Our Impact

The Local Pathways Fellowship launched its inaugural cohort in 2018, attracting significant interest from cities worldwide and receiving a total of 300 applications. The momentum continued to build, reaching its peak in 2020, just before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic with an impressive total of 1191 submissions (following the December 2019 call). While the pandemic temporarily impacted application numbers, there has been a resurgence of interest, as evidenced by the 2023 call receiving over 1250 applications. It is worth noting that a significant majority of the applicants hail from the global south reflecting the disparity in access to knowledge and content related to SDG 11 between youth in the global north and south. Despite these disparities, the Local Pathways Fellowship remains committed to inclusivity and strives to bridge the knowledge gap by empowering young individuals from diverse backgrounds to actively contribute to sustainable urban development.

Over the first five cohorts (2018-2022), the Local Pathways Fellowship (LPF) has garnered over 3400 applications from individuals across the globe, showcasing the program's growing popularity and global reach. Initially, LPF aimed to select a minimum of 50 fellows per cohort, resulting in cohorts of 63 and 57 fellows for the 2018 and 2019 cohorts, respectively. However, in response to the increased influx of applications, LPF adjusted its desired number of fellows to 100 per cohort, allowing for a broader reach to talented individuals passionate about sustainable urban development.

The numbers of fellows across the five years are as shown below:

Today with 5 cohorts under its belt, LPF has successfully grown into a network of over 450 fellows from 225 different cities across 85 countries who are leading change on the ground and improving the quality of life in the cities they represent. Through their collective efforts, they embody the spirit of leadership and innovation, making a tangible impact on sustainable urban development globally.