Forum on Urban-Rural Linkages (IFURL)<\/strong> is one of the key activities of the UN-Habitat Urban-Rural Linkages work which includes, capturing, analyzing and disseminating the inspiring practices globally on the subject. \u00a0It serves as a platform to promote urban rural linkages for sustainable development and wellbeing for all across the urban-rural continuum. It also provides the opportunity of learning country-specific case studies, innovative approaches and tools, emerging knowledge on territorial development to diverse stakeholders from government, academia, civil societies and private sectors. In this way,\u00a0 all stakeholders are able to learn from each other. The past IFURL events have been co-hosted and co-organized by UN-Habitat, the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the Lishui Municipal People\u2019s Government, and the Songyang County People\u2019s Government<\/strong><\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row gap=”3″][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_separator][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row disable_custom_paddings_tablet=”true” disable_custom_paddings_mobile=”true”][vc_column width=”1\/2″ disable_custom_paddings_mobile=”true” css=”.vc_custom_1680519262585{margin-top: 100px !important;}”][vc_column_text]The First IFURL<\/strong><\/a> took place in Songyang County, Lishui City, Zhejiang Province, China, on 10-14 November, 2019. The theme of the first forum was \u201cRural revitalization through innovations and valorization\u201d.<\/strong><\/em>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Over 200 participants from 17 countries and 18 international organizations attended the Forum, featuring 37 presentations on different themes and producing the \u201cSongyang Consensus.\u201d<\/strong><\/a>[\/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”IFURL 1″ style=”outline-custom” outline_custom_color=”#00b020″ outline_custom_hover_background=”#00b020″ outline_custom_hover_text=”#ffffff” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Furbanpolicyplatform.org%2Fifurl-1%2F|title:IFURL%201|target:_blank”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″ el_sticky=”1″ disable_custom_paddings_tablet=”true” disable_custom_paddings_mobile=”true”][vc_single_image image=”26252″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https:\/\/urbanpolicyplatform.org\/ifurl-1\/”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row gap=”3″][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_separator][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]The Second IFURL<\/strong><\/a> held on 19-20th<\/sup> October, 2021 shaped its theme as “Integrating Health and Territorial Development for Sustainable Livelihoods”<\/strong><\/em> building on the first Forum\u2019s success and articulation of rural revitalization. Challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic, more issues occurred, such as reverse migration from urban areas to rural areas, and the territorial inequities of the health systems, lack of access to health facilities, disproportionately impacts on vulnerable groups along the urban-rural continuum.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]The forum was attended by over 200 participants online and on site featuring over 20 presentations on health related issues as planning and governance, food systems, built environment, traditional medicine and COVID-19. The outcomes from the forum can be found in the summary report<\/strong><\/a> which provides a synthesis from each session.[\/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”IFURL 2″ style=”outline-custom” outline_custom_color=”#00b020″ outline_custom_hover_background=”#00b020″ outline_custom_hover_text=”#ffffff” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Furbanpolicyplatform.org%2Fifurl-2%2F|title:IFURL%202|target:_blank”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”27802″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”https:\/\/urbanpolicyplatform.org\/ifurl-2\/”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row gap=”3″][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_separator][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]Against the backdrop of this year\u2019s Urban October<\/a>, the third International Forum on International Forum on Urban-Rural Linkages<\/a> (IFURL3), was held from October 29 to November 1, 2023, marking a significant milestone in the global conversation on urban-rural connectivity. This crucial event, co-hosted by UN-Habitat, the Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of Zhejiang Province, the Department of Transportation of Zhejiang Province, Lishui Municipal People\u2019s Government, and Songyang County, China, showcased the bright possibilities of a harmonious urban-rural integration.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]With over 180<\/strong> <\/span>participants from 17<\/span> <\/strong>countries and 18<\/span> <\/strong>international organizations, the forum served as a melting pot of ideas, experiences, and solutions. The discussions highlighted significant emerging practices that are revolutionizing the way we think about urban-rural connectivity.[\/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”IFURL 3″ style=”outline-custom” outline_custom_color=”#00b020″ outline_custom_hover_background=”#00b020″ outline_custom_hover_text=”#ffffff” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Furbanpolicyplatform.org%2Fifurl-3%2F|title:IFURL%203|target:_blank”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_gallery interval=”3″ images=”29909,29907,29914,29890″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” custom_links_target=”_blank” custom_links=”#E-8_aHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ1cmJhbnBvbGljeXBsYXRmb3JtLm9yZyUyRmlmdXJsLTMlMkYlMkMlMjBodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnVyYmFucG9saWN5cGxhdGZvcm0ub3JnJTJGaWZ1cmwtMyUyRiUyQyUyMGh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGdXJiYW5wb2xpY3lwbGF0Zm9ybS5vcmclMkZpZnVybC0zJTJGJTJDJTIwaHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ1cmJhbnBvbGljeXBsYXRmb3JtLm9yZyUyRmlmdXJsLTMlMkY=”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row gap=”3″][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_separator][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n
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In <\/span>the serene landscapes of <\/span>Songyang County, China, the 2025 International Dialogue on Urban-Rural Linkages (IDURL)<\/strong><\/a> became a living showcase of how <\/span><\/span>culture, housing, heritage, and basic services<\/span><\/span><\/strong> can bridge urban and rural realities. Co-organized by UN-Habitat and the China International Communications Group (CICG), the Dialogue <\/span>convened<\/span> over 100 participants from 15 countries to share ideas, experiences, and innovations driving inclusive and sustainable territorial development.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Over two days, participants explored <\/span>Songyang\u2019s integrated approach<\/span><\/b>, combining cultural heritage preservation, adaptive reuse, and modern service delivery. Highlights included a revitalized water system serving 32,800 residents, the transformation of an old bus station into a public fitness center, and the adaptive reuse of historic sites like puppet theatres and high-pitch opera museums. <\/span>National initiatives in China, such as the Ten Million Project, are supporting rural housing upgrades, village conservation, and ecological sustainability, with tangible impacts on local communities<\/span><\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”IDURL 4″ style=”outline-custom” outline_custom_color=”#00b020″ outline_custom_hover_background=”#00b020″ outline_custom_hover_text=”#ffffff” css=”” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Furbanpolicyplatform.org%2Fifurl-4%2F|title:IDURL%203|target:_blank”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_gallery interval=”3″ images=”33064,33066,33055,33057,33051,33059″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” custom_links_target=”_blank” css=”” custom_links=”#E-8_aHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ1cmJhbnBvbGljeXBsYXRmb3JtLm9yZyUyRmlmdXJsLTMlMkYlMkMlMjBodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnVyYmFucG9saWN5cGxhdGZvcm0ub3JnJTJGaWZ1cmwtMyUyRiUyQyUyMGh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGdXJiYW5wb2xpY3lwbGF0Zm9ybS5vcmclMkZpZnVybC0zJTJGJTJDJTIwaHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ1cmJhbnBvbGljeXBsYXRmb3JtLm9yZyUyRmlmdXJsLTMlMkY=”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]

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