This project was funded by the Government of Japan with a budget of USD 3,296,800. The evaluation was conducted at the request of UN-Habitat and is part of UN-Habitat’s effort to perform systematic and timely evaluations of its projects and to ensure that UN-Habitat evaluations provide a full representation of its mandate and activities.

Five years into implementing this important international development framework, rapidly growing cities and towns are faced with a range of developmental choices that will shape their growth and long-term economic, social and environmental sustainability. Many of these are complex choices with differing short-term versus long-term costs and benefits. These choices are seldom determined by individual actors or agencies but emerge out of the complex interplay of decisions made by a range of…

This report highlights the core contributions of the Strategic Development Phase of The Global Future Cities Programme, headed by lead agency UN-Habitat, to explain the process and tools used, illustrate its value as a foundation for guiding intervention development, and to help enhance the potential for impact beyond the programme. The report additionally shares recommendations for similar initiatives that aim to promote sustainable urban development, as well as ways to support the ambitions…

Climate change is becoming one of the main threats to humanity, and the Arab region is one of the most vulnerable to its impacts. The 2012 State of Arab Cities report1 highlighted climate change as a “major emerging challenge” in the region with water security, food security, and urban settlements at particular risk.

Guidelines: scope and intended audience

These guidelines, aimed at decision makers and implementers across four main stakeholder groups (government, assistance agencies, the built environment sector, and disaster-affected communities), aims to increase the level of knowledge about technical assistance and operationalise its implementation, so that the reconstruction of housing in disaster-affected communities results in sustainably safer housing. The project, executed by UN-…

The Strategic Plan for 2020–2023 re-positions UN-Habitat as a major global entity, a centre of excellence and innovation. In that respect, the organization is refocusing its niche position as the “thought leader” and the go-to programme for issues pertaining to its work, setting the global discourse and agenda on sustainable urban development, driving political discussion, generating specialized and cutting-edge knowledge, shaping technical norms, principles and standards, and acting as a…

The decision by UN-Habitat to hold a Global Stakeholder Forum at the first session of the United Nations UN-Habitat Assembly, 27 – 31 May 2019, represents a significant milestone towards the agency’s inclusive approach on partnerships. The forum was convened to bring together all partners: United Nations entities, governments and stakeholders to share views and experiences on the challenges and opportunities of global trends within the scope of urbanization and human settlements.

Uncontrolled urbanization negatively affects human health and well-being of citizens, challenging the development of competitive, inclusive and liveable human settlements. As urbanization is one of the main drivers influencing the development of countries across the globe, a shift towards more sustainable urban development practices is urgent and necessary to ensure the achievement of SDG 11. Sustainable Cities and Communities and SDG 3. Good Health and Well-being and other interrelated goals…