This publication, prepared by UN-Habitat in collaboration with Fordham University Urban Law Center, US, supports Costa Rica in developing an adaptation construction code while offering insights for policymakers, legislators, urban planners, practitioners, researchers, and development partners working to strengthen legal and institutional frameworks for climate-resilient urban development. Drawing on comparative case studies from twelve countries across Latin America, Europe, Africa, and Asia,…

This publication examines how rapid urbanization and the increasing concentration of conflict in urban areas are placing housing, land, and property rights under growing pressure. It explores how widespread destruction, displacement, and pre-existing tenure insecurity complicate safe return, restitution, and the resolution of housing, land, and property (HLP) disputes. As part of the Urban Law and Conflict Series, the publication demonstrates the critical role of urban law and policy in…

This brief examines how legal and governance frameworks can reduce food loss and waste in cities. Drawing on case studies from Milan, Singapore, Vienna, South Korea, France, Rwanda, Brazil, and India, it offers practical legal pathways for policymakers, urban planners, and legal practitioners.

​​Suwon is the first city to apply the Smart Inclusive Transition (SIT) framework, an implementation adaptation of the Global Urban Monitoring Framework (UMF). This report tracks the city’s progress across five SIT pillars, identifies critical strengths and gaps, and demonstrates how SIT is operationalized into practice through co-production of basic urban services and platforms. It provides a practical monitoring framework to pursue people-centred smart and equitable cities; enabling cities…

​​Still Far From Home examines how housing policies shape durable solutions for internally displaced persons across five crisis-affected countries. The report argues that lasting solutions require moving beyond housing construction toward strengthening the broader systems—land, services, governance, and livelihoods—that enable displaced communities to achieve long-term stability and inclusion.​

UN-Habitat’s Catalogue of Solutions presents the organization’s portfolio of tested tools, methodologies and advisory support designed to help countries, cities and communities address today’s most pressing urban challenges. The catalogue brings together solutions developed through decades of UN-Habitat’s global experience, providing practical pathways for advancing inclusive, resilient and sustainable urban development.

These solutions respond to the urgent need to improve…

​This report documents how nine cities across Africa, Asia-Pacific, Arab States, Eastern Europe and Latin America have implemented the New Urban Agenda through integrated planning, multi-level governance, and capacity-building. It captures lessons, mind-shifts, and implementation pathways that accelerate SDG 11 and sustainable urban transformation