The second session of the United Nations Habitat Assembly will be held from 5 to 9 June 2023 in Nairobi. Kenya. The theme of the session is “A sustainable urban future through inclusive and effective multilateralism: achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in times of global crises.”

As the governance body of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), the United Nations Habitat Assembly convenes every four years. It is the highest global decision-making body on sustainable urbanization and human settlements.

The 193 UN Member States cast the votes, while participants include non-Member States, other UN bodies and specialized agencies, as well as intergovernmental organizations, civil society, private sector, academia and research institutions, women, youth and children, and grassroots organizations.

Thematic debates and discussions during the Assembly will focus on the following topics:
Universal access to affordable housing: Member States are encouraged to explore mechanisms to achieve the universal right to adequate housing and move towards removing existing barriers to affordable housing.

Urban climate action: to achieve the global commitment to stay within 1.5˚C limit on rising temperatures by 2030, Member States are encouraged to explore realistic urban pathways for climate action.

Urban crises recovery: current crises are increasingly more urban, with cities very often serving as the main places of arrival for displaced people. Member States are encouraged to empower cities to respond to urban crises and support national recovery efforts.

Localization of the SDGs: the Assembly will look at local actions needed to advance the implementation of SDGs to meet the 2030 Development Agenda targets. Member States will also be invited to explore financial mechanisms to ensure resources are directed toward urban development and reach local levels.

Prosperity and local finance: to accelerate the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals, respond to urban crises, advance urban climate action, and ensure adequate and affordable housing for all, cities need policies and fiscal resources. Member States are invited to explore policies and market mechanisms to ensure financial flows directed towards urban development and reach local levels. 

On-site accreditation and badging for both the UN-Habitat Assembly and the OECPR will open at the Pass & ID office (entrance via Visitors Pavilion) UNON Complex on the following dates:

Urban Expo FAQs

The Urban Expo will take place on the sidelines of the second session of the UN-Habitat Assembly to showcase sustainable urban development projects, best practices, and cutting-edge solutions to tackle the challenges of housing, transport, energy, and climate change. Below is more information for Exhibitors.

Where are the exhibits displayed?

Exhibitions will be displayed at the conference area of the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON). The upper lobby area will have 3x1 meter booths for governments, academic institutions, UN entities, IGOs, and civil society.

A private sector exhibition area will be located at the Fountain Area behind the main conference that will have 3x2 meter booths.

Limited spaces for larger standalone exhibits will also be available for special exhibits and installations.   

How long will exhibitions be on display?

Exhibitions are on display for the duration of the Assembly, from 5 - 9 June, 2023.

Do Exhibitors need to be present at the booth for the entire Assembly?

Yes, we kindly ask exhibitors to ensure that one staff is present at their booth at all times throughout the entire Conference. The daily hours will follow the programme of the UN-Habitat Assembly.

What does the booth look like and who pays for it?

A 3-meter exhibition booth will cost $2,000, booths located in the main lobby will be 1 meter wide while those located in the Expo tent will be 2 meters wide.

Corporate sponsors can also support the participation of youth and women-led start-ups and non-profit organizations from developing and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) by purchasing a 3x2m booth at $5,000.

Every booth includes two chairs, a small table and a counter, and access to electrical power. Wi-Fi is available throughout the venue. Exhibitors are responsible for all other related costs, including decoration/production, installation, promotion, hiring additional equipment, and an opening/event reception. 

Download Exhibition Guidelines

How will the booths be installed?

Upon approval of exhibitions, all exhibitors will be required to liaise with the Expo focal point and the contracted Event Management Company on logistics related to installation and exhibition services. The company will help to connect exhibitors with local vendors where needed. Exhibitors who have existing exhibitions they wish to display at the Urban Expo will still be required to liaise with the Expo focal point and the company on installation.

We suggest that exhibitors bring a laptop and a USB for their materials. Not all screens may be able to play files from USB.

Where can practical information for the UN-Habitat Assembly participants be found?

An information note for participants can be found on the UN-Habitat Assembly website. Please refer to this note for more information on entry requirements, hotels, etc.

How do exhibitor staff register and gain access to the Assembly?

All exhibition personnel must register for the Assembly. Personnel who are part of an accredited organization, UN organization, or member state will get a delegate badge which will enable them to gain access to the Assembly proceedings. Exhibition personnel who are not part of an accredited organization will receive an Exhibitor badge with no access to official assembly proceedings. More information can be found on the registration page of the UN-Habitat Assembly.

Where can Exhibitors find Assembly communication materials to promote their Exhibition?

UN-Habitat Assembly communication materials and guidelines will be available on the Assembly website shortly.

I have more questions, who can I contact?

If you still have questions or if any issues occur at the Assembly, please reach out to the Expo focal point Mr. Victor Mgendi, by email: victor.mgendi@un.org.

