What works in Medellín

Medellín has pursued an integrated urban transformation combining infrastructure, innovation, and social development. Social urbanism initiatives including cable cars and escalators in poor hillside comunas achieved a 97% homicide reduction (from 395 to 13 per 100,000 between 1991 and 2023) while serving ~136,000 daily passengers. Simultaneously, Ruta N has positioned the city as a knowledge economy hub, leveraging COP 70 in external funding per peso invested, attracting US$150 million in foreign direct investment in 2024, and rising to 7th place in LATAM's startup ecosystem rankings. The evidence demonstrates significant outcomes in violence reduction and economic innovation, though the practices do not quantify broader impacts on poverty, inequality, or sustainability beyond these specific metrics.