Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
The OECD Working Party on Urban Policy (WPURB), a subsection of the Regional Development Policy Committee (RDPC), is a unique practitioner-based forum that provides direction for the work of the OECD Urban Development program, oversees country assessments (peer reviews), and facilitates collaboration among senior officials seeking to address challenges facing cities and metropolitan areas across OECD countries.
Building on his previous four years as U.S. delegate to the WPURB, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Affairs Kurt Usowski was selected as a Vice Chair in January 2022. As delegate, Dr. Usowski has worked alongside HUD’s international counterparts on issues surrounding urban resilience, the circular economy, inclusive growth, and localizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“The WPURB provides an important platform for HUD to learn and share urban policy and research. It’s a chance to engage with critical thought partners and glean ideas to bring back to address HUD’s policy challenges, while offering opportunities to disseminate and align policy tools to achieve global collective impact” —Dr. Kurt Usowski
IPAD facilitates Dr. Usowski in his role as Vice Chair, providing analysis of OECD reports, organizing participation in OECD meetings, and coordinating involvement in research projects.
