Local Pathways Fellowship 2020 cohort reaches 100+ cities

Some of the greatest development challenges are being created in cities, therefore they play a crucial role in the achievement of the SDGs. The Local Pathways Fellowship (LPF) is one of the world's leading training and research programs that supports capacity building in cities by empowering young urban leaders. 

The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network – Youth Initiative (SDSN Youth) has elected its 2020 Local Pathways Fellows. This year's cohort gathers 128 young urban leaders from 103 cities to develop practical solutions that tackle the challenges around SDG 11. This time SDSN Youth received a record of 1,200 applications for the Fellowship. 

This year’s cohort includes a diverse scope of professionals, including but not limited to urban planners, researchers, city analysts, sustainable consultants, environment architects, and social entrepreneurs. More than half (55%) of the 128 SDGs advocates distinguished as 2020 fellows of the Local Pathways are women. The new generation of LPF fellows reveals rich geographic diversity representing 103 different cities and 53 countries.

Under the LPF guidance, this new class of fellows begins its journey in February to pursue their dream of making their cities smart, fair, and sustainable that could lead to big changes. 

The 2020 Local Pathways fellows geographic diversity

Launched in 2017, the fellowship is open to young people across the globe, passionate about sustainable urban development. The program, which is in its third year, offers a practically-oriented training program designed to enable young fellows to understand the process of “localizing” SDG 11 in the cities they represent and guide them through the development of a project. 

To view the complete list of the 2020 LPF Fellows and their biographies, visit our website.

Congratulations to this year's fellows!