The city of Belfast was one of the first cities designated to the WHO European Healthy Cities Network in 1987 and Belfast Healthy Cities, established that year, was the first partnership organisation within the city. Belfast Healthy Cities partnership has a long and successful history of working to address the social determinants of health within the city. It has had a key role in creating awareness on inequalities in health and developing and applying new concepts regionally such as Health Impact Assessment and Healthy Urban Planning.

Belfast Healthy Cities approach has become increasingly recognised as central to improving public health in Northern Ireland. It was a key influence on Northern Ireland’s public health strategy Investing for Health, which aims to add years to life and reduce inequalities in health by addressing the wider determinants of health.