Intermediary Cities at a Crossroads: Insights from the UCLG Forum in Kütahya

KÜTAHYA– October, 2021 —  In October 2021, Kütahya hosted the 2nd UCLG World Forum of Intermediary Cities, bringing together global leaders and urban specialists to explore how mid-sized cities can shape a resilient and equitable future. Held in a hybrid format due to pandemic conditions, the Forum focused on “Life Systems for a Resilient Future.”

The Strategic Role of Intermediary Cities

Intermediary cities—linking metropolitan centers with rural regions—play an increasingly crucial role in service delivery, climate adaptation and localizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Discussions throughout the Forum underscored how these cities can support social cohesion, strengthen territorial governance and lead community-centered recovery efforts.

Opening the event, UCLG Secretary General Emilia Saiz highlighted the value of “cities of proximity,” noting that intermediary cities are uniquely positioned to advance people-focused transformation.

The Forum’s Key Outcome: The Kütahya Declaration

The event culminated in the Kütahya Declaration, which shifts the intermediary cities agenda from awareness to implementation. Key priorities include embedding resilience into territorial planning, reinforcing essential public services, promoting care-based local economies and securing greater recognition of intermediary cities in global policymaking.

Looking Toward Future Collaboration

The gathering not only strengthened global dialogue on the strategic role of intermediary cities but also reinforced Kütahya’s own efforts to align cultural heritage, local development and sustainability. By combining high-level reflection with practical exchange, the Forum affirmed intermediary cities as vital actors in shaping a more balanced and resilient future.