Urban Policy Platform

PLS 2025 End of Year Message

uppadmin — Thu, 25 Dec 2025 06:12:52 +0000

[UN-HABITAT]

2025 has featured important milestones and significant progress in our contribution to the sustainable development agenda, amid several challenges and opportunities along the way. All of this was achieved through the continuing support of all partners globally.

Click the link to access the end of year message, and a link to the PDF.

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IDURL 4

uppadmin — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 06:23:59 +0000

International Dialogue on Urban-Rural Linkages 2025

THEME: Advancing Urban-Rural Linkages: Culture, Housing and Basic Services

In the serene landscapes of Songyang County, China, the 2025 International Dialogue on Urban-Rural Linkages (IDURL) became a living showcase of how culture, housing, heritage, and basic services can bridge urban and rural realities. Co-organized by UN-Habitat and the China International Communications Group (CICG), the Dialogue convened over 100 participants from 15 countries to share ideas, experiences, and innovations driving inclusive and sustainable territorial development.

Over two days, participants explored Songyang’s integrated approach, combining cultural heritage preservation, adaptive reuse, and modern service delivery. Highlights included a revitalized water system serving 32,800 residents, the transformation of an old bus station into a public fitness center, and the adaptive reuse of historic sites like puppet theatres and high-pitch opera museums. National initiatives in China, such as the Ten Million Project, are supporting rural housing upgrades, village conservation, and ecological sustainability, with tangible impacts on local communities

The goal is not to make the countryside the same as the city, but to realize the complementarity and win-win potential of urban and rural functions.

Xie Gang, China International Communications Group

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Field visits and thematic sessions illustrated how urban acupuncture, digitalization, and intelligent transport systems can strengthen urban-rural linkages, improve access to services, and foster climate resilience. Drawing on global examples from Asia, Africa, and Europe, discussions emphasized heritage-led regeneration, participatory governance, and community engagement as critical elements for context-specific, sustainable development.

At IDURL, we have realized that in the process of modernization, urban and rural areas are never ‘either/or’ options, but a cohesive whole with a shared destiny.

Liang Haigang, CPC Songyang County Committee

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Balanced territorial development goes beyond infrastructure—it is about dignity, identity, and opportunity, ensuring no one and no place is left behind.

Rafael Tuts, UN-Habitat

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The 2025 International Dialogue on Urban-Rural Linkages in Songyang reaffirmed a global call to action by UN-Habitat: bridging urban and rural areas through inclusive, innovative, and culturally grounded approaches to achieve balanced, resilient, and sustainable development for all.

Timeline of IDURL Events since 2019

10-14 November, 2019

IFURL 1

The First IFURL took place in Songyang County, Lishui City, Zhejiang Province, China, on 10-14 November, 2019. The theme of the first forum was “Rural revitalization through innovations and valorization”.

19-20 October, 2021

IFURL 2

The Second IFURL held on 19-20^th October, 2021 shaped its theme as “Integrating Health and Territorial Development for Sustainable Livelihoods” building on the first Forum’s success and articulation of rural revitalization.

29 Oct-1 Nov, 2023

IFURL 3

Against the backdrop of this year’s Urban October, the third IFURL, was held from October 29 to November 1, 2023, marking a significant milestone in the global conversation on urban-rural connectivity.

Partners

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UN-Habitat and FAO Strengthen Collaboration to Accelerate the Green Cities Agenda

uppadmin — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 12:33:49 +0000

UN-Habitat and FAO Strengthen Collaboration to Accelerate the Green Cities Agenda

Rome, Italy, 15 October 2025 — UN-Habitat participated in the First International Conference on Green Cities, convened by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), to advance joint efforts in making cities greener, more resilient, and more inclusive. The conference brought together mayors, city leaders, and experts from across the world to explore integrated approaches to food systems, climate action, and sustainable urban planning.

“At UN-Habitat, we see the Green Cities Initiative as a powerful vehicle to integrate food systems, housing, basic services, land management, and climate action. This aligns closely with our new Strategic Plan 2026–2029, which prioritizes adequate housing, access to basic services, and sustainable land use,” said the Executive Director of UN-Habitat. “Green cities are not only about food systems – they represent an integrated approach where mobility, energy, housing, and urban planning all converge to deliver resilience, equity, and sustainability.”

