Secondary cities comprise more than 16 percent of the world's population. They play an important role in the development and operations of countries as intermediary hubs and logistics centres within national industry supply chains and production systems. They serve around 22 percent of the world's population living in metropolitan regions and 62 percent of those in smaller regional cities, towns and rural areas. As such, they have a key role to play in supporting post-COVID-19 recovery efforts. 

This publication provides different perspectives on what can be done to support the sustainable and regenerative development of secondary cities in developing countries post COVID-19. These cover topics in economic and community development, infrastructure, finance, local government, logistics and governance. It also provides policy and planning recommendations, as well as practical initiatives and approaches that secondary cities can use.