United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)
| Section | Details |
|---|---|
| Introduction | – Establishment: UN-Habitat was established in 1978 as a result of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat I) held in Vancouver, Canada. – Mandate: To promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities, with the goal of ensuring adequate shelter for all. – Headquarters: Nairobi, Kenya. |
| Objectives | – Sustainable Urban Development: Promote sustainable urbanization policies and improve the quality of life in urban areas. – Adequate Shelter: Ensure access to adequate shelter for all, especially vulnerable populations. – Urban Governance: Enhance participatory urban governance and empower local governments. – Poverty Reduction: Address urban poverty by improving access to services and economic opportunities. |
| Members (Dec 2024) | – UN-Habitat Assembly: Comprises all 193 United Nations Member States. – Executive Board: Includes 36 Member States elected by the UN-Habitat Assembly. – Governance Representation: Ensures diverse regional representation among members. |
| Reports/Indices | – World Cities Report: Biennial analysis of urban trends and challenges. – City Prosperity Index (CPI): Measures cities’ prosperity across dimensions such as productivity, quality of life, equity, and environmental sustainability. – Global State of National Urban Policy Report: Assesses the development and implementation of national urban policies worldwide. – UN-Habitat Annual Report: Summarizes annual activities, achievements, and financial information. – Urban Governance Index (UGI): Evaluates urban governance quality globally. – Urban Indicators Database: Provides data on urban metrics for policymakers and planners. – Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11) Monitoring: Tracks progress on inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities. |
| Instruments | – New Urban Agenda: Adopted at Habitat III in 2016, this provides a global framework for sustainable urbanization. – Strategic Plan 2020–2025: Outlines UN-Habitat’s strategic priorities and initiatives for urban sustainability. – Resolutions of the UN-Habitat Assembly: Guides operational and policy decisions for the organization. |
| Structure | – UN-Habitat Assembly: The highest decision-making body, meets every four years to set policies and approve work plans. – Executive Board: Oversees financial and operational matters, ensuring accountability. – Secretariat: Led by the Executive Director, responsible for implementation and administration. – Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR): Acts as an intersessional subsidiary organ to ensure continuous governance. |
| Subsidiary Organs | – Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR): Engages in intersessional governance. – Advisory Groups: Provide expert guidance on thematic areas like urban resilience and climate adaptation. |
| Committees | – Programme and Budget Committee: Reviews and approves work programs and budgets. – Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ): Provides recommendations on budgetary matters. – Sectoral Committees: Address issues like housing, waste management, and urban policy. |
| Initiatives | – Cities and Climate Change Initiative (CCCI): Helps cities in emerging and developing countries address climate challenges. – Participatory Slum Upgrading Programme (PSUP): Improves living conditions in slums through participatory approaches. – Global Future Cities Programme: Supports urban development through strategic planning and implementation. – People-Centered Smart Cities Initiative: Promotes inclusive and sustainable use of digital technologies in urban areas. – Urban Resilience Programme: Strengthens urban resilience against shocks and stresses. – Her City: Promotes gender-inclusive urban planning. – Waste Wise Cities: Encourages better waste management practices. – World Urban Campaign: Advocates for sustainable urbanization and shares best practices. – Urban October: Highlights urban issues through global events like World Habitat Day and World Cities Day. – Global Land Tool Network (GLTN): Promotes secure land and property rights for all through gender-responsive tools. |
