Another program of UCLG is the “Intermediary Cities” initiative. According to United Nations data, today 60% of the world’s urban population lives in cities with populations under 1,000,000. These cities do not have a strict classification. Cities ranging from 50,000 to 1,000,000 inhabitants can be grouped in the same category. However, studies have shown that in cities with populations below 650,000, population density in the city center tends to be higher than in larger cities.
In particular, in these cities, 70% of the population lives within a 3.9 km radius from the city center. Urbanization is not only experienced in megacities but across cities of all sizes. Smaller cities often undergo urbanization processes more rapidly than megacities. These cities also serve as hubs for investment, economic activity, and trade in their regions. Due to resource constraints and challenges in professional governance, urban planning in these cities tends to be weak.
Financial difficulties, economic factors, and limited economic activity reduce the service capacity of local governments. Therefore, development in these cities requires new solutions and collaboration with other cities. Based on this understanding, UCLG has incorporated the Intermediary Cities initiative into its activities. This working group conducts analyses, provides recommendations, and follows up on developments, presenting its findings directly to city leaders.