As the Chair of the Group of Friends of Inclusive Growth, Ambassador Yohannes is helping to launch the OECD’s Inclusive Cities Campaign, with the goal of mobilizing and empowering local governments as leaders in the transition towards a more inclusive form of economic growth.
As noted by Ambassador Yohannes at the launch of the Group of Friends, cities are often the “first responders” in the battle against inequality. They are major generators of growth and economic opportunity; almost 60% of jobs created in the OECD area between 2000 and 2013 were in 275 metropolitan areas. Yet research by the OECD and the Ford Foundation indicates that inequality tends to higher in large metropolitan areas. Cities therefore have a crucial role in making inclusive growth happen.
The Inclusive Cities Campaign will be launched in New York City on March 29, 2016, in partnership with the Ford Foundation. Participating mayors will be invited to join a network of “Inclusive Growth Champions” that will play an advocacy role and help the OECD shape a policy agenda for inclusive growth. As a first step, the Champion mayors will endorse a New York Proposal for Inclusive Cities.
Officials from cities in OECD member and partner countries are invited to participate. More information is available on the OECD website.
