Singapore, 16 June 2026. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) today launched a new certification to support City Governments in integrating Gender Equality into urban planning, budgeting and service delivery, as rapid urban growth outpaces efforts to make Cities safe, accessible and responsive for everyone.

The Gender Equality Seal for Cities was introduced at the World Cities Summit in Singapore, a biennial forum bringing together government leaders and urban practitioners. More than half of the world’s population now lives in cities, with that share projected to reach 68 per cent by 2050. In Asia and the Pacific alone, urban populations are expected to grow by around 900 million people over the same period.

Yet many urban systems continue to be designed without accounting for how women experience cities. Across Asia and the Pacific, 64 per cent of women report experiencing violence in public spaces, and surveys in several cities show that more than half feel unsafe using public transport at night. Women in the region also carry more than three times the unpaid care work of men. Globally, an estimated 708 million women remain outside the labour force in part because urban infrastructure — including transport, childcare and public services — is not aligned with caregiving realities.

“Women remain disproportionately underrepresented in decision-making roles. As rapid urbanization transforms our cities, ensuring that the safety, mobility and livelihood needs of both men and women are equally addressed is critical. UNDP's Gender Equality Seal for Cities provides a practical tool to municipal governments to create equitable urban spaces that serve all citizens every day,” said Beate Trankmann, UNDP Deputy Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific. 

The certification follows a structured, multi-stage process: a baseline assessment of policies and services; a tailored action plan developed with UNDP technical support; implementation of reforms; and an independent external evaluation. Cities are awarded Bronze, Silver or Gold certification based on measurable progress. The framework focuses on four areas: leadership and accountability; urban systems, including transport, public space and care services; the use of gender-disaggregated data; and partnerships and financing.

The initiative builds on UNDP’s Gender Equality Seal for PublicInstitutions, already implemented in countries across Latin America, Eastern Europe and other regions. Its extension to cities reflects the growing concentration of demographic and economic pressures at the urban level. Previous applications have led to concrete policy and budgetary changes. In Bangkok, for example, municipal authorities integrated gender considerations across more than 200 programmes, covering urban safety, public services and workplace policy.

Broader trends underscore the urgency. Nearly 45 per cent of urban residents in Asia and the Pacific lack access to social protection, while informal employment accounts for more than 65 per cent of urban jobs — conditions that disproportionately affect women. In Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, a scoping study found that more than 90 per cent of women and girls had experienced sexual violence when using public transport.

The certification is voluntary and open to city governments worldwide. UNDP will provide technical support through its country and regional offices and aims to expand uptake through partnerships with municipal authorities and regional networks, with a focus on rapidly urbanising cities in the Global South.

Media contacts:

Raul de Mora Jimenez – raul.de.mora@undp.org: +1 631 464 8617

Aminath Mihdha - aminath.mihdha@undp.org: +66 61524 4700