The Origins of the GAP
Envisioned | October 2014
GAP was first envisioned at a meeting during the first Urban Thinkers Campus in Caserta, Italy by partners of the World Urban Campaign, who recognized the need for an inclusive platform that would enable many new actors to bring their urban expertise and to engage in the Habitat III process.
Inaugural Meeting | April 2015
GAP held its inaugural meeting at the Second Preparatory Committee of Habitat III (PrepCom2) in Kenya in April 2015, where it adopted its Constitution, By-Laws, and held its first elections.
Our timeline | 2016 - Present
October 2016
- The Habitat III Conference takes place in Quito Ecuador. The New Urban Agenda references the General Assembly of Partners
- The Executive Committee is invited to meet with UNSG Ban Ki-Moon to discuss GAP’s inputs in the process.
- GAP President and Vice President address opening and closing plenaries.
- At the GAP Fifth Plenary meeting, the General Assembly of Partners votes to build on its momentum to work towards implementation of the New Urban Agenda.
- The Executive Committee undertakes an all-members survey to reaffirm GAPs aims and objectives.
October-December 2016
Amended its Constitution to make it fit for purpose for implementation activities; scheduled and conducted elections
January-February 2017
PCGs crafted Strategic Frameworks for the Implementation of the New Urban Agenda.
January-May 2017
Participated in several expert group meetings on urban safety, food systems, national urban policy, action framework on the implementation of the New Urban Agenda.
May 2017
Convened two plenaries at the UN-Habitat Governing Council to finalize Strategic Frameworks for the Implementation of the New Urban Agenda.
July 2017
Experienced a 5% increase in membership; received US Patent Office registration of trademark (July) and is presently receiving further increase in interest for membership arising from WUF9.
Testified at UN headquarters at Local 2030 during the United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) and to General Assembly’s High-Level Meeting on the Implementation of the New Urban Agenda .
February 2018
- Admitted its 17th Partner Constituent Group - Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity [SOGI], the first UN recognized engagement platform to do so.
- Issued the GAP Kuala Lumpur Declaration calling for formation of permanent WUF Advisory Group as soon as possible to plan the next WUF and launched the GA Partnership Matching Tool to assist in supporting multi‐stakeholder partnerships for the implementation of the New Urban Agenda and associated global agreements.
- Helped convene 16 Stakeholder Roundtables, five assemblies, participated on High Level Roundtables and Special Sessions at WUF 9
- GAP goes to World Urban Forum 10 in Kuala Lumpur; has executive and plenary meetings; sponsored a booth – Passed a code of conduct and received a business plan from working group.
March 2018
Katherine Kline represents GAP in EGM to write the first progress report for the Urban Agenda
July 2018
Attended HLPF and conducted an Executive Committee meeting; GAP elections held
October 2018
GAP participated in World Cities Day at UN headquarters
December 2018
GAP participated in the formation of the Urban Cluster in the NGO Major group that was officially founded in February 2019 ; Executive Meeting held via phone, GAP provides comments on UNH strategic plan; GAP Persons with Disabilities and Older Persons PCG launched the Global Compact on Inclusive and Accessible Cities, in meeting hosted by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development in Berlin.
May 2019
GAP attends UN Habitat Urban Assembly Nairobi held plenary and executive committee meetings with continued discussion; GAP represented at Guangzhou Prize side event
August 2019
Executive Committee meeting; GAP becomes incorporated in NY State and recognized as a 501c 3 organization by the US Department of Treasury
November 2019
GAP attended UCLG World Congress and World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders, sponsored a Town Hall Session, Listening to the City, on Partnerships for Sustainable Urban Development
January 2020
GAP adopts new logo
February 2020
Attended WUF 10 in Abu Dhabi; held Executive Committee and Plenary Meetings; participated in several side events
December 2020
GAP unveils new website
What is in the Pipeline
Towards GAP 2.0
GAP is now reconstituting itself as GAP 2.0 in order to make itself “fit for purpose” and to re-orient its momentum and the mobilization of its partnership and networks towards efficient implementation of the New Urban Agenda at every level. GAP seeks to coordinate with other stakeholder engagement platforms and organizations working on implementation to ensure complimentary and productive work and the realization of the vision of the New Urban Agenda.
Restructuring for Effective Implementation
GAP has been revising its Constitution, By-Laws, Procedures, Protocols, and communications to re-constitute the organization around the goal of successful and cohesive implementation. It is in the process of discussing options for the next step of the organization such as a trademark, incorporation, new logo and branding, etc.
Strategic Frameworks
Each GAP PCG has developed its own strategic framework towards implementation of the New Urban Agenda in consultation with its membership. The PCGs will carry out their own relevant work in relation to the constituency while also seeking to collaborate and contribute to ongoing efforts in order to help ensure inclusive and participatory partnerships.
Local Level Collaborations
GAP has successfully focused on building consensus and advocating for common positions of the PCGs, and has facilitated productive coordination and cooperation at the international level. The GAP has decided to create a directory to ensure that this cooperation reaches down to the local and grassroots levels, creating a system to enable the network organizations and members of GAP to collaborate across and among constituencies around the world for more productive and inclusive projects and actions to implement the New Urban Agenda.
Regional Focal Points
In light of its far-reaching regional memberships and quest to increase the collaboration of its membership at every level, GAP will also be adding structure to include regional focal points of every PCG to ensure that the specific needs, concerns, and projects of the different regions are represented and adequately included within each PCG. This will also enable stronger collaboration among PCGs in local level context.
