What is the UK Healthy Cities Network?
The WHO European Healthy Cities Network was founded in 1988 as a political, cross-cutting, and intersectoral initiative implemented through direct collaboration with cities. The network operates in five-year phases, each focusing on different priority areas. Currently, the network is in Phase 7 (2019-2025), prioritizing themes presented in the Copenhagen Consensus of Mayors and aligning with Health 2020, the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and WHO’s Thirteenth General Programme of Work. This represents the network’s significant alignment with global and regional strategies, positioning cities to put health on political and social agendas.
The network comprises flagship WHO healthy cities and national networks. These flagship cities maintain direct interactions with WHO Europe, while the national networks bring together cities within specific member states. Both receive political, strategic, and technical support, along with capacity-building from the WHO. Together their collective objective is to engage governments at the local level in promoting equity, participatory governance, and intersectoral collaboration to address the determinants of health. The successful implementation of this approach hinges on three key pillars: technical excellence, community participation, and political commitment at the local level.
Belfast’s Role as Secretariat
As Secretariat, we:
- Coordinate meetings and activities of the UK Healthy Cities Network
- Facilitate shared learning and collaboration across member cities
- Support cities to align with WHO Europe’s Healthy Cities themes and priorities
- Promote the voice of UK cities within the WHO European Healthy Cities Network
- Provide administrative and strategic support for the development and delivery of the network’s work plan
- Champion the UK Healthy Cities approach through policy engagement and advocacy
Belfast was appointed as Secretariat in April 2025, reflecting it’s longstanding leadership within the WHO European Healthy Cities movement and as an active member of the Network since its foundation in 1988, with over 35 years of experience tackling health inequalities, championing healthy public policy, and building healthier places.
For more information on the UK Healthy Cities Network or to get involved, contact Anne at UKHCN@belfasthealthycities.com