Throughout the discussions, UN-Habitat emphasized that advancing green cities requires a holistic approach—linking spatial planning, climate action, sustainable food systems and urban-rural linkages, efficient service delivery, and sound local finance. A truly green city promotes renewable energy, sustainable mobility, inclusive housing, nature-based solutions, waste management, economic opportunities, resilience, and well-designed public spaces, supported by effective governance and financing frameworks.

UN-Habitat moderated the session on “Transforming Agrifood Systems for a Sustainable Future,” where cities such as Kisumu (Kenya), Courbevoie (France), and Kampala (Uganda) presented their local innovations in strengthening food systems and urban–rural linkages. The agency also showcased collaborative work under the Green Cities Initiative in Mozambique and Jordan, where integrated urban planning and green infrastructure are improving livelihoods and advancing sustainability.

The conference reaffirmed the importance of the partnership between FAO and UN-Habitat in driving the Green Cities Initiative, highlighting the need for joint implementation, resource mobilization, and country-level collaboration to scale impact and accelerate the transition toward sustainable urban futures.

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Unlocking Housing Solutions: How National Urban Policies are Transforming Lives

uppadmin — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 14:03:40 +0000

Unlocking Housing Solutions: How National Urban Policies are Transforming Lives

Housing is a cornerstone of sustainable urban development, directly linked to resilience, equity, climate adaptation, and quality of life. Yet 23% of the world’s urban population still live in inadequate housing conditions. National Urban Policies (NUPs) offer a unique framework to align housing with national development priorities, improve affordability and adequacy, upgrade informal settlements, and integrate housing into broader urban planning and climate strategies.

Within this context, on 23 October 2025, UN-Habitat hosted a special event titled “Unlocking Housing Solutions through National Urban Policies” during the Open-ended Intergovernmental Expert Working Group on Adequate Housing for All. The session convened over 100 participants onsite and online, showcasing how national urban policies (NUPs) are being used to address housing challenges globally.

Insights from the third edition of the Global State of National Urban Policy report, co-authored by UN-Habitat and the OECD and presented during the session highlights that 75% of surveyed countries’ NUPs have policy alignment mechanisms in place, while attention to climate resilience has risen to 49% from 13% in 2018. However, two-thirds of NUPs report inadequate social housing, and only 45% outline concrete urban-rural linkage actions, highlighting persistent gaps despite progress.

Country-level interventions from Finland, Kenya, Morocco, and Paraguay demonstrated how governments are aligning housing programmes with broader urban development policies and goals. Morocco’s “Cities Without Slums” programme, launched in 2004, has reached over 68,000 beneficiaries, integrating housing with water, roads, and social facilities, and promoting equity and inclusion.

Finland shared its success with the Housing First principle, a rights-based approach that prioritizes permanent housing for low-income and homeless populations. Since its adoption in 2008, Finland has reduced long-term homelessness by 68%, making it the only country in the European Union with a declining homelessness rate. The approach is cost-effective and built on strong collaboration between government, municipalities, and civil society.

Kenya reaffirmed its constitutional commitment to housing as a right, and is currently reviewing its National Urban Development Policy to strengthen housing adequacy, climate action, and the delivery of basic services. The participatory review process involves national and county governments, academia, and communities, ensuring policy coherence and alignment with the country’s Vision 2030 as well as the SDGs.

Reflecting on the global impact, Maija Yrjä, Finland’s Deputy Permanent Representative in Kenya, emphasized:

“UN-Habitat’s work globally demonstrates how urban policies can guide national and local governments in addressing housing needs – by integrating planning, legislation, and finance; to ensure that everyone has access to safe, affordable, and adequate housing.”

The event reinforced the importance of policy coherence, inclusive planning, and international collaboration in achieving adequate housing for all.

Access the meeting report and presentations below:

Meeting Report

OECD Presentation

Paraguay Presentation

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Sierra Leone Enacts New Town and Country Planning Law

uppadmin — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 03:00:48 +0000

Sierra Leone Enacts New Town and Country Planning Law: A Turning Point for Urban Development

An image of Freetown, Sierra Leone overlooking the Central Business District © Adobe Stock

Sierra Leone has taken a historic step in shaping its urban future with the passage of the Town and Country Planning Law 2025, which replaces the outdated 1946 spatial planning legislation. This landmark reform responds to the pressing challenges of rapid urbanization, climate change, and weak governance. It provides a modern legal foundation for spatial planning, infrastructure, housing, and sustainable development. Unlike its predecessor, the new law introduces clearer provisions for national spatial policy, monitoring and evaluation, and enforcement mechanisms, ensuring spatial planning keeps pace with contemporary realities.

