The anticipated growth in urban populations over the next few decades will inevitably pose huge challenges to infrastructure – from health services and schools to public transport and energy. So how can cities meet the needs of an expanding citizenry while at the same time being inclusive and sustainable?

The Habitat III conference, taking place in Ecuador’s capital, Quito, from October 17-20, will attempt to address this question. The “New Urban Agenda,” to be adopted at the event, aims to provide a road map for urban development over the next 20 years. DW spoke to Monika Zimmermann, deputy secretary-general of the ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability) World Secretariat.

DW: Can you explain what the “New Urban Agenda” is?

Monika Zimmermann: The agenda is a document that has been heavily debated and discussed over the past few months.

It will guide the various actors, especially federal governments, on how to deal with urbanization and how to shift unorganized urbanization into what we call urban sustainable development, or sustainable urbanization.

Image: An aerial view of Guéckédou, Guinea. UN Photo/Ari Gaitanis.