This is the Second Annual Business and Technical Conference of the WHO European Healthy Cities Network and of the Network of European National Healthy Cities Networks in Phase V. The WHO European Healthy Cities Network will have about 100 cities that are either designated as members or are in the process of being designated as members by June 2010. In addition, 30 national healthy cities networks in Europe have more than 2000 cities and towns as members. 
 
The conferences of the WHO European Healthy Cities Network and the Network of European National Healthy Cities Networks have a strong political and strategic focus, and politicians should always be included in the delegations from the participating cities and networks. The programme of the Sandnes Conference has been developed around the following four thematic strands relating to the Phase V goals and the international context of
this work. The various sessions of the programme will cross-link these thematic strands.
 
1. Addressing equity in health in cities. This is the central topic of this Conference and the theme of The world health report 2010 that will be launched this year in connection with World Health Day, which is dedicated to urbanization and health. Tackling inequalities in health has been on the Healthy Cities agenda from the start. It represents one of the most challenging and worthy areas of public health action. The Conference will create the opportunity for serious debate addressing the obstacles to progress as well as the critical factors of success in this area. The equity perspective will be explored in all three Phase V core themes. Participants will have ample opportunities to learn from the experiences of cities around Europe and invited experts. There will be political debates, keynote addresses, case study presentations and teach-in sessions on this topic.
 
2. Working on the Phase V core themes. At the Viana do Castelo Conference in 2009, participating cities and networks had introductory discussions and clarifications on the meaning and implications for action of the Phase V goals and themes. The Sandnes Conference will provide additional technical guidance on how to approach the core themes, present selected case studies and have teach-in sessions on selected topics.
 
3. Urban governance, citizen participation and public health. How can we adjust and improve the governance of our cities to respond to new challenges and threats to health and also take advantage of new opportunities from decentralization trends, science, technology and networking? Urban governance and active and participatory citizenship are key to delivering on equity and addressing the social determinants of health. The Conference will explore different approaches to engaging different sectors and
strengthening local leadership for health.
 
4. Connecting to international public health and urban agendas. Annual Healthy Cities conferences offer opportunities to promote awareness and stimulate debate on emerging topical issues that have significant implications for public health and local action. This year the five topics that were selected for briefings and /or discussion are:
• The global urban condition and this year’s global events on urbanization and health related to World Health Day;
• The EU Treaty of Lisbon, which entered into force on 1 December 2009; health is a cornerstone of the EU’s overall Lisbon Strategy of growth, competitiveness and sustainable development, which puts special emphasis on active citizenship, functioning democracies and accountability;
• Feedback from the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark (COP 15) in December 2009 and the Fifth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health in Parma, Italy in March 2010;
• Lessons learned from the H1N1 pandemic; and
• WHO’s global strategy on harmful use of alcohol, to be approved in 2010.
 
There will be two business sessions at the start and the end of the Conference. The business agenda will include joint planning and evaluation matters, the healthy cities communication strategy and updates on designation of cities to the WHO European Healthy Cities Network and accreditation of national networks.
 
Two politicians sessions are also planned, one in plenary and one for politicians only.
 
A number of briefing and teach-in sessions will be offered to participants on aspects of championing and tackling inequalities in health (including making the cross-cutting links with Phase V core themes and addressing the full gradient in inequality in health and the broader determinants of health); health literacy, addressing alcohol misuse in cities; healthy living and resource generation; and networking issues, including EU funding and collaboration and twinning of cities and networks from different parts of the WHO European Region, and especially east and west.
 
The programme includes coordinators’ meetings, briefings for newcomers and site visits in the late afternoon on the second day of the Conference. We have planned fewer plenary sessions and more parallel sessions for debate, briefings and learning.
 
The programme will be designed to offer both the WHO European Healthy Cities Network and the national networks the opportunity to both interact but also give visibility to their work and achievements. 
 
There will be a call for abstracts in mid-February 2010. Abstracts will be due for submission by the end of March. In addition, cities and networks will be encouraged to do preparatory work for the Conference and will receive instructions on this. 
  • Delegations from the designated cities to the WHO European Healthy Cities Network, which will include the mayor or lead politician, the city coordinator and selected focal points identified to work on the core themes.
• Delegations from the applicant cities to the WHO European Healthy Cities Network, which will include the mayor or lead politician, the city coordinator and selected focal points identified to work on the core themes
• Representatives form cities that have expressed formal interest to join the WHO Network
• National network delegations, which include the political chair of the network, the coordinator, a representative from the health ministry and 1–2 observers from member cities; and
• Invited dignitaries, keynote speakers, resource experts and advisers.
 
Approximately 400 participants are expected to attend the Sandnes Conference.