The process towards Habitat III includes the elaboration of 22 Issue Papers and the creation of 10 Policy Units. The Habitat III Issue Papers are summary documents that address one or more research areas, highlight general findings, and identify research needs on topics related to housing and sustainable urban development. The Habitat III Policy Units bring together high-level expertise to explore state-of-the-art research and analysis; identify good practice and lessons learned; and develop independent policy recommendations on particular issues regarding sustainable urban development.

Issue Papers and Policy Units Matrix

Issue Papers

The Habitat III Issue Papers are summary documents that address one or more research areas, highlight general findings, and identify research needs on topics related to housing and sustainable urban development.

The Issue Papers provides in depth review and analysis of specific issues relevant to the discussions of the Conference. The Issue Papers are the departing point for the work of the Policy Units.

The Issue Papers are prepared by United Nations Task Team on Habitat III, a task force of UN agencies and programmes, as well as several experts and organizations related to the different topics. The methodology of elaboration of the Issue Papers is in line with the elaboration of the compendium of issues briefs prepared by the United Nations inter-agency Technical Support Team for the United Nations General Assembly Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals.

Area 1. Social Cohesion and Equity-Livable Cities1. Issue Paper on Inclusive Cities2. Issue Paper on Migration and Refugees in Urban Areas3. Issue Paper on Safer Cities4. Issue Paper on Urban Culture and HeritageArea 2. Urban Frameworks5. Issue Paper on Urban Rules and Legislation6. Issue Paper on Urban Governance7. Issue Paper on Municipal FinanceArea 3. Spatial Development8. Issue Paper on Urban and Spatial Planning and Design9. Issue Paper on Urban Land10. Issue Paper on Urban-Rural Linkages11. Issue Paper on Public SpaceArea 4. Urban Economy12. Issue Paper on Local Economic Development13. Issue Paper on Jobs and Livelihoods14. Issue Paper on Informal SectorArea 5. Urban Ecology and Environment15. Issue Paper on Urban Resilience16. Issue Paper on Urban Ecosystems and Resource Management17. Issue Paper on Cities and Climate Change and Disaster Risk ManagementArea 6. Urban Housing and Basic Services18. Issue Paper on Urban Infrastructure and Basic Services, including Energy19. Issue Paper on Transport and Mobility20. Issue Paper on Housing21. Issue Paper on Smart Cities22. Issue Paper on Informal Settlements

Policy Units

The preparatory process of Habitat III should mobilize all expertise on sustainable urban development which represents various constituent groups and stakeholders, and whose selection is guided by geographical and gender balance, as well as qualitative criteria in terms of contribution to the Habitat III preparatory process.

The policy units would:

- Bring together high-level expertise to explore state-of-the-art research and analysis

- Identify good practices and lessons learned

- Develop independent policy recommendations on particular issues regarding sustainable urban development

The main tasks of the Policy Units are to:

- Identify the challenges, including the structural and policy constraints, to the New Urban Agenda within the issues discussed by each policy unit

- Identify the policy priorities and critical issues for the implementation of the New Urban Agenda within the issues discussed by each policy unit

- Develop action-oriented recommendations for the implementation of the New Urban Agenda

Policy Units are composed by 20 experts each, bringing together individual experts from a variety of fields, including academia, government, civil society and other regional and international bodies. 

Member States and stakeholders are encouraged to propose suitable qualified technical experts and co-leading organizations to compose the Habitat III Policy Units by 24 June 2015.

Selection, Process and CriteriaTerms of Reference for Co-leading organizationsTerms of Reference for Experts