Beirut-Amman, 1 September 2026-- Today, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), hosted by the Greater Amman Municipality, launched the third edition of the Arab Mayors Academy, a regional initiative designed to equip city leaders with the knowledge, skills and practical tools needed to address urban challenges and turn local priorities into action.
The two-day event is held in Amman under the theme "Driving Local Transformation: From SDG Localization to Cities with a Better Quality of Life and Greater Resilience", with the participation of 12 governors, mayors, and city leaders from eight Arab countries: Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, the State of Palestine, Saudi Arabia, and Syria.
The third edition marks a new stage in the Academy's development, as it is being launched for the first time from an Arab city outside the headquarters of ESCWA, strengthening its direct connection to local realities. The launch event focuses on localizing the Sustainable Development Goals, improving quality of life and strengthening urban resilience. It also includes a field visit to leading urban projects in the city, allowing participants to explore practical experiences and exchange knowledge.
This year's curriculum was developed based on a survey that involved more than 80 city leaders from across the Arab region, ensuring that it responds directly to the needs of local authorities and the challenges they face.
In his opening remarks, Chairman of the Greater Amman Municipality Committee, Ahmad Al-Malkawe said that hosting the third edition of the Academy reflected the Municipality's commitment to supporting local leadership and strengthening the role of Arab cities in driving urban transformation and building a more sustainable and inclusive future. "The future of cities begins with local leaders who have the vision and ability to turn challenges into solutions, plans into results, and partnerships into tangible impact on people's lives. This is why the Arab Mayors Academy is important as a platform for building a generation of leaders capable of driving urban transformation and shaping the future of our cities," he said.
"The Academy represents an investment in local leadership as a key driver of urban transformation," said Nagwa Lachine, SDG Localization and NUA Advancement Programme Officer at UN-Habitat. "In this edition, we are placing greater emphasis on supporting city leaders in moving from identifying priorities and developing plans to practical implementation, while connecting local action with the opportunities, partnerships and resources needed to deliver tangible results in their cities," she emphasized.
The Academy's curriculum this year focuses on a range of priority issues for city leaders, including urban development finance, results-based management, partnerships and resource mobilization, smart cities and digital transformation, housing and basic services, resilience, sustainable urban planning and quality of life.
"The Academy reflects the commitment of ESCWA to strengthening the role of local authorities as key partners in shaping pathways for urban transformation, rather than merely implementing policies," Sukaina Al-Nasrawi, Lead of the Sustainable Urban Development Portfolio at ESCWA underscored. "Through this regional platform, we bring together Arab cities and expertise, connect global priorities with local realities, and create an environment where leaders can exchange knowledge and develop solutions rooted in the needs of our cities and the aspirations of their residents," she added.
The first day of the event focuses on adopting a quality-of-life perspective in cities, including the role of voluntary local reviews (VLRs) and city networks in linking local priorities with regional and global frameworks, alongside presentations of experiences from Arab cities. The second day focuses on urban resilience and its relationship with sustainable development, and includes a field visit to strategic projects implemented by the Greater Amman Municipality.
The Academy follows a blended learning model, combining self-paced learning, online training sessions and interactive webinars, in-person training and peer exchange. The programme will continue over the coming months and will conclude with an in-person training event and graduation ceremony in December, to be held in partnership with United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG-MENA). Participants who meet programme requirements will receive a joint certificate from UN-Habitat and ESCWA.
Through its programme and growing alumni network, the Academy seeks to strengthen cooperation and learning among Arab cities and build a regional network of local leaders capable of driving more inclusive, sustainable and resilient urban development.
