WHO Unveils Strategic Urban Health Guide for Cities
Geneva, Wednesday, 29 October 2025.
The WHO’s new guide calls for integrated, sustainable health strategies as urban populations grow, emphasizing long-term solutions over fragmented initiatives to enhance urban health equity.
Strategic Urban Health Framework
The World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with key institutions such as the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and UN-Habitat, has developed a comprehensive guide aimed at transforming urban health strategies. This guide, ‘Taking a Strategic Approach to Urban Health: A Guide for Decision-Makers,’ emphasizes the importance of integrated governance that aligns housing, mobility, environment, and social policy to promote health equity across urban areas. As cities are often described as “hubs of progress and hotspots of inequality,” the report calls for a shift from short-term, fragmented initiatives to cohesive, long-term solutions [1].
Rethinking Urban Governance
The guide underscores the need for a ‘Health in All Policies’ approach, where every urban development decision is made with public health in mind. This holistic perspective is crucial, as currently, one in four city residents lives in informal settlements lacking secure housing or clean water. By addressing these fundamental issues, the guide aims to prevent diseases more effectively than the traditional model of treatment after onset. Strategic entry points for implementing these urban health initiatives include periods following natural disasters, during major infrastructure upgrades, or in response to significant social movements [2].
Case Studies and Implementation
The guide provides practical steps for governments and urban planners, including declaring a public commitment to urban health, conducting thorough situational analyses, assessing community needs, and developing localized action plans. An example of successful implementation is the city of Sharjah, which has integrated urban design with social inclusion and climate adaptation to create a ‘child- and age-friendly’ environment. Such case studies highlight the potential for cities to function as engines of equity and sustainability, transforming the urban landscape into one that nurtures life and well-being [2][3].
Future Directions and Global Impact
The strategic guide launched during World Cities Day 2025, aligns with the global focus on creating people-centered smart cities. This initiative reflects a broader understanding that ‘smart’ cities are not defined solely by technology but by their capability to foster environments where health and equity are central. WHO’s vision calls for mayors, ministers, and citizens alike to reimagine urban spaces as interconnected systems that support sustainable and resilient communities. By embedding learning mechanisms and leveraging disaggregated data, the guide aims to adapt policies dynamically to meet the evolving needs of urban populations [1][3].