Cities

The project involves three case study cities, each holding diverse stories about how the city shifted from dominant to sustainable and equitable urban development models. The cities are Belfast, Belo Horizonte and Bogotá. The case study cities were chosen using collaboratively produced selection criteria and a workshop.

The methodology for this study values local knowledge and ways of knowing. Working in partnerships, researcher teams use inclusive and participatory approaches to explore “change stories” in each case study city, including through community-based participatory research with citizen researchers.

Research in each city is led by local academics and community-based partners. In Belfast, Northern Ireland, the project is led at Queen’s University, with collaborator Participation and the Practice of Rights (PPR). In Belo Horizonte, Brazil, the research is led at Federal University of Minas Gerais Brazil and the Observatory for Urban Health, with community partners O Movimento de Luta nos Bairros, Vilas e Favelas (MLB) and Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra (MST). In Bogotá, Colombia, researchers at Universidad de los Andes, are collaborating with Consejo Consultivo de Mujeres (CCM).

Front cover of graphic summary for Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Depicts woman in forefront with a pop-up message that reads "Welcome to Belo Horizonte". She is standing in a community garden with houses nearby. Other people are working in the fields, tending food crops.

Front cover of graphic summary for Bogotá, Colombia. Depicts woman in forefront with a pop-up message that reads "Welcome to Bogotá". Background shows two people cycling near a building with the city visible behind them.

Front cover of graphic summary for Belfast, UK. Depicts a woman in the forefront with a pop-up message that reads "Welcome to Belfast". She is standing on a residential street with terraced two-storey homes and bunting across the street.

The graphic summaries are available in English, Spanish and Portuguese (coming to this website soon).