University partnerships are key to UN-Habitat’s ‘centre of excellence’ aspiration. They can act as drivers of capacity building, innovation, and urban change. These partnerships are enacted through a wide array of knowledge products and across a vast geography of collaborations internationally. A reform and enhancement of Habitat UNI, as the university partnership initiative of UN-Habitat, could be pivotal to reap the benefits of this multifaceted engagement.

UN-Habitat’s Catalogue of Services provides the current range of ways in which the organization can support national and local governments, partners and stakeholders to address their development challenges and advance sustainable and inclusive urban development using its services, expertise and tools.

As we enter the second year of this United Nations’ Decade of Action, the Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reminds us that we need to ‘turbo-charge’ our efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. More importantly, we need to deliver the goals as One United Nations and strive to pass the finishing line with no one and no place left behind.

In terms of prominence, UN-Habitat is much better positioned within the UN System with the Executive Director returning to the humanitarian cluster as a member of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC). UN-Habitat is also contributing as co-Chair of the Local 2030 Task Force and is a member of the Task Force for the Future of Cities. We have been able to convene two highly visible World Urban Forums in Kuala Lumpur and Abu Dhabi respectively.

The First Report on the State of Prosperity of the Cities of Bolivia reflects the results of the Prosperous Cities Index (CPI), designed by UN-Habitat.
This index was calculated for 26 urban municipalities in the country in order to provide decision makers with tools that allow them to define a strategic vision for their cities based on data and evidence.

The ESSS 3.1 describes UN-Habitat’s commitments, roles, and responsibilities towards environmental and social (E&S) risks and impacts associated with its activities. The ESSS 3.0 ensures that that E&S risks and impacts are managed from the conceptualization to the implementation of projects and programmes, in accordance with local regulations and international standards.

Urban October is an opportunity for everyone to be part of the conversation about the challenges and opportunities created by the fast rate of change in our cities and towns. Each October, everyone interested in sustainable urbanization from national and local governments to universities, NGOs and communities is encouraged to hold or participate in virtual or physical activities, events, and discussions.

This report of the Tenth Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF10) held in Abu Dhabi 8-13 February 2020 summarises its remarkable achievements in terms of numbers, quality of presentations and debates, gender balance of speakers, an exceptional Urban Expo, the integrated spaces and the opportunities for encounters, exchange and partnerships. It also highlights examples of inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable urban development for all, with a strong cultural component.