The Annual Report 2023 of the Policy, Legislation and Governance Section of UN-Habitat showcases the work done in the past year to work towards and support the achievement of the main goal of sustainable urban development.

Much has been achieved by PLGS: more than 44 activities in over 37 countries globally, that consolidated collaboration with donors, development partners and beneficiary countries along the themes of policy, legislation and governance, metropolitan management,…

By 2050, an additional 2.5 billion people will be living in the world’s towns and cities, with almost 50 per cent of that growth taking place in the Commonwealth. Member States, both large and small, are facing the impacts of climate change and rapid urbanization. The COVID-19 pandemic has compounded these, and progress towards achievement of the SDGs has been eroded in many countries, undermining the first year of the Decade of Action towards Agenda 2030.

Through this research of 22 case studies in the 5 regions of the world based on the
regulatory frameworks of metropolitan management, UN-Habitat in collaboration with
the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona, has identified the most important findings and
trends on the regulation of decision-making in the metropolitan areas under study.

This guide explores the most significant aspects of decision-making systems in
metropolitan governance, addressing…

This publication starts with a description of the country’s overall natural hazard exposure and then focuses on human settlements’ vulnerability in Mozambique (Chapter 1). In Chapter 2 it describes the first milestone of UN-Habitat’s activities - the establishment of the Living with Natural Hazards approach - and its implementation through pilot demonstration buildings. It also gives examples of the construction interventions and methodology adopted in the Participation, Awareness and Didactic…

Through this international benchmarking case study on planning laws in five countries (Morocco, Netherlands, South Africa, Republic of Korea and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), UN-Habitat has assessed the impact of these urban laws on sustainable urban development to provide a spectrum of regulatory models and schemes for the spatial planning legal reform in the Sultanate of Oman. These case studies reveal that planning legal framework should clearly define planning…

Based on the Douala Spatial Profile, the Visioning, Scenario and Action Plan report is a unifying response to address identified challenges and to foresee an inclusive and sustainable environment in Douala 4. This report, built with the full engagement of all stakeholders of the city, supports the urban planning decision-making process by drawing a roadmap and listing priority investments.

The Kakuma Regeneration Strategy promotes economic growth, sustainability, self-reliance, and integration of hosts and refugees in the new Kakuma Municipality in Kenya. It offers a path to overcoming economic, environmental, and socio-cultural challenges through physical revitalisation, improved governance, and a transition away from traditional models of hosting refugees in camps.

UN-Habitat and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have developed this Guidance on Child-Responsive Urban Policies, Laws and Standards to support governments at all levels to create urban spaces where children can access basic services, clean air and water; where children feel safe to play, learn and grow, which includes ensuring their voices are heard and their needs are integrated into public policies and decision-making processes. The guidance highlights the important role that…