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.

The report assesses the statutory and customary land administration systems in the five Darfur states and provides guidance on how to secure land and property rights of the people voluntarily returning to Darfur and of other vulnerable groups - such as IDPs, refugees, women and youth. The report also looks at the functioning of land administration and how it can be improved in a fit-for-purpose, incremental and feasible manner for the benefit of the whole Darfur’s population. An adequate and…

UN-Habitat has been implementing UN State Liaison Functions (SLFs) under the joint leadership with UNAMID to support their drawdown activities in Darfur. The activities aim to provide sustainable solutions for land-related conflicts through promoting community based land management system.

The conflict in Darfur destroyed a large number of health and public facilities which obstructs the voluntary return of IDPs. UN-Habitat has been working on construction work in Darfur with the support of USAID, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Government of Japan, Government of Qatar through UN Darfur Fund, and UNAMID in cooperation with Government of Sudan.

Land has always been central to the outbreak and escalation of conflicts between the different livelihoods groups in Darfur. In the partnerships with the Government of Qatar, UN-Habitat implemented the project in 51 villages in five Darfur States to secure the land tenure for the returned IDPs.

Blue Nile State is one of the states affected by long conflict in Sudan. It suffers from all the classical symptoms related to people’s displacement and rapid urbanization, such as high rate of unemployment among youth, and high prevalence of insecurity. Since 2015, UN-Habitat has improved a decent living environment in Blue Nile State in partnership with the Government of Norway. So far, over 290,000 vulnerable population including IDPs, war-affected children and women groups were supported.

Sudan has been experiencing long lasting conflicts and tribal disputes. To respond the uprising challenges, UN-Habitat has been assisting returnees, IDPs and host communities in the post conflict areas to live together in peace in partnership with the Government of Japan.

This publication shows how addressing land issues can mitigate conflict, facilitate solutions to it, improve the likelihood that people can return to their homes after the violence is over, and contribute to peace overall.