Side events are linked to the five key action areas highlighted in the Report of the Executive Director on the special theme of the second session of the United Nations Habitat Assembly. Side events showcase innovative approaches and transformative actions through effective and inclusive multilateralism in the following five areas:  

1. Universal access to adequate housing
2. Urban climate action and environmental protection
3. Urban crisis recovery
4. Localization of the SDGs and multilevel governance
5. Urban prosperity and local finance

Side Events Programm        
 

Rule 17 of the rules of procedure of the United Nations Habitat Assembly on “Credentials” provides the following:

“1. The credentials of representatives and the names of alternate representatives and advisers shall be submitted to the Executive Director before the first meeting that the representatives are to attend.

2. The Bureau of the UN-Habitat Assembly shall examine the credentials and submit its report to the Assembly. The present rule shall not, however, prevent a State Member of the United Nations from changing its representatives, alternate representatives or advisers subsequently, subject to proper submission and examination of credentials, where needed.”

In this regard, UN-Habitat wishes to encourage Permanent and Observer Missions to submit credentials at the earliest, and if possible, by Thursday 25 May 2023.

The credentials should be submitted through a formal letter or Note Verbale from the Head of State or Government or the Minister for Foreign Affairs, to the Secretary to the Governing Bodies of UN-Habitat, Mr. Chris Mensah through the emails: chris.mensah@un.org and unhabitat-sgb@un.org

It is the participant’s own responsibility to obtain a visa for the Republic of Kenya. Participants required to be in possession of a visa are advised to obtain one as early as possible. A valid visa should be obtained in advance from the Kenyan Embassy/High Commission in the participant’s country of residence or the nearest Kenya Embassy in the region. The information provided here acts only as guidance.

A valid passport, valid for at least six months from the date of arrival, is required for entry into the Country. For more information on guidance on eligibility and visa requirements must register through the visa portal available at: https://evisa.go.ke/. Kindly take note that, Nationals who do not require visas, and participants on UNLP will get an epass free of charge on application to present to the airlines on travel. Participants on Diplomatic, Service, and Official passports will be issued with courtesy visas.

Additionally, all applicants should keep in mind that:

1. When filling the form, are advised to choose meeting/workshop as the reason for the travel.
2. On host details, please choose firm on the drop-down menu, and on the full name and address of the host, fill UN-Habitat General Assembly and use the address of UN-Habitat.
3. The document to be uploaded for both the invitation letter from the host and the company registration certificate is the invitation letter issued after registration.

Nationals of the following countries require a referred visa prior to arrival in the Republic of Kenya and which should be acquired in advance through a Kenyan Embassy: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cameroon, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Eritrea, Iraq, Kosovo, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Nigeria, State of Palestine, Senegal, Somalia, Syria, Tajikistan, and Stateless persons.

Solomon Islands, South Africa (for less than 30 days stay), Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Participants are warned of the many pseudo sites purporting to offer the service of a Kenya visa and only apply using https://evisa.go.ke/.

Please note that visas are not required for citizens of: The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, Cyprus, Dominica(not to be confused with Dominican Republic), Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Jamaica, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Namibia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino.

How to attend as an accredited organization

Accreditation is granted to organisations to allow them to attend UN-Habitat intergovernmental meetings as observers. These meetings include the UN-Habitat Assembly, the Executive Board, and the Committee of Permanent Representatives. Accreditation is important because, it provides an opportunity for organisations to contribute to the policy-making process of the UN-Habitat and share their expertise. Accreditation is for organisations and not individuals.

Representatives of duly accredited organisations may attend the second session of the UN-Habitat Assembly and will be required to provide proof of their nomination by the accredited organizations. These include organizations accredited to either: (i) the First Session of the UN-Habitat Assembly, (ii) the second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and the special session of the General Assembly to assess implementation of the Habitat Agenda (Istanbul + 5), (iii) the third United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) – Prepcom2 and Prepcom3,  or (iv) non-governmental organisations in consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The nominated representatives of accredited organisations are required to register online for the Assembly by 25 May 2023 (23:59 EAT).

The duly accredited organisations have up until 5 May 2023 to confirm attendance and to nominate not more than five representatives of each organisation to the Assembly in writing on official letter head to unhabitat-partners@un.org. 

Organization neither accredited nor in consultative status with ECOSOC as indicated in (i) to (iv) above  were invited to apply for ad hoc accreditation to attend the second session of the UN-Habitat Assembly. The deadline for application for ad hoc accreditation was Friday 31 March 2023 and is now closed. The accreditation decision will be communicated directly to the organization concerned.

We welcome National Delegations to register for a speaking slot for plenary sessions of the second session of the United Nations Habitat Assembly in order to deliver their national statements.

Delegations are requested to note the following:

• 3 minutes will be allocated for National Statements
• 5 minutes will be allocated for statements delivered on behalf of regional and political groups

Registration for speaking slots will close on Tuesday, 6 June 2023 at 12:00 EAT

A detailed Press Centre programme will be published here soon. Check this page to get the latest updates about press events and briefings during the second session of the United Nations Habitat Assembly.