The collaboration between the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) and IHS is rooted in a shared goal: empowering urban professionals to plan, finance and manage sustainable infrastructure. Through the Urban Management Tools for Climate Change (UMTCC) course, the partnership combines global expertise with local relevance, offering practical tools to address climate challenges in cities around the world.
A shared vision for local impact
The partnership began as a joint effort to support city leaders in building resilience through effective tools addressing climate change at the local level, as Daniel Platz, Senior Economic Affairs Officer at UN-DESA explains. He highlights the course’s unique value in connecting global policy with local practice and building capacity in planning, financing, and managing sustainable urban infrastructure
“When I taught the class, I was genuinely impressed by the students’ level of engagement and the depth of their questions.”
The role of Infrastructure Asset Management
At the heart of UMTCC is Infrastructure Asset Management (IAM)—an approach that helps cities build resilience and ensures that infrastructure investments deliver value for generations. “It’s not just about maintaining roads or water systems,” Daniel notes. “It’s about making smart, long-term decisions that protect communities and maximise limited resources.” The course draws heavily from the UN Handbook on Infrastructure Asset Management, which highlights important principles such as life-cycle costing, risk-based planning and inclusive stakeholder engagement.
Student contributions with real-world impact
One of the collaboration's most distinctive elements is its focus on applying theory to practice. Students from the MSc in Urban Management and Development have reviewed real Asset Management Action Plans (AMAPs) and provided recommendations on financing and implementation.
"Their reviews have provided local governments with fresh, practical insights,” says Daniel. “In many cases, these contributions have helped city professionals rethink how they prioritise investments and improve service delivery.”
Building skills for sustainable infrastructure
Beyond technical knowledge, the course is about capacity building and leadership. The course equips urban leaders with tools like asset inventorying, performance monitoring and financial sustainability planning. These skills are fundamental to effective urban management, particularly as cities face the pressures of climate change and urban growth.
“UMTCC is about more than just knowledge transfer—it’s about empowerment."
Daniel Platz
Senior Economic Affairs Officer at UN-DESA
Looking to the future
Looking ahead, both UN DESA and IHS are exploring how to deepen the course’s relevance and impact. “We’re eager to explore new frontiers—like integrating digital tools into asset management or deepening our focus on climate adaptation and inclusive finance,” Daniel shares. As the challenges facing cities evolve, so too does the need for practical, hands-on training programmes like the Urban Management Tools for Climate Change.
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- More information
Explore the Urban Management Tools for Climate Change short course at www.ihs.nl/umtcc.
