Did you know that only 8 percent of the global population live more than one hour away from an urban centre? This number can be far higher at the country level – well beyond 50 percent in countries like Madagascar, South Sudan, and Zimbabwe.

On June 3, over 100 participants from around the world joined the virtual launch and live demonstration of FAO's new City-Region Explorer, a powerful new digital application developed under the Hand-in-Hand (HIH) Initiative in collaboration with the University of Twente and ITC. 

The event highlighted how the new application uses interactive maps and advanced data analytics to visualize how urban and rural areas are connected – enabling smarter regional planning and stronger urban–rural linkages for sustainable agrifood systems. 

With growing pressures on infrastructure, mobility, and food systems, the tool offers fresh insights into how more than 30 000 towns and cities across the globe connect within short travel times to form over 4 200 primary city-regions.

A tool for smarter regional planning

Facilitated by Andrea Cattaneo, Senior Economist at FAO, the session featured expert perspectives from Associate Professor, Serkan Girgin from the University of Twente; Senior Geographer, Benjamin P. Stewart from the World Bank Group; Mark Mungai Muiruri from UN-Habitat and Maria Ignacia Hadad from FAO. 

Data alone is not enough – what matters is how we use it to make decisions that improve lives,” said Andrea Cattaneo. “The City-Region Explorer brings together spatial intelligence and policy relevance, helping countries plan smarter, fairer, and more connected futures." 

During the discussion, panelists highlighted the importance of regionally integrated data and the potential for tools like the City-Region Explorer to support evidence-based planning across sectors.

A live demonstration by Serkan Girgin guided participants through the application’s functionalities – including how to explore region-specific data, visualize urban linkages, and generate customized insights for planning and decision-making.

"This is not just a research exercise,” noted Serkan Girgin. “It’s about turning data into something meaningful, applicable, and useful for a wide range of users."

Participants learned how the tool enables:

• Analysis of how regions are organized around urban centers
• Insights into the role of mid-sized cities in providing services and employment
• Access to spatial data on agriculture, poverty, and the environment
• Identification of priority areas for inclusive, sustainable investment

The tool is part of FAO’s commitment to leveraging data for development, especially under the HIH Initiative, which targets high-impact interventions in countries with the highest potential to eliminate poverty and hunger.  

Missed the launch?

The event recording is available for those who could not attend. Users are encouraged to watch the video tutorials and explore the tool and consider how it can inform policy, investment, and planning at national and subnational levels.