The International Outstanding Practices on Urban Regeneration (IOPUR), formerly known as the World Urban Regeneration Best Practices (WURBP), is a joint effort between the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and Shanghai University (SHU). As an important component of the joint project “Strengthening Urban-Rural Linkages through Regeneration”, the initiative actively responds to the Global Development Initiative, advances the implementation of the New Urban Agenda, and accelerates the localisation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11), in line with global development priorities. IOPUR not only supports the core priority areas of the UN-Habitat Strategic Plan (2026–2029), but also seeks to explore and promote pathways for sustainable urban development and adaptive regeneration by showcasing outstanding practices from around the world.
In May 2026, during the 13th World Urban Forum in Azerbaijan, the Top 10 Outstanding Practices and the Shortlisted Practices for the inaugural IOPUR Case Collection were officially announced.
The International Outstanding Practices on Urban Regeneration initiative aims to recognize outstanding efforts from around the world that have made meaningful contributions to urban-rural regeneration. Its goal is to showcase, exchange, and disseminate outstanding practices and innovative solutions in global urban-rural regeneration.
By evaluating, researching, and disseminating practical cases, the initiative aims to build a global platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration in urban-rural regeneration. Our goal is to offer practical guidance and thought leadership—helping to shape a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable future across the urban-rural continuum.
The initiative drives global urban regeneration collaboration, integrating research with practice. We invite scholars and practitioners worldwide to advance case studies and theoretical applications.
The initiative extracts and refines urban regeneration strategies to help stakeholders understand complexities, address challenges, and drive innovative governance solutions.
The initiative promotes interdisciplinary and cross-sector collaboration, encouraging global professionals to develop innovative urban regeneration solutions and sustainable partnerships.
The initiative gathers young talents in urban regeneration, providing a global exchange platform to foster their growth and development, enabling them shine brightly in this transformative era.
The International Outstanding Practices on Urban Regeneration is a joint effort between the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and Shanghai University (SHU). UN-Habitat and Shanghai University (SHU) are undertaking a joint project titled ‘Strengthening Urban-Rural Linkages through Regeneration’, with the second cycle of the case collection of International Outstanding Practices on Urban Regeneration (IOPUR) as one of its components. IOPUR aligns with global development priorities by advancing the implementation of the New Urban Agenda and accelerating the localisation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with a strong focus on SDG 11.
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