In 2022, the Global Designing Cities Initiative (GDCI) began working with local authorities to make Hanoi’s school streets safer and more people-friendly. HealthBridge Vietnam supported GDCI’s work by strengthening the city’s capacity to design safe streets and implement road safety improvements.

In 2024, HealthBridge’s partner, Advocates for Public Spaces, implemented a series of improvements under the Livable Cities project to make markets more inclusive and functional.

In Sri Lanka, ESAF Global Canada has partnered with HealthBridge to support the Jaffna city government in making neighbourhoods more livable and community-centred by improving public spaces, streets, and local markets.

In 2024, HealthBridge and partners implemented eight innovative, community-led projects aimed at revitalizing public spaces and enhancing urban living in Vietnam, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda, Niger, and Ghana.

In Accra Ghana, the Mmofra Foundation, supported by HealthBridge’s Livable Cities program, is weaving a unique story of literacy and public space.

Imagine a journey where your senses guide you through the rich tapestry of history, where every step reveals a different element of the city.

Due to an unfortunate tendency to prioritize the comfort and safety of cars over children, there is abundant car parking in Dhaka, especially in residential buildings, but an extremely inadequate supply of parks, playing fields, and other outdoor spaces for children to play and those of other ages to gather and socialize.

On 18 June 2021, Work for a Better Bangladesh (WBB) Trust opened its first farmers’ market in Dhaka as part of a project sponsored by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The project sought to increase low-income residents’ access to healthy and nutritious food grown without chemicals and to help farmers market their produce. An additional goal was to improve public space in Dhaka by converting a street used for dumping trash into a lively and attractive public space each Friday morning.

In crowded Asian cities, land is expensive and parks are scarce. Streets and roads are occupied by vehicles, whether moving, parked, or stuck in traffic. As a result, people have few opportunities for outdoor exercise, socializing, and recreation. Small children are particularly affected as parents are afraid to let them play in the streets and are often too busy to take them to the few places where they may be able to play outdoors as those spaces are frequently far from home.

Our partner in India, ESAF, formed a Walking Club at K.T. Nagar Park in Nagpur in 2017. The purpose was to promote physical activity and inform the community about non-communicable diseases.