Urban populations in the NENA region are projected to rise from 63 percent in 2023 to 73 percent by 2050, surpassing 450 million people. This rapid urban growth, often without effective land use planning, leads to significant environmental degradation. Urban sprawl consumes forests, green spaces, and agricultural lands, causing habitat loss, air pollution, and resource depletion. Water scarcity, worsened by poor management, intensifies as urban and rural areas compete for limited resources, impacting both agriculture and urban water access.

Cities also face rising poverty and food insecurity, particularly among low-income populations, who increasingly rely on informal food markets, resulting in inconsistent access to safe and nutritious food. The economic interdependence between urban and rural areas is clear—cities depend on rural regions for food and resources, while rural communities rely on urban markets for income and services. Without integrated development strategies, current urban expansion trends risk worsening environmental and social vulnerabilities.