by Gulnar Hasnain
In December 2024, I had the privilege of visiting Colombia —a country where urban resilience is continuously tested and reimagined. Over two weeks, I explored Bogotá, Medellín, and Cali, witnessing how these cities address the intersection of inequality, violence, and environmental challenges. Through conversations with policymakers, project leaders, and residents, I gained insights into innovative urban transformations rooted in community-driven action and systemic change.
I was particularly thrilled to visit the cities whose models were the inspiration for my PhD which I am currently undertaking at the Institute for Global Prosperity under the supervision of Dr Kate Maclean (IGP), and Professor Peter Bishop (Bartlett School of Architecture). My research looks at the adoption of urban violence prevention strategies in cities and while London is my main focus, I am particularly interested in the role of city leadership and governance structures, and in how and why certain policies are adopted.
The initiatives adopted in Colombia have historically been showcased as models for policy transfer, so it was exciting to talk to some of the people involved in implementation on the ground, including former Mayor of Cali, Rodrigo Guerrero and Former Deputy Mayor (Bogotá) for the Environment, Carolina Urrutia, C40 and the Breathe Cities Initiative.
Cities of Contrast: The Colombian Urban Experience
Colombia’s cities are dynamic mosaics of contrast. In Bogotá, the heart of the city juxtaposes sprawling informal settlements, reflecting deep socio-economic divides. Medellín’s Comuna 13, once a hub of violence, is now alive with vibrant graffiti and music, while neighbourhoods like Laureles represent the city’s modern development. Meanwhile, Cali, shaped by its Afro-Caribbean rhythms, continues to navigate the scars of social unrest from 2021, balancing innovation with entrenched inequalities.
Across all three cities, public spaces serve as platforms for resilience, contestation, and hope - where human stories shape the urban narrative.
Bogotá: Environmental Justice as Urban Survival
Bogotá, home to over 8 million residents, is redefining how urban policies can simultaneously tackle social and environmental challenges. Its approach prioritises inclusion, survival, and dignity.
C40 and Breathe Cities Initiative
Bogotá is a prominent participant in the C40 network, showcasing how cities can combat climate change through collaborative urban action. As part of its commitment, Bogotá has implemented several C40-led initiatives aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting urban resilience. One notable example is the integration of the Breathe Cities Initiative, which targets air quality improvement through data-driven policies and innovative urban planning.
• Zones for Better Air Quality (ZUMAs): Addressing the city’s most polluted areas, ZUMAs adapt global models like London’s Clean Air Zones to create hyper-local solutions that combine green infrastructure and community-led interventions.
• Women Who Re-Green Initiative: Empowering over 8,000 women from marginalised neighbourhoods, this initiative transforms caretakers of homes into environmental leaders, linking financial independence with public space renewal.
• Urban Agriculture: Supported by partnerships like the Éxito Foundation, Bogotá’s urban gardens address food security, foster community cohesion, and highlight the critical role of private-sector collaboration in sustaining long-term policies.

Medellín: Innovation Born from Transformation
Medellín’s transformation from one of the world’s most dangerous cities to a global model of urban innovation showcases the power of inclusion and creativity.
• Comuna 13:
Once synonymous with violence, Comuna 13 now attracts visitors through guided tours of its murals and music-filled streets. These cultural initiatives empower residents economically while reshaping the area’s narrative as one of resilience and creativity.
• MetroCable:
Introduced under Mayor Sergio Fajardo, this gondola network connects isolated hillside communities to the city’s economic core, symbolising inclusion and bridging geographic and socio-economic divides.
• Private-Sector Partnerships:
Initiatives like the Éxito Foundation’s urban gardens integrate sustainability with economic growth, demonstrating how businesses can contribute meaningfully to urban renewal.

Cali: Collaborating to Address Inequality
Cali leans on its legacy of public health innovation to address systemic inequalities through partnerships and community-driven programs.
• Propacífico and the Valle Commitment:
This initiative addresses unemployment, poverty, and inequality through programs like urban gardens and community dining halls, serving over two million meals and cultivating 36 gardens.
• Youth Empowerment:
Programs such as Forjar Oportunidades and Abriendo Caminos provide at-risk youth with skill-building opportunities and behaviour-change interventions, offering them a path out of cycles of violence.
• Data-Driven Governance:
Under former Mayor Rodrigo Guerrero, Cali implemented a public health approach to violence, emphasizing data collection and targeted interventions. This model has significantly reduced homicides and reshaped perceptions of violence.
Global Lessons from Colombian Cities
Colombia’s cities serve as laboratories of resilience, offering actionable insights for cities worldwide:
• Environmental Justice:
Bogotá’s ZUMAs can inspire cities like Lisbon and Chicago that do not have the same congestion charging infrastructure as say London for example to prioritise vulnerable communities in their air quality initiatives.
• Cultural Engagement:
Medellín’s integration of art and mentorship into urban renewal offers a roadmap for cities like London to address youth engagement and violence reduction.
• Evidence-Based Policies:
Cali’s data-driven approach to violence prevention showcases the importance of measurable outcomes in addressing systemic challenges.

Towards a Global Urban Dialogue
Colombian cities remind us that resilience is not a fixed destination but a continuous process of adaptation and collaboration. As C40 emphasises, “The fight for a just, inclusive, and climate-resilient future happens block by block, neighbourhood by neighbourhood.” Bogotá, Medellín, and Cali exemplify this ethos, demonstrating how urban transformation requires bold action, meaningful partnerships, and centring the needs of the most affected.
For cities like London, the task is not to replicate Colombia’s initiatives but to adapt their principles. By embracing these lessons, cities can craft locally rooted solutions that address systemic inequities while fostering sustainable and inclusive growth.
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