This Clarification Note situates UN-Habitat’s Flagship Programme Inclusive Communities, Thriving Cities within recent Executive Board deliberations, explaining the programme’s aims and why urban regeneration is central to tackling rising spatial inequality. It complements the Executive Director’s report (July–December 2023) discussed at the First Session of the Executive Board (6–8 May 2024), and includes an annex of inspiring government-led and UN-Habitat practices.
It traces how practice evolved from 1960s revitalisation and 1970s renewal towards today’s broader regeneration—an integrated approach that enhances existing physical and socio-economic assets and shares benefits locally—while noting that terminology varies across regions and over time.
The note frames urban regeneration as an integrated, inclusive, multi-sector and multi-level process, engaging public, private, academic and community actors, with particular attention to vulnerable groups. It is area-based and collaborative, focused on improving conditions in under-utilised or distressed areas and linking outcomes to the wider city, in line with the New Urban Agenda’s emphasis on cultural and natural heritage.
Practical entry points are organised around three core assets—land, community and environment—with tools such as land-use planning and readjustment, inclusive participation, and environmental restoration. Typical strategies include adaptive reuse, brownfield repurposing, housing rehabilitation and energy upgrades.
Examples highlight blue-green corridor regeneration and public-space reactivation that boost health, livelihoods and identity—outcomes achievable only with strong civic participation.
Finally, the note sets out the way forward: leveraging the integrative nature of the Flagship to link policy, planning and finance; strengthening partnerships; and localising tools under the forthcoming Strategic Plan 2026–29—positioning urban regeneration as a driver of SDGs and a lever to reduce spatial inequality at scale.
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