Local Innovation, Global Impact: Singapore Showcases Urban Solutions at the UCLG World Congress and Metropolis General Assembly in Tangier

From 22 – 25 June 2026, the Centre for Liveable Cities (CLC) joined city leaders, mayors and governors from across the world at the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) World Congress and Metropolis General Assembly in Tangier, Morocco. Bringing together representatives from Africa, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Eurasia and Asia-Pacific, the gatherings underscored the growing role of cities in driving economic transformation and addressing global challenges through collaboration and innovation.

Every city has experiences that others can learn from

CLC Executive Director, Hwang Yu-Ning, was invited to speak at two key sessions.  Opening the UCLG General Assembly on Coalitions for Local Innovation, she emphasised three pressing priorities for action that also emerged from the recent Mayors Forum of the World Cities Summit (WCS): affordable housing, urban resilience and reliable and efficient citizen-centric services. She stressed that meaningful progress requires partnerships that extend beyond conferences and events, bringing together governments, businesses, communities and international networks to turn ideas into practical urban solutions.

Echoing a key message from the 2026 Mayors Forum, Yu-Ning noted that no city has all the answers. Regardless of size or stage of development, every city has experiences worth sharing. The message resonated strongly with delegates and helped build momentum towards the Mayors Forum of the World Cities Summit 2027 to be held in Mexico City.

Innovation in Affordable Housing Construction

At the UCLG Forum of Regions, Yu-Ning further expanded on how Singapore is transforming affordable housing delivery through innovation. She highlighted the use of AI-powered software and robotics to coordinate autonomous construction machinery, improving productivity, enhancing workplace safety and reducing reliance on manpower in a tight labour market. The presentation reinforced Singapore’s practical approach to addressing urban challenges through innovation and technology.

Singapore’s unique perspective as a city-state also drew recognition from UCLG. Carlos Mascarell Vilar, Head of Regional Affairs and Focal Point for Intermediary Cities at UCLG, noted that Singapore’s experiences offer valuable lessons that cities of different scales can adapt to their own context.

Nature Heals Urban Climate

The conversation continued at the Metropolis General Assembly, where newly re-elected Secretary General, Jordi Vaquer, hosted a fireside chat with Yu-Ning on Singapore’s “City in a Garden” approach. Drawing on her experience as former Chief Executive Officer of National Parks Board, she shared Singapore’s journey of integrating nature into the urban environment and reflected on how this has also contributed to CLC’s work on regenerative cities. The discussion also highlighted the launch of Beyond Sustainability: Building a Regenerative Future for Our Cities at WCS 2026, marking an important milestone in advancing regenerative urban development.

Beyond the conference sessions, Yu-Ning also met with newly appointed UCLG and Metropolis leaders, including Fatiha El Moudni, Mayor of Rabat, Treasurer of UCLG and President of Metropolis, as well as Emilia Saiz, Secretary-General of UCLG. These engagements continue to lay the groundwork for deeper collaboration in capability development, knowledge exchange and the participation of other member cities at Mayors Forum 2027 in Mexico City.

As cities confront increasingly complex global challenges, the engagements in Tangier reaffirmed the importance of learning from one another. Singapore’s contributions continue to demonstrate how local solutions, grounded in practical experience and strengthened through international partnerships, can bring about global impact.

Contributed by: Jason Chan, Deputy Director, Knowledge Platforms