SUD-Net complements the existing collaborations between UN-HABITAT and bilateral and multilateral organizations that are supporting urban development. SUD-Net reinforces existing synergies of existing urban development networks and partnerships, while fostering new ones so as to enhance the performance of national and city level decision-makers and managers.

In this respect, SUD-Net serves to deepen and to expand the cooperation within UN-HABITAT and with other UN agencies. UN-HABITAT and United Nations Environment Programme are, for instance, promoting priority focus areas of urban development and the environment via a Strategic Partnership Framework (2008-2013). Through this partnership a menu of services on agreed focus areas and actions including climate change, urban air quality and transport is provided.

Externally, partnerships arrangements are being developed with government institutions, educational institutions and professional bodies from the following levels:

• Global
• Regional,
• National and
• City/local

SUD-Net will establish linkages with global, regional and Local Urban Knowledge Arenas (LUKAs) as a response towards creating and promoting a co-ordination mechanism that will ensure that critical urban development issues are dealt with effectively through participatory processes.