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Skip to main content Top Menu Covid-19 Governance Donors Programmes Media centre Get involved Events Menu Main navigation About Us Overview Accountability Donors Evaluation Governance Leadership New Urban Agenda Our Strategy Partners Sustainable Development Goals Topics Climate Change Disability Energy Housing Human Rights Land Legislation Local Economic Development Local Governments and Decentralisation Migration Mobility Municipal Finance Planning and Design Public Space Regeneration Regional and Metropolitan Planning Rehabilitation Resilience and Risk Reduction Safety Slum Upgrading Waste Management Water and Sanitation Youth and Livelihoods Climate Change Disability Economy and Finance Energy Gender Gender Governance and Decentralisation Housing Human Rights Innovation Land Legislation Metropolitan Management Migration Mobility and Transport Municipal Finance Planning and Design Public Space Regeneration Rehabilitation Resilience and Risk Reduction Safety Slum Upgrading Urban Policy Urban-Rural Linkages Waste Management Water and Sanitation Youth and Livelihoods Where We Are Africa Region Asia and the Pacific Region Arab States Region Latin America and the Caribbean Region Other countries Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Kosovo Spain Africa Region Asia and the Pacific Region Arab States Region Latin America and the Caribbean Region Other Countries Angola Botswana Burkina Faso Cabo Verde Cameroon Chad Comoros Democratic Republic of the Congo Ethiopia Ghana Guinea Guinea Bissau Kenya Madagascar Malawi Mozambique Rwanda Sao Tome and Principe Somalia South Africa South Sudan Uganda Zambia Zimbabwe Afghanistan Bangladesh Cambodia China Fiji India Iran (Islamic Republic of) Lao People’s Democratic Republic Malaysia Mongolia Myanmar Nepal Pakistan Philippines Solomon Islands Sri Lanka Thailand Viet Nam Egypt Iraq Jordan Kuwait GCC Lebanon Libya Saudi Arabia State of Palestine Sudan Syrian Arab Republic Tunisia Yemen Andean Countries HUB Argentina Bolivia (Plurinational State of) Brazil Chile Cuba Mexico Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Kosovo Spain Spotlight Programme Cities Waste Data Programme Participatory Habitat Initiative: innovation for SDGs View all Knowledge Best Practices Capacity Building Research and Publications Data and Analytics Search Go Donate Donors Events Get involved Governance Media centre Partners Report Launch UN-Habitat Report on Cities and Pandemics: towards a more just, green and healthy future Learn more [Shutterstock - Anna Kraynova] + Download the response plan + View the COVID-19 Appeal + Join us UN-Habitat’s Solutions Start with Cities Learn More [UN-Habitat - Kirsten Milhahn] + Download the response plan + View the COVID-19 Appeal + Join us Japan provides over USD 20 million for UN-Habitat’s work with vulnerable communities Learn more [UN-Habitat] + Download the response plan + View the COVID-19 Appeal + Join us URBAN INNOVATION Launch of Her City – a digital platform to support girls’ participation in urban planning Learn more [Shutterstock - skyNext] + Download the response plan + View the COVID-19 Appeal + Join us Launch The Earth Observation Toolkit for Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements Learn more [NASA Earth Observatory - Lauren Dauphin] + Download the response plan + View the COVID-19 Appeal + Join us Previous Next Featured UN-Habitat Executive Director's message on the Launch of UN Habitat’s Report - Cities and Pandemics: Towards a more just, green and healthy future + Learn More Executive Board The Executive Board of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme will hold its First session of the year 2021 from Wednesday 7 April to Thursday 8 April 2021. + Learn more Campaign + Learn more News and stories Press release Cities and Pandemics: Towards a more just, green and healthy future Story Being prepared in times of crisis: how volunteers are fighting Covid-19 pandemic in Kenya’s urban slums Story UN-Habitat Executive Director discusses sustainable urban solutions with the President of Burkina Faso Story Japan provides over USD 20 million for UN-Habitat’s work with vulnerable communities Story Empowering local authorities through Regional Technical Offices in Lebanon to respond to COVID-19 + All news and stories Research and Publications We publish research on the latest findings on sustainable urbanization. Go Essential Research + View all research and publications 2020 Catalogue of Services World Cities Report 2020: The Value of Sustainable Urbanization Cities and Pandemics: Towards a more just, green and healthy future The New Urban Agenda Illustrated Supporting Planning for Integrated Refugee & Host Communities – Compiled Newsletter 2016 – Jan 2021 Global Compendium of Practices on Local Economic and Financial Recovery + View all research and publications A new focus for UN-Habitat UN-Habitat promotes transformative change in cities and human settlements through knowledge, policy advice, technical assistance and collaborative action to leave no one and no place behind. Image Reduced spatial inequality and poverty in communities across the urban-rural continuum Image Enhanced shared prosperity for cities and regions Image Strengthened climate action and improved urban environment Image Effective urban crises prevention and response + Get to know our strategy Our work We support countries to improve living conditions for all through sustainable urbanization. UN-Habitat’s work is anchored on scientific data, rigorous research and analysis. 39 million people benefited from improved water service delivery, through strengthened capacity under the Global Water Operators’ Partnership Alliance. (2014-2019) 5 million slum dwellers worldwide benefit from UN-Habitat's Participatory Slum Upgrading Programme Over 2 million people benefited from sustainable urban reconstruction in post-crisis situations and protracted conflict environments. (2014-2019) >50% of the world’s population live in cities or urban centers. Urban areas play an increasingly critical role in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals 3 billion people will be added to the urban population worldwide between 2010 and 2050 80% of global GDP is from cities. Urban areas are powerhouses of economic growth and function as catalysts for inclusion and innovation Sustainable Development Goals Hover over an icon to learn more. With humanity becoming increasingly urban, trends indicate poverty is also becoming increasingly urban. Sustainable urbanization improves the lives of people in human settlements around the world and increases prosperity. CLICK FOR MORE Sustainable urbanization increases food security. The presence of cultivatable land for farming provides food for urban areas and supports agricultural productivity whilst improving the livelihoods of rural populations. CLICK FOR MORE Through integrated urban planning, access to basic services, and access to decent and affordable housing, sustainable cities contribute to better health. CLICK FOR MORE Inclusive and sustainable cities provide better access to education by the urban poor, women and girls. Inclusive and equitable education provides adequate skills for decent jobs and improved living conditions. CLICK FOR MORE Providing women and girls with equal access to education, health care, decent work, and representation in political and economic decision-making processes nurtures sustainable economies, and helps develop inclusive and sustainable cities. CLICK FOR MORE Effective urban planning and urban waste management systems ensure access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene, and improve the quality and sustainability of water resources worldwide. CLICK FOR MORE Access to clean and efficient energy systems is crucial for the development of safe, resilient and sustainable cities, allowing them to grow and perform efficiently while reducing pollution and mitigating climate change. CLICK FOR MORE Inclusive and sustainable cities are a positive and poten...