CIFAL Málaga, affiliated with the United Nations agency UNITAR and located in the Costa del Sol’s capital, along with Smart City Cluster, the representative of the smart cities industry in Spain, have entered into a collaborative agreement. This partnership focuses on two key areas: promoting leadership training for public and private sector leaders and developing research projects on sustainability and the advancement of cities.

The cooperation agreement, set for a three-year term, was signed by Julio Andrade, the coordinator of UNITAR’s Global CIFAL Network, and Miguel Ángel Romero, the president of Smart City Cluster, at the CIFAL headquarters in Málaga.

Julio Andrade highlighted the significance of such agreements in “continuing to bring the Sustainable Development Goals into all areas and achieving, as stated in the 2030 Agenda, that no one is left behind.”

Miguel Ángel Romero emphasized the agreement as “a magnificent tool for empowering local, regional, and national authorities as a first step in transforming cities.”

Both entities have showcased their extensive experience in educational activities through various initiatives launched in recent years. For instance, since 2018, CIFAL Málaga-UNITAR has trained over 300,000 individuals.

In turn, Smart City Cluster has launched a specialized course for smart city managers in collaboration with AENOR, the Circular Economy Academy with Endesa, and the SMARTEC training program, funded by the Biodiversity Foundation, focusing on urban sustainability.

Finally, they have already commenced joint efforts with the submission of a European project aimed at developing urban environments by integrating nature-based solutions and the concepts of the New European Bauhaus. This initiative calls for a reflection on the design of living spaces, taking into account local culture and strengthening the bonds between different European countries.