Since 2020, UN-Habitat has been funded by the EUTF Programme entitled ‘Enhancing self-reliance for refugees and host communities in Kenya’. The spatial profiles produced during the first phase of the project have focused on establishing the existing conditions of the refugee hosting areas, identifying challenges and opportunities for inclusive development, and outline recommendations for improvement of the settlements.

Since 2020, UN-Habitat has been funded by the EUTF Programme entitled ‘Enhancing self-reliance for refugees and host communities in Kenya’. The spatial profiles produced during the first phase of the project has focused on establishing the existing conditions of the refugee hosting areas, identifying challenges and opportunities for inclusive development, and outline recommendations for improvement of the settlements.

UN-Habitat’s first Policy, Legislation and Governance (PLGS) Annual Report highlights the section’s implementation of the Strategic Plan 2020-2023 for 2020. The Annual Report features the section’s and its partners’ contributions and results realized across various key programmes and projects at the local, national, regional and global levels between November 2019 and the end of 2020.

To promote evidence-based programming and coordination among state and non-state actors, UN-Habitat and UNICEF have jointly completed 28 profiles of disadvantaged neighbourhoods across Lebanon. This collaboration responds to the long-standing need for reliable, multi-sectoral spatial data required to inform sustainable development and humanitarian response by all actors.

Maraach, one of the most densely populated areas in the Middle East, has some 6,000 residents composed of roughly 60 per cent vulnerable Lebanese and 40 per cent Syrian refugees and other nationalities. Residents face many challenges including poverty, limited access to water and electricity; few safe, accessible public spaces; exposed unsafe electrical wiring and run-down buildings and common spaces which were badly damaged by the Beirut Port explosion last year.

Rapid urbanisation adds a strain to the already overburdened transport systems and the provision of safe infrastructure and transport services is lacking behind. Around the world, road traffic injuries cause 1.35 million deaths and up to 50 million injuries each year. Especially for young people road crashes are one of the leading causes of fatalities in our times.

In support of planning, management, and implementation of actions to address recovery needs and urban durable solutions, UN-Habitat has developed the position paper « The territorial dimension of displacement in northern Mozambique » that aims to advocate for the promotion and joint implementation of integrated urban interventions improving the living conditions of host communities and IDPs, as well as supporting a local governance mechanism to drive sustainable urban development.

In support of planning, management, and implementation of actions to address recovery needs and urban durable solutions, UN-Habitat has developed the position paper « The territorial dimension of displacement in northern Mozambique » that aims to advocate for the promotion and joint implementation of integrated urban interventions improving the living conditions of host communities and IDPs, as well as supporting a local governance mechanism to drive sustainable urban development.

This paper sets out how working towards sustainable urbanization is crucial for the sustaining peace agenda. It builds on the ongoing reforms of the peace, security and development pillars of the United Nations and it illustrates how UN-Habitat’s expertise and experiences add value to the humanitarian development- peace actions of the UN in the region.