Local Pathways Fellows Propose COVID-19 Rapid Response Solutions for Cities

New York, USA: Given the strong impact that COVID-19 has had on cities, the 2020 cohort of Local Pathways Fellows developed a set of innovative solutions that address the SDG 11 targets which are presented in the report titled “COVID-19 Rapid Response Solutions for Cities by the 2020 Local Pathways Fellows”.

During the month of May the 2020 cohort of Local Pathways Fellows worked on developing their proposed solutions to address the urban challenges that each SDG 11 target is facing amid the pandemic. These solutions were designed through peer-to-peer engagement between fellows in the program. Each solution was developed by a group of 3-8 fellows from different cities around the globe.

Here you will find more than 20 solutions that tackle challenges ranging from shutdowns or decreased services on mass transit which lays at the core of urban mobility to the issue of sanitation among homeless populations which could greatly increase due to the economical consequences of the pandemic.
Examples of solutions you can find in these report include:

• “Municipal Management and Collection of Increased Biomedical Waste” provides a solution on how cities can tackle management and collection of Personal Protective Equipments and chemical waste on the municipal level (SDG 11.6)
• " A Post-Pandemic Context for Recreation Spaces " proposes solutions that will help resume the use of public spaces safely as social distancing measures start to ease, and reduce the disparities around accessibility to public recreation spaces (SDG 11.7)

This one-of-its-kind report showcases what can be done when youth urbanists from all over the world connect to advance problem-solving for sustainable development and it highlights their potential.
A webinar was held on June 30 , 2020 where some of the most innovative solutions were presented.

Sam Loni, Director of SDSN Youth, reinforces that young people are critical actors of change towards the achievement of the SDGs, and must be regarded as such. “ This report not only showcases solutions to the challenges posed by COVID-19, but it proves how young people from all over the world have connected together during these challenging times to tackle the most pressing urban issues that cities are facing as a result of this pandemic, ” says Loni.

Ana Ynestrillas, Project Leader of the Local Pathways Fellowship Program, is proud to offer a program that builds capacity among the youth and pushes cities to capitalize on their potential. She expresses that, “ The pandemic has revealed the frailty of our urban systems. Through the COVID-19 Rapid Response Solutions report the Local Pathways fellows have proved that the youth understands the importance of urban-prompt response in times of crisis and their ability to conceive a better world than the one we had.”

We value your support in spreading the word about this exciting report!

About Local Pathways Fellowship
The Local Pathways Fellowship (LPF), pioneered by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network Youth Initiative (SDSN Youth), is a global initiative that supports capacity building in cities by training young urban sustainability leaders.

Every year the Local Pathways Fellowship welcomes a select group of young innovators from cities around the world and provides them with the tools and resources they need to advance problem-solving for sustainable development at the local level with a special focus on SDG 11. The Local Pathways 2020 cohort is made up of 140 fellows from 100+ different cities.

For more information on the Local Pathways Fellowship program, please visit: http://localpathways.org/

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For media inquiries and interview requests, please contact: Yulia Lesnichaya, Project Officer, Communications at [email protected]

Read the report here.