2023 has been an inspiring twelve months of action from across the Cities Changing Diabetes network. Activity with our local partnerships took new forms and built on existing strengths in chronic disease prevention. Actions this year have centred on supporting healthy diets and physical activity in cities. To support and drive these priority agendas Cities Changing Diabetes has developed guides and reports, supported pilot projects and action, and shared network knowledge in global and local communities.

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It has been another year of network expansion, and we are delighted to have welcomed onboard the cities of Campinas and Turku – the first cities from Brazil and Finland, respectively. Partners in Madrid, Asahi, Seoul, Bogota, Lisbon and China have published innovative research. 2023 was a year of breakthroughs in the fields of impact investing for prevention, creating community spaces that support better urban health, and so much more.  

In 2024 Cities Changing Diabetes will be celebrating its tenth anniversary. A decade of action on preventing chronic diseases in cities has been possible thanks to the tireless work of the programme’s local implementing partners.

Returning to a busy 2023, it is impossible to highlight all Cities Changing Diabetes partner achievements here – there are simply too many. Below are some thematic highlights from the year – expand each headline for a recap of an action-packed year.

Throughout 2023, several projects to enhance access to healthy food transitioned successfully from research phases to tangible outputs, providing cities with practical tools to benefit the entire network.

In Bogotá, the pilot phase of the Thriving Foodscapes study concluded, and early observations suggest the local population has improved their knowledge about healthy food and physical activity. You can see the difference it has made to the community in this short video.

The launch of the Observing Foodscapes LITE web app means people in cities throughout the network can use this tool as a shortcut to map and understand the influence the food environment has over eating behaviours. Together with the Ajuda Foodscapes report, this has been a year when big pieces of Thriving Foodscapes work truly came to life.  The experience from Bogotá has also influenced the work with foodscapes in Lisbon and Campinas.

Healthier eating for families was addressed, with a novel approach involving fathers and their children in making healthy food together. This concept was thoroughly explored in a CCD Rounds webinar and downloadable case study with our partner Hello Kitchen, both of which have been shared with partners in Canada to inspire a local intervention.  

In 2023, Cities Changing Diabetes focus on creating green and vibrant neighbourhoods was greatly influenced by the 15-minute city approach. In July, this approach was showcased through a public exhibition and a masterclass in connection to the UIA World Congress of Architects in Copenhagen, where representatives from six network cities participated. By October, this concept gained further visibility through CCD rounds, and in December, it received significant global attention as part of a sustainable urban development announcement at COP28.

Equity and inclusivity are central to our vision for healthier cities, and the theory behind shaping and supporting a community hub took a hands-on turn in 2023. We are pleased to be a founding partner in SPOR10 – a former railway site in southern Copenhagen transformed into a socially-inclusive space to engage in sports, have healthy food and share cultural experiences.

In October, SPOR10 began opening its doors for action-packed Wednesday evenings of healthy activities and communal dining – the popularity of these weekly showcases is proof that enabling urban populations with opportunities to engage in healthy, inclusive activities brings people of all walks of life together. With this super video from the public launch in the summer, you can get a flavour of what SPOR10 is all about. 

2023 was also a big year for new pilot interventions, programmes and resources to support physical activity in urban settings. Cities Changing Diabetes took part in the Velo-City conference in June, where cycling was shown to be a useful contributor to more equitable urban environments. We also forged a new partnership with the European Cyclists’ Federation and collaborated to create the Cycling for healthier and more inclusive communities report.

The focus on increasing physical activity for children shone through in the new Move For Fun playbook collaboration, our CCD Rounds webinars on Creating healthy environments for youth in the Netherlands with JOGG, and enabling more physical activity for children in urban settings with the LEGO Foundation, V4 Sport and ISCA. 

This year, Cities Changing Diabetes stepped up its support for and sharing about social impact investments to unlock new funding for prevention services in cities.

In May, the CCD Rounds webinar focused on creating healthier communities through social impact investments, sharing experiences from Aarhus in Denmark and The Hague in the Netherlands. In November, with Raven Indigenous Impact Foundation and Dalberg, we hosted a masterclass in Ottawa, bringing together experienced impact investors and city representatives, marking a significant step forward in advancing conversation and actions on NCDs. In the words of delegate Simone Gross from Maycomb Capital: “Having worked with outcome-based financing for ten years, I have never been in a room with this many people interested in the topic.” Momentum seems to be gathering, and there is a growing desire to find innovative solutions for health. Cities Changing Diabetes is currently collating tools and case studies as several cities mature their sustainable finance proposals – keep your eye out for more in 2024.