The NUA stresses the need to reduce urban-rural disparities, to foster equitable development across urban-rural areas, to encourage urban-rural interactions and connectivity. This can be done by strengthening transport, technology and communication networks and infrastructure, underpinned by planning instruments based on a territorial approach to maximize the potential of these sectors for enhanced productivity, social, economic, and territorial cohesion, and environmental sustainability. Collectively, the SDGs and NUA recognize the importance of rural and urban development in the planning process, the role of different actors in enhancing service delivery, and collective development in which no place and no one is left behind. Such policy guidance is attainable through national and regional development planning interventions that tend to reduce disparities and ensure a more harmonious development.