Increasingly, decision-makers and leaders, in national and subnational governments, international organisations, business and community organisations, are looking at what has worked, what has not and which lessons are transferrable to their own contexts. This Compendium contains 17 case studies and is a sourcebook for all those interested to learn from best practices.

This Compendium follows the publication of the first Compendium in early 2020. UN-Habitat has developed these series of case studies for urban and rural practitioners and leaders interested in territorial approaches to development. This second Compendium provides new inspiring examples of integrative efforts that apply the principles and actions of UN-Habitat’s “Urban-Rural Linkages: Guiding Principles and Framework for Action” (URL-GP), showcasing practical entry points to harness the synergy of linking urban and rural, food and biodiversity, climate and health, soil and nutrition. The Compendium is relevant for actions at local and territorial levels and in different geographical locations.

The case studies highlight the necessity of respecting and promoting human rights, incorporating integrated governance mechanisms, ensuring the meaningful participation of people, local institutions and communities, and protecting and sustaining the areas and actors that are important to biodiversity and ecosystem services. Finally, the case studies point to URL-GP as a pathway to a balanced inclusion of both rural and urban actors in the work to localise and implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the New Urban Agenda through integrated territorial development.