Inclusive Cities

The Inclusive Infrastructure sub-programme, led by GDI Hub, recognises that the built environment, the world where we live, dictates our ability to use the AT we need. Access to the built environment is a fundamental human right, protected by the UN CRPD. However, the world we have designed and built presents a multitude of barriers and challenges for many, including persons with disabilities.

The aim of this report is to equip cities with practical but evidence-based actions to accelerate accessibility and inclusion in their physical infrastructure, buildings, services and operations.

Cities worldwide are experiencing continued growth and increasing resource challenges. This is particularly challenging in low- and middle-income settings, where huge infrastructural development is often necessary. With resource constraints and growing global challenges (rising inequality, climate changes, pandemics), it is even more critical that accessibility and inclusive design are seamlessly integrated into the planning and design of cities and all their functions, to ensure the effective and resilient use of resources to create liveable and enjoyable cities and provide persons with disabilities are not left behind.

National governments generally set disability policy, while cities need locally adaptable and practical frameworks for inclusive action. This suggests a need for a global agenda of inclusive practices for cities to catalyse shared learning and collective efforts, not reinvent the wheel, and help cities create an inclusive city.

Outputs​​​​

All reports can be downloaded as a PDF. In addition to the Global Action Report and Global Comparison reports, each city case study report is also available to download here. ​

​City Case Study Reports:​

1. Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia​
2. Varanasi, India​
3. Surakarta, Indonesia
4. Nairobi, Kenya​
5. Freetown, Sierra Leone
6. Medellin, Colombia