The United Human settlements programme, (UN-HABITAT) has joined forces with the social web service developer public zone to create a peculiar online tool for urban practitioners.The Urban Gateway will be the first web platforms of its kind to leverage the energy and resources of the global urban development community. It will allow UN-HABITAT and its external partners to network, exchange knowledge, discuss issues and share opportunities related to sustainable urbanization worldwide.“The new online urban development portal will provide a communication platform for cities, planners, NGO’s and professionals working in the field around the world.” UN-HABITAT Executive Joan Clos said as he launched it officially yesterday at the UN23rd governing council.The www.urbangateway.org website gives governments, local authorities, civil society organizations, the private sector, urban professionals and researchers a new opportunity to exchange best practices, collaborate on projects, share the latest thinking on urban matters and trends, find expertise, and mobilize resources for urban initiatives. Its features will include e-debates, peer networks, thematic groups, a database of experts, job zone, tenders, advocacy campaigns, and knowledge bank of best practices, case studies and urban programmes. Urban Gateway is designed as networking, collaboration and advocacy platform for our partners, by our partners. This initiative, which also supports UN-Habitat’s World Urban Campaign, received enthusiastic support at the Knowledge for Cities seminar at World Urban Forum in Rio de Janeiro in March 2010. It enables those unable to attend the world's premier conference on cities to join the debates online and to maintain the momentum generated at the Forum. Users of the gateway will be able to find and contact other members, take part in discussions, offer opportunities, get the latest news on urban issues and share best practice resources.UN-HABITAT expects and welcomes partners to join Urban Gateway. Partners who have already signed up include the Sustainable Urban Development Network (SUD-Net), civil society partners, academic institutions, and disaster management humanitarian actors.