Global challenges
Urbanisation
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The world is becoming more and more urban. By 2050, 70% of the world population will live in cities. This global trend concerns both the rise of megacities and the spread of small and medium-sized cities. 75% of the world population is living in urban settlements of fewer than 500.000 people. Cities are also growing younger, with an estimated 60% of urban populations under the age of 18 by 2030.
Our approach
Access to quality services for all
Enabel supports cities to upgrade and maintain urban infrastructure for quality services (access to water and sanitation, roads, energy), including in informal settlements. In fragile settings, Enabel focuses on secondary cities, in consolidating their capacity building to plan for and respond to shocks and, to deliver scalable and dynamic basic services and opportunities.
Encouraging Integrated and participatory urban and territorial governance
Enabel supports cities in co-creating policies ,tools and projects for appropriate city planning and management and fostering open and transparent authorities. Urban authorities and civil organisations are encouraged to collaborate closely and to promote women’s leadership and participation in joint efforts to improve city life adopting a gender transformative approach to city planning.
Cities and territories as positive actors of climate change
Cities are main producers of GreenHouse Gases yet also main driver in the fight against climate change. Enabel supports access to clean technology and infrastructure and fosters supportive business and policy environment to advance the green and circular economy. By rethinking the ways we use energy, materials, products, and assets in cities, Enabel responds to urban resource challenges faced by climate change and high rate of urbanisation.
Socio economic integration for women and men, and in particular youth
Enabling young people and women to develop their talents and skills and promoting entrepreneurship will boost the urban economy. High-quality training accessible to all, and support systems are needed for getting people into jobs that are adapted to the needs of various categories of people and to the needs of the local market and urban issues. Taking into account ever-changing market needs, harnessing the potential of the urban economy and tapping into the opportunities offered by the digital and circular economy are key to foster innovative urban eco-systems.
Safe and cohesive cities
Enabel contributes in shaping cities’ ability to offer inclusive and safe environments to their citizens. Specific attention is devoted to young people, women and vulnerable groups. Urban violence and gender-based violence in particular is addressed in a comprehensive manner through enhancing access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, to gender-responsive infrastructure, and working closely with schools, the police and the judicial authorities.
More on urbanisation
The world is facing huge challenges in realising the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Enabel wants to contribute with its experience and expertise in five specific domains: Peace and Security, Climate Change and the Environment, Social and Economic Inequality, Urbanisation, and Human Mobility. In our search for adapted solutions we take into account the inevitable ongoing population explosion and we strongly believe in empowering women and youths.
This brochure describes how we address urbanisation in our projects.
Download the brochure
Other global challenges
News & Events
News
12 February 2026
“Small-scale farmers worldwide struggle to make a dignified living from their work”
From Junior Expert to Country Representative in Uganda for Broederlijk Delen. Bram went to work in Uganda in 2017, 9 years later he’s still living there.
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News
06 February 2026
Colruyt Group Foundation and Enabel launch Youth Incubator
Colruyt Group Foundation and Enabel launch Youth Incubator, a public-private programme empowering young people in international cooperation.
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News
02 February 2026
Belgium hosts energy study tour for delegations from Moldova, Ukraine and Palestine
Belgium hosts an Enabel-led energy study tour for Moldova, Ukraine and Palestine, showcasing expertise in energy efficiency, grids and battery storage.
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Resources
30 January 2026
E-learning: facilitating change through action research
Explore two e-learning modules on action research, a powerful approach to continuous learning, adaptive management and stronger impact in international cooperation.
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News
22 January 2026
From Junior Expert to Country Representative: Samy’s journey with the Red Cross in Burundi
From Junior Expert to a country-level role at 28, Samy builds disaster preparedness with Red Cross Flanders in Burundi through hands-on field work.
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News
21 January 2026
Enabel strengthens global alliances at the World Economic Forum with three strategic partnerships
At Davos 2026, Enabel reinforces its global leadership by uniting public, private and civil society partners to drive inclusive, cross-sector international cooperation with real local impact.
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