Her City

Involving girls in urban development will make the city better for everyone and participatory processes are key for planning a city that socially, economically and environmentally sustainable. If we let citizens that are rarely heard be the experts, our cities and communities will become more inclusive, equal and sustainable. In the Her City project in Diepsloot, the Johannesburg Development Agency, urban professionals, civil society organisations and girls from the community are currently redesigning key streets and public spaces through participatory planning and design activities to enhance access, inclusion and safety in the area. The objective of the Her City event is to inspire decision-makers in South Africa and the region to scale up and mainstream girls’ participation and to support urban development from a girl’s perspective. The event will show why urban development from a gender and youth perspective is key to leverage economic, social and environmental benefits for all. Her City is an initiative by UN-Habitat and the independent Swedish think tank Global Utmaning. It is financed by the Swedish Innovation Agency (Vinnova) with contributions from a range of partners such as the Block by Block Foundation (Mojang/Minecraft), White Architects, Swedish Union of Tenants, and MethodKit.