Baghdad,6 November 2017 – UN-Habitat, under the patronage of the Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, hosted a seminar in Baghdad to discuss Planning Prospects for the Reconstruction and Recovery of Mosul. The event gathered a wide range of partners, including the national and local government counterparts, United Nations agencies, donors, NGOs, academic institutions and media.
Innovative governance celebrated on World Cities Day
Guangzhou, 31 October 2017 - UN-Habitat joined partners around the world in celebrating World Cities Day under the theme Innovative Governance, Open Cities.
The global celebration was marked in Guangzhou, China, where Dr Joan Clos, UN-Habitat's Executive Director, delivered his official statement and in Shanghai, where he unveiled an urban statue dedicated to the day, which promotes the challenges and opportunities posed by sustainable urbanization.
First evaluation for the Dubai International Award submissions begins
Dubai 31, October 2017 – The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) of the Dubai International Award is meeting in Dubai from 30th October to 2nd November 2017 to undertake the first selection stage of the 11th round of the Award. Consequently, the ten-member Committee will submit their findings, which include a list of submissions to be reviewed by an international Jury and a report detailing their key findings to the Director General of Dubai Municipality on Thursday 2nd November 2018. The Jury will be held in Dubai in January 2018 to select the winners.
Berlin hosts The Expert Group Meeting (EGM) on transport’s SDG target
Berlin 31 October 2017—The Expert Group Meeting (EGM) on“Refining the Metadata Methodology for Monitoring SDG 11.2: by 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all”, was recently held in Berlin, Germany (http://www.urban-pathways.org/conference-agenda.html).
National workshop on climate-resilient urban plans and designs brings “Aha!” moments
Quezon City, Philippines., October 27, 2017-- Despite the recent suspension of work and classes due to a public transport strike affecting all of Metro Manila, about 40 representatives from five Philippine national government agencies showed up for the first training workshop on Building Climate Resiliency through Urban Plans & Designs (BCRUPD), a German government funded project with UN-Habitat as the lead implementer in partnership with the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB).
Women contributing to Afghan Safer Cities, thanks to donors’ support
Herat, Afghanistan 12 October 2017- The Dutch ambassador to Afghanistan, Geoffrey van Leeuwen, recently made a visit to five project sites of the Afghanistan Urban Peacebuilding Programme (AUPP) in District 13th of Herat City. It is an Afghan Safer Cities, and Communities Programme implemented in 8 cities.
New countries and cities to benefit from low emission development support
Nairobi, 20 October 2017 – The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI), are expanding their work on low emission planning to a further four countries.
A second phase of the flagship project, "Accelerating climate action through the promotion of Urban Low Emission Development Strategies", or "Urban-LEDS II" for short, will run from 2017 - 2021. The project is funded by the European Union.