Introduction to Empowering Community Leadership
In a city facing rapid, unplanned urbanisation and urban density, social and community participation are key. The city of Bogota, Colombia, has embraced the WHO Initiative on urban governance for health and well-being, using it to strengthen a collective health vision in their local government through co-creation practices, social participation, and intersectoral action.
The Impact of the Initiative in Kennedy Locality
The initiative has had a particularly positive impact in the locality of Kennedy, which has the highest percentage of persons with disabilities in the city. The locality focused on improving participatory processes with persons with disabilities and their careers, to determine their needs and priorities. By strengthening the leadership of the members of the Local Disability Council, the locality has seen significant improvements in social participation and has strengthened health governance.
Health Governance and its Importance
“Health governance demonstrates that if we have a decent healthy environment, and we have good air quality, open spaces, spaces to do sports and culture, we all grow. And of course our health, not only physical but mental, also grows,” said Yeimy Carolina Agudelo, local mayor of Kennedy.
The Role of the Local Disability Council
Training and Capacity Building
The initiative began in 2022 with two prioritization workshops, as part of the WHO Urbanlead program, in collaboration with the Kennedy Local Mayor’s office. Inclusive strategies were identified to enable persons with disabilities to engage, and training was provided for local leaders.
Outcomes and Future Plans
In 2023, more than 10 workshops were held to strengthen capacities in collective health, social participation, and intersectoral action. These workshops also helped narrow down priority areas by community actors: the need to ensure inclusion of adults with disabilities in health and social services. As a result, a proposal was put forward to develop an Interactive Well-being Center for people with disabilities, including their caregivers, and families.
Conclusion
By taking an equitable and empowering approach to health and well-being in their locality, Kennedy is demonstrating how disability inclusion and participation can strengthen health governance and help communities thrive. The WHO Initiative on urban governance for health and well-being (2020–2028), supported by the Swiss Agency for Cooperation and Development, aims at improving the health status and well-being of populations in cities through participatory and multisectoral urban governance.