
Urbanization is expected to reach 70% globally by 2050

Urban population growth can increase a city’s vulnerability to shocks and stresses


Digital transformation is a key enabler of resilience
Digitization and Resilience for the Cities of Tomorrow
Today, digital payments are an essential element of urban resilience and future readiness, enabling cities to prosper, to withstand shocks and stresses, and to serve the needs of the entire population.
However, to ensure that these solutions power cities effectively, inclusive digital finance options must be accessible to all especially the vulnerable and marginalized population who frequently lack access to traditional banking and finance. Currently, city governments are working on strengthening digital economies to deliver more efficient and effective services while making them more accessible to all citizens, to unlock economic and social benefits and to become better prepared to adapt, survive and prosper when facing future shocks and stresses.
The Partnership
The Future Ready Cities program builds urban resilience through education and pilot digital finance solutions, created for cities and with cities. It aims to empower network cities and to demonstrate the power of these solutions for cities everywhere.
Digital Payments for Urban Resilience: Key Learnings from Cities
The Future Ready Cities program aims to inspire cities around the world to harness the power of digital solutions to face their urban challenges.
From 2020-22, the program supported Guadalajara, Mexico; Quito, Ecuador; and Salvador, Brazil, to implement digital payment solutions that improve public transportation experiences, support urban farmers, and improve digital and financial literacy for women. In 2023, Montevideo and Panama City embarked on their own journey to advance urban resilience through digital solutions.
What is urban resilience?
[dsm_breadcrumbs show_home_icon="off" _builder_version="4.21.0" _module_preset="default" items_text_color="#8e8e8e" separators_text_color="#8e8e8e" current_text_color="#8e8e8e" custom_margin="||||false|false" custom_margin_tablet="||||false|false"...
Why is digital transformation essential in building resilience?
[dsm_breadcrumbs show_home_icon="off" _builder_version="4.21.0" _module_preset="default" items_text_color="#8e8e8e" separators_text_color="#8e8e8e" current_text_color="#8e8e8e" custom_margin="||||false|false" custom_margin_tablet="||||false|false"...
Why are Digital Payments a key element of digital transformation?
[dsm_breadcrumbs show_home_icon="off" _builder_version="4.21.0" _module_preset="default" items_text_color="#8e8e8e" separators_text_color="#8e8e8e" current_text_color="#8e8e8e" custom_margin="||||false|false" custom_margin_tablet="||||false|false"...
How can city governments incorporate digitalization when building urban resilience?
[dsm_breadcrumbs show_home_icon="off" _builder_version="4.21.0" _module_preset="default" items_text_color="#8e8e8e" separators_text_color="#8e8e8e" current_text_color="#8e8e8e" custom_margin="||||false|false" custom_margin_tablet="||||false|false"...
Why should cities make digitalization more inclusive?
[dsm_breadcrumbs show_home_icon="off" _builder_version="4.21.0" _module_preset="default" items_text_color="#8e8e8e" separators_text_color="#8e8e8e" current_text_color="#8e8e8e" custom_margin="||||false|false" custom_margin_tablet="||||false|false"...
What is a Robust Data Foundation?
[dsm_breadcrumbs show_home_icon="off" _builder_version="4.21.0" _module_preset="default" items_text_color="#8e8e8e" separators_text_color="#8e8e8e" current_text_color="#8e8e8e" custom_margin="||||false|false" custom_margin_tablet="||||false|false"...
What is the Future Ready Cities program?
[dsm_breadcrumbs show_home_icon="off" _builder_version="4.21.0" _module_preset="default" items_text_color="#8e8e8e" separators_text_color="#8e8e8e" current_text_color="#8e8e8e" custom_margin="||||false|false" custom_margin_tablet="||||false|false"...
Explore Urban Challenges
Cities face a number of challenges in the shape of acute shocks and stresses. Shocks include disasters, disease outbreaks etc., while stresses can manifest in the form of economic vulnerabilities, social injustices and compromised management systems.
Digital transformation allows cities to prepare for such challenges, in the case of disasters (through early warning data enabled forecast systems) or improving citizen involvement (through digital platforms) among others while also unlocking important co-benefits for the development and growth of local populations and economies, helping to close the digital gap and other inequality scenarios.
Discover digital practical solutions for some of the most pressing urban challenges:

Increasing speed and efficiency of government payments





Increasing speed and efficiency of government payments

Reaching sustainable, effective and user-friendly urban mobility systems

Making good use of city data for better informed decision making

Reactivating local economies through SMEs
