​This report documents how nine cities across Africa, Asia-Pacific, Arab States, Eastern Europe and Latin America have implemented the New Urban Agenda through integrated planning, multi-level governance, and capacity-building. It captures lessons, mind-shifts, and implementation pathways that accelerate SDG 11 and sustainable urban transformation

Public spaces to play are important to children's health and development and are a core right. Yet with increasing urbanization, access to public spaces to play is shrinking, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This guide, developed by UN-Habitat, WHO and UNICEF, highlights the importance of public spaces for optimizing children's health and well-being, and realizing their comprehensive rights. It provides support for practitioners in developing and improving public…

​​Originally established in 2011 following the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, the Shanghai Manual serves as a practical guide for mayors and urban practitioners advancing sustainable urban development. The Manual has been shaped by the principles of both the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the New Urban Agenda, positioning it as a key resource in the global ambition of achieving sustainable cities. 

​As digitalisation rapidly reshapes urban life across health, education,…

2024 marked a transitional year for UN-Habitat’s Global Public Space Programme. The Programme delivered impactful action in 13 countries, benefiting over 70,000 people through initiatives advancing climate resilience, social inclusion, and crisis response. From neighborhood delivery to global platforms, the year reaffirmed public space as a foundation for equitable cities and a key enabler of housing, basic services, and sustainable urban development.

Rapid demographic growth and urban expansion are transforming intermediary cities in Kenya and Mozambique. However, limited governance and planning capacity – along with scarce financial resources – are driving these cities towards car-dependent systems, which lock in carbon emissions, reduce accessibility and undermine quality of life. Without timely intervention, current choices risk embedding high emissions and social inequalities for decades to come.

Building on the OECD…