The Metropolitan Legislation Toolkit invites countries and metropolitan territories to review their existing legal arrangements, identify legal gaps, and overcome institutional fragmentation. Its purpose is to turn legislation into an enabler of integrated metropolitan solutions, capable of responding to contemporary urban dynamics and improving quality of life.

Metropolitan areas are today one of the most relevant territorial expressions of urbanization. Their growth exceeds…

National Urban Policies (NUPs) serves as a key guiding frameworks towards the realization of the New Urban Agenda and Sustainable Urbanization. The Korea-funded National Urban Policy Programme contributes to this by not only supporting countries in developing and implementing NUPs but also strengthening the capacity of relevant stakeholders. The 2024-2025 Annual Report shows the progress of the programme implementation at global and local scale among the eight participating countries of Phase 2…

​​Rapid Municipal Assessment of conflict-affected areas in Lebanon, presenting key findings on service delivery, infrastructure damage, and municipal capacities to support evidence-based recovery and humanitarian planning.​

African Cities at a Crossroads highlights how Africa’s rapid urbanization presents a powerful opportunity to drive growth, jobs, and better living standards. It shows that with the right investments in infrastructure and services, cities can unlock productivity, strengthen resilience, and become engines of sustainable development

The 2025 Annual Report highlights how UN-Habitat advanced housing-led sustainable urban development as a pathway to more inclusive, resilient and sustainable cities. The report outlines major global milestones, including the endorsement of UN-Habitat’s Strategic Plan 2026–2029 by 105 Member States, growing international recognition of adequate housing as a human right and climate priority, and renewed political momentum to transform informal settlements and slums. It also showcases tangible…

​​Can mega-events create lasting urban value beyond the global spotlight? This white paper explores how mega events like World Expos, Olympic Games, and FIFA World Cups can become catalysts for sustainable, inclusive, and resilient cities through legacy-driven planning, adaptive design, and community-centered urban transformation.​

The Arab region faces multiple converging challenges including rapid urbanization, water scarcity, environmental degradation and, in some contexts, conflict and displacement. Additionally, the increasing risks of climate change impacts, coupled with these interconnected issues, place mounting pressure on already strained urban systems and natural resources. In this context, Nature-based Solutions (NbS) offer a promising pathway to address these challenges. By harnessing ecosystems to enhance…

This report examines how drought, climate change, and displacement intersect to shape urban water insecurity in Dahiyyat Al-Malik Abdullah, Mafraq. Through a multi-scalar analysis, it highlights infrastructure pressures, governance gaps, and the lived experiences of refugee and host communities, offering evidence-based recommendations for more inclusive and climate-resilient urban water responses.

This Key Highlights Booklet is a summarized version of the Global Trends and Insights on Urban-Rural Linkages Report. The booklet provides a concise overview of the evolving relationship between urban and rural areas, emphasizing their growing importance in sustainable development. It also explores global events, frameworks and processes that have contributed to strengthening urban-rural linkages (URLs), while highlighting emerging issues in urban-rural linkages.

Drawing on…