Developing a Global Programme for Safer Cities, from Design to Implementation

Abstract

This viewpoint reflects on the development and evolution of the Safe and Sound Cities (S²Cities) programme, a global programme initiated and funded by Fondation Botnar and implemented in partnership with diverse stakeholders to foster safer, youth-centred urban environments. Initiated in 2020, the programme emerged from the recognition that youth, safety, and cities are intricately linked, yet often addressed through fragmented or traditional paradigms. This paper traces the early conceptualization process—beginning with a two-day learning workshop that integrated insights from academia and field practice—and describes how this informed a system-thinking approach to urban youth safety and wellbeing, based on a Theory of Change.
Central to the programme is the integration of Relational Wellbeing (RWB), a framework that emphasizes the interconnectedness of personal, social, and environmental drivers of youth’s health and well-being, and the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) approach, which links urban form to social cohesion and safety. The fusion of these perspectives revealed the importance of placemaking as a process that empowers youth to shape public spaces and build civic trust.
Pilots in 6 cities highlight how youth-led initiatives - supported through digital and physical tools - can drive innovation, build local capacity, and foster inclusive urban governance. The paper argues that safety in cities must be redefined through the lived experiences of young people, advocating for a shift from reactive, enforcement-led approaches to proactive, participatory strategies rooted in placemaking and relational wellbeing.
Ultimately, the S²Cities programme is positioned as a model for youth-driven systemic change, aiming to scale and adapt solutions across diverse urban contexts. It concludes by underscoring the role of youth as co-creators of safer cities and the importance of nurturing environments where their agency, creativity, and resilience can thrive.