Dear Colleagues and friends of UIL,

We hope this message finds you well.

We are pleased to announce that the Call for Applications for 2025 to join the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC) will be launched in the coming weeks. This application period, which occurs biennially, will soon be open to cities worldwide. For more details on how to apply, please visit the 'Join the Network' page on our website.

The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC) is an international, policy-oriented network that provides inspiration, know-how and examples of best practice. Coordinated by the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL), its mission is to support and accelerate the practice of lifelong learning in cities worldwide by promoting policy dialogue and peer learning among member cities, forging links and fostering partnerships, building capacities for lifelong learning, and developing tools to encourage and recognize progress in building learning cities. You can find more information on UIL website.

This year, to further diversify and expand the network, we strongly encourage applications from cities in Africa and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), in line with UNESCO`s Priority Africa and the GNLC Medium-Term Strategy 2025–2030 adopted at the Sixth International Conference on Learning Cities (ICLC 6).

We recognize the valuable opportunity for these regions to engage with and benefit from the GNLC. Accordingly, UIL remains fully committed to providing guidance and support throughout the upcoming application process, with particular attention to cities from Africa and SIDS.

Therefore, we kindly reach out to you for your assistance: If you know of any cities from Africa and/or from SIDS that would be interested in joining the network, please share the information with Ms Angela Owusu-Boampong at a.owusu-boampong@unesco.org and Ms Nina Deljarrie at n.deljarrie@unesco.org with copy to the GNLC Coordination Team at learningcities@unesco.org. We strongly encourage you to share this opportunity with interested cities and stakeholders within your networks.

Additionally, UIL will host an information webinar on 19 March 2025 at 11:00 CET, where we will provide detailed insights into the GNLC and offer guidance on the application process for cities. We will also extend invitations to the webinar to the contact persons and cities you recommend to us. Please find the registration link here.

Thank you for your continued support in promoting learning cities worldwide.

Best regards,

GNLC Coordination Team

learningcities@unesco.org