UN-Habitat’s Regional Office for Africa played a pivotal role in achieving this milestone, helping to bridge collaboration between the Freetown City Council, the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning, and central government institutions. The process was set in motion through a request by the Mayor of Freetown, Her Worship Yvonne Aki-Sawyer, and solidified through the high-level engagement with Sierra Leone’s delegation at the World Urban Forum in Cairo. The work was further enriched through consultations with the Minister of Lands, Dr. Turad Senessie, and Deputy Minister Phyllis Kapu. This multistakeholder process, funded through the World Bank’s Resilient Urban Sierra Leone Project and supported by a wide range of stakeholders, reflects UN-Habitat’s commitment to supporting governments in advancing legal reform and strengthening urban governance.

The Policy, Legislation and Governance Section of UN-Habitat reviewed the Bill to ensure the law’s principles resonate with global best practices promoted through UN-Habitat’s knowledge tools:

The Planning Law Assessment Framework, which helps identify gaps and strengths in planning legislation;

The Slum Upgrading Legal Assessment Tool, which evaluates the inclusivity of urban legal frameworks for informal settlements; and

The Guidelines for the Scrutiny of Urban Legislation, a manual designed to ensure that urban laws are effective, transparent, enforceable, and responsive to urban realities.

Overall, the new law empowers local councils with stronger authority over development control, marking a critical step towards decentralization and accountability. It is widely regarded as a game changer that positions Sierra Leone for a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable urban future. The gazetted version of the law will be availed in due course.

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Paraguay’s Integrated Housing Policy: A Model of Governance and Legislative…

uppadmin — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 03:13:33 +0000

Paraguay’s Integrated Housing Policy: A Model of Governance and Legislative Coherence for Sustainable Urbanization

Paraguay’s Integrated Housing Policy

19 September 2025

The Policy, Legislation, and Governance Section of UN-Habitat is pleased to highlight the remarkable progress of the Republic of Paraguay, whose National Urbanism, Housing and Habitat Policy, established in 2024, is being recognized as an inspiring model for the region. Paraguay’s journey, which follows suit with the current development of the corresponding National Plan for Urbanism, Housing and Habitat for 2035, demonstrates the transformative power of robust policy frameworks, effective multi-level governance, and legislative coherence in advancing the right to adequate housing and sustainable urban development.

The success of Paraguay’s approach lies in its integrated and participatory foundation. Both the policy and the plan were developed through an inclusive process involving all levels of government, the private sector, academia, and, crucially, civil society organizations. This collaborative genesis has fostered a strong sense of national ownership and aligns directly with the principles of effective governance championed by UN-Habitat. By moving beyond a siloed focus on housing units to a holistic “Urbanism, Housing and Habitat” perspective, these instruments effectively link adequate shelter with access to basic services, transportation, and public space, contributing to more compact, connected, and inclusive cities.

Furthermore, Paraguay’s commitment is underscored by significant institutional and financial reinforcement. The establishment of the Vice Ministry of Housing and Habitat within the Ministry of Urbanism, Housing and Habitat (MUVH) — which was formed following the 2018 upgrade of the former National Secretariat for Habitat — provides a dedicated high-level body to support effective implementation. This is complemented by a substantial increase in the national housing budget, demonstrating a tangible political will to translate policy into action.

Paraguay’s experience offers a valuable case study in operationalizing the New Urban Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 11. It proves that through deliberate legislative action, coordinated governance structures, and meaningful stakeholder engagement, countries can create enabling environments that make adequate housing and sustainable habitats a reality for all. UN-Habitat celebrates these efforts and encourages other nations to draw inspiration from Paraguay’s pioneering work.

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UN-Habitat visits Asia-Pacific Heritage Centre

uppadmin — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 08:25:29 +0000

UN-Habitat visits Asia-Pacific Heritage Centre

Tongji University, June 11, 2025

On 3 June 2025, Remy SIETCHIPING, Chief of Policy, Legislation and Governance Section, Urban Practice Branch, Global Solutions Division, UN-Habitat, visited WHITR-AP Shanghai.

