About
A Global platform for 24-Hour Ecosystems.
Economic revitalization
Activating the 24-hour economy unlocks new business opportunities, supports diverse job creation, and attracts private investment – revitalizing commercial districts and catalyzing growth and innovation.
Social wellbeing and livability
Improving quality of life through investment in infrastructure and public space, enhanced services, and more meaningful everyday experiences for the people who live, work, and move through the city.
Adaptation and resilience
Cities are leveraging night-time hours as a space for adaptation—extending access to cooler, safer environments while investing in infrastructure that supports resilience and equity.
Connecting a 24-hour ecosystem
When we think of the night, we picture people out having fun. For millions, however, the night is when work begins.
Delivery drivers, cleaners, hospital staff, and transit operators keep cities running. Hospitality workers—bartenders, servers, and venue staff—also play a vital role in sustaining the night-time economy, drawing visitors and fueling demand that supports many other sectors.
Recognizing night-time workers not just as service providers but as essential urban citizens can drive more equitable and sustainable growth.
Learn more about this 24-hour ecosystem in our briefing paper.
Fragmented governance
Most night-time offices remain peripheral to core city planning, with no shared standards or metrics. The lack of harmonized night-time policy often results in operational inefficiencies, unpredictable permitting or conflicting regulations that deter long-term investment.
Time-bound infrastructure
Parks close at dusk, transit thins out and public lighting is inconsistent. Current urban infrastructure is still designed around a diurnal cycle. Upgrading design, safety and mobility system for 24-hour use is key to ensuring inclusive access and functionality.
Collaboration gaps
Cities, private actors and researchers often operate in silos. A 24-hour agenda depends on building trust-based partnerships that can co-develop shared platforms, open data, tools and metrics that can help scale solutions and translate them into policies and regulations.
Financing constraints
Unlocking the value of 24-hour cities requires targeted funding. Multilateral development banks and other global institutions can play a catalytic role by offering low-cost financing and supporting capacity-building to help cities implement night-time strategies.