Poverty and social exclusion in cities remain major challenges for policymakers across the EU and OECD. While cities provide access to jobs, services and innovation, they can also concentrate poverty and social exclusion risks. Disadvantages can accumulate both spatially, within specific neighbourhoods, and over the life course, reinforcing inequalities, limiting access to opportunities, and weakening long-term economic growth. Across the EU, housing affordability pressures, labour market insecurity and unequal access to essential services are among the key drivers placing 37 million people at risk of poverty or social exclusion. This policy paper provides practical guidance for local, regional and national governments to reduce poverty and social exclusion in cities through integrated, preventative and people-centred approaches that support inclusive growth. Drawing on evidence from across OECD and EU cities, it identifies action across five policy areas: education, labour markets, housing and the built environment, public services and infrastructure, and fair climate action. The paper emphasises the importance of early intervention, co-ordinated service delivery and place-based approaches, while highlighting key enabling conditions needed for effective implementation, including multi-level governance, inclusive policy design, robust data systems, sustainable financing, institutional capacity, monitoring and evaluation and strong political leadership.