Professor LI Xiangning, Vice President of Tongji University, and Professor WANG Lan, Dean of the College of Architecture and Urban Planning (CAUP), met with him to review the longstanding collaboration between Tongji University, CAUP, and UN-Habitat in areas such as student exchange and technical cooperation. They also explored opportunities for future partnerships in training and research focused on sustainable urban and rural development.

Mr. Sietchiping also held discussions with Prof. SHAO Yong, Secretary-General of WHITR-AP and Professor of urban planning at CAUP, Tongji University; ZHANG Kai, Vice Director of the Heritage Conservation and Culture Revitalization Institute at Shanghai Tongji Urban Planning and Design Institute Co., Ltd. (TJUPDI); LU Wei, Executive Deputy Director of WHITR-AP Shanghai; and Marie-Noël TOURNOUX, Project Director of WHITR-AP Shanghai. The meeting focused on identifying areas of cooperation in heritage-led territorial development and exchanging views on the development of a strategic cooperation between WHITR-AP and UN-Habitat.

Both institutions share a commitment to heritage conservation and sustainable development that links rural and metropolitan spaces, in line with the principles of the 2011 UNESCO Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape, and with a shared objective of contributing to the achievement of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. GAN Wei, Director of the Teaching Management Department at CAUP, who will soon be seconded to UN-Habitat also joined in the meeting.

Mr. Remy Sietchiping Visits the Shanghai Sub-Center of the Asia-Pacific Heritage Centre

UN-Habitat is the United Nations programme focused on human settlements and sustainable urban development. Established in 1977, it aims to promote socially and environmentally sustainable cities, towns, and communities, striving for adequate shelter and better living standards for all. UN-Habitat serves as the focal point for urbanization and human settlement matters within the UN system, collaborating with partners to build inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities.

UN-Habitat’s Policy, Legislation and Governance Section (PLGS) is one of five sections of the Urban Practice Branch and supports national and subnational governments and other partners through the development and dissemination of knowledge, capacity building, conducting policy dialogues and providing advisory services on urban policy, legislation, governance, metropolitan management, and urban-rural linkages .

The New Urban Agenda is a global framework adopted at the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) in October 2016. It aims to promote sustainable urban development and contribute to the localization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly focusing on making cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. The agenda emphasizes the importance of national urban policies, urban legislation, and stakeholder engagement to drive sustainable urban development. It sets a new global standard for urban planning and management, encouraging innovative approaches to address urban challenges.

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Bogota analyzed with Model Solid Waste Management

uppadmin — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 06:08:06 +0000

Bogota is in a process of transformation on many fronts and one is waste management

PTAR Salitre Park in western Bogota AdobeStock

30 March 2025

On the morning of Thursday, March 27, 2025, the Mayor of Bogotá, Carlos Fernando Galán, installed the International Bureau of Experts . Solid Waste Management . Bogotá 2025, which aimed to facilitate the exchange of knowledge on inspiring international practices, political innovations and technological advances in waste management systems.

This meeting was attended by delegates from UN-Habitat, the German Cooperation Agency, and representatives of the metropolitan regions of Marmara (Turkey), Seoul, Barcelona, Paris, Denmark, Buenos Aires and Santiago de Chile, among others. The District was attended by the Ministry of International Relations, the District Secretariat for Habitat and the Special Administrative Unit for Public Services (UAESP).

The event held the conferences: “Megacities and waste: towards sustainable and circular management,” by the director of the UAESP, Consuelo Ordoñez. Global practices and tools in solid waste management, which was issued by Shiho Jinno, Waste Management Officer, Urban Basic Services Section, UN-Habitat.

The agenda also raised the socialization of experiences of solid waste collection and cleaning from Denmark, Seoul, Barcelona and Paris; and Solid Waste Systems, an issue that was addressed by experts from the World Bank, and from countries such as Turkey, Chile.

During the second session of the meeting, knowledge on inspiring international practices, political innovations and technological advances in waste management systems, which have to do with the treatment and recovery of solid waste, and the strategies of Sweden, France and Germany were presented.

Finally, the attendees discussed the escalation of solid waste management at the metropolitan and regional levels, which is why they intervened, presenting their experiences, the representatives of Marmara (Turkey), Seoul, Paris, Barcelona and the director of the Metropolitan Region Bogotá .Cundinamarca, Luis Felipe Lota.

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Intern – Urban Law and Governance

uppadmin — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 12:31:34 +0000

Intern – Urban Law and Governance

UN-Habitat’s Policy, Legