City administrators, planners advised to adapt use of technology in service delivery as more people flock to urban cities 

Washington – The share of the world’s population living in urban areas is expected to increase to 60% in 2030. This is in accordance with a number of participants that attended a conference on diplomacy forum for cities that was hosted by Meridian in Washington DC recently.

The forum brought together participants from Europe, Africa, Latin America, and North America among others and also comprised of senior diplomatic business and Federal state, Cities and Local government leaders.

Among the key issue which dominated member’s discussion were a need to implore the use of technology in service delivery. Diplomacy forum noted that the majority and growing proportion of the world’s population is living in urban areas, hence with an expectation og 60% increase by 2030.

According to the discussants, more and more people will flock to cities in this decade and it is imperative that housing, education, health and transport needs among others, are urgently and consistently need to be addressed by city planners with emphasis on adapting the use of technology in service delivery.

The diplomacy forum also focused on networking across national borders to explore opportunities for cooperation and collaboration and create learning communities to address urban challenges which are similar across the globe.

Among the participants were Uganda’s capital city Executive director, Dorothy Kisaka. Speaking at the annual forum, Kisaka said that Kampala city has learnt key lessons from networking with the ASToN – Network, Africa Small Towns Network which consists of eleven cities.

Kisaka said that cities like share methodologies to resolve urban challenges by using digital tools, particularly in revenue collection, public transport sector management, and air pollution among others.

The city administrators forum included participants from Ukraine where cities are rebuilding after the destruction by the war. They underscored the importance of intentionality to provide for safety and healthy spaces that address climate change issues.

Relatedly, Kisaka paid a courtesy call to Uganda’s Ambassador to USA Robie Kakonge, at the Ugandan Embassy. The duo discussed among others a joint commitment towards advancing Kampala smart city agenda by enabling Kampala city to network with other cities.