As the world continues to urbanize, cities face greater challenges in responding to humanitarian crises and achieving sustainable post-conflict development that upholds everyone’s right to adequate housing. The impacts of conflict are increasingly being experienced in urban areas around the world – as seen in modern crises such as those in Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, Yemen and Syria – putting the housing, land and property (HLP) rights of civilians at risk. HLP issues arise in conflict contexts,…

This paper explores the potential of public spaces to foster healthier cities, with a specific focus on the role of urban planners and local governments. It introduces the topic by examining global agendas that highlight the interconnectedness of public spaces and health, emphasizing the synergies between them. The paper outlines seven strategies proposed by UN-Habitat for enhancing health outcomes through public spaces and concludes with five actionable recommendations to effectively implement…

Following the spatial analytics done in the Mafraq Spatial Profile and through a participatory approach, this report provides a practical example on neighbourhood planning. It is a blueprint on transforming evidence-based studies into financeable projects and translating the area plan into an action plan, all of which help realize the formulated vision for the Al-Hussein Neighbourhood.

The Shanghai Manual 2024 Annual Report showcases globally implemented urban best practices that present urban actors with innovative solutions to help cities navigate the complex challenges that they face today. Following the theme of ‘youth leading climate and local action for cities’, the report explores the potential of young people as urban change makers with a particular regard to climate action and urban environmental sustainability.

This report introduces Smart-Inclusive Transition (SIT) as a key driver for building more equitable urban futures by integrating smart technology with inclusive practice. The SIT Analysis is designed to help cities uncover their unique opportunities for SIT by leveraging urban SDGs data and indicators from the Global Urban Monitoring Framework. This approach will create an opportunity for cities worldwide to shape urban spaces that are genuinely designed by, for, and of all citizens.

Urban regeneration is a crucial process for cities, involving the redevelopment, transformation, and reutilization of urban land and assets through collaboration with multiple stakeholders. In China, urban development is shifting from rapid urbanization to sustainable regeneration. Wuhan, a major city, has been exploring this transition. Reports by the UN Human Settlements Programme and Wuhan Planning Institute offer insights into Wuhan’s successful regeneration models and concepts.