The Cities 4 Women Nepal programme is launching the second edition of its International Urban Design Competition, expanding this year to include new sites across five municipalities.
Co-funded by the European Union and the Government of Finland, the programme supports six municipalities: Birendranagar, Chandragiri, Dhangadhi, Lamkichuha, Sunwal and Tansen. It helps address rapid urbanisation and climate vulnerability by planning and co-designing gender-responsive, climate-resilient public open spaces.
Implemented by UNOPS, UN-Habitat and Cities Alliance, the programme strengthens Nepal’s national seven-step local planning process and promotes participatory tools to ensure inclusive decision-making. It also builds the capacity of municipalities in urban planning, supports the leadership of elected women representatives, and pilots new infrastructure to create safer and more inclusive public spaces.
The 2025 competition invites architects, urban designers, landscape architects, planners and interdisciplinary teams to propose bold, innovative and functional solutions for public open spaces in Nepalese cities. This one-stage competition seeks visionary designs that are not only aesthetically inspiring but also socially and environmentally responsive to local contexts. Designs should create hubs of urban life that are:
Inclusive: designed for all, including women, children, older people, and people with disabilities;
Climate-resilient: integrating nature-based solutions, adaptive design, sustainable infrastructure, and disaster preparedness;
Economically viable: supporting local economies and sustainable urban development; and
Environmentally sound: promoting biodiversity, and green and blue infrastructure for long-term ecological health.
Competition sites and awards
Submissions are open for the following sites:
- Dhangadhi Sub-metropolitan city: Kalika Sports Club Maidan
- Birendranagar municipality: Bangeshimal Bal Uddyan
- Chandragiri municipality: Radhe Radhe Park
- Sunwal municipality: Bishnu Pandey Park
- Tansen municipality: Greater Tudhikhel Area
All participants will receive certificates of participation. For each project site, prizes will be awarded as follows:
- 1st Prize – US$500 (or equivalent in NPR for Nepali residents)
- 2nd Prize – US$250 (or equivalent in NPR for Nepali residents)
- For international winners residing outside Nepal, the prize will be a return air ticket for one team member to attend a project design workshop in Nepal in October 2025, in place of a monetary award.
Information sessions
Two online drop-in sessions will be held for interested applicants:
Session 1: Friday, 6 June | 11:00–12:00 (NPT) https://meet.google.com/ujb-efyi-gyx
Session 2: Friday, 13 June | 15:00–16:00 (NPT) https://meet.google.com/brb-jwmz-cmz
For full competition details, including submission requirements, click here. Please read all information carefully before applying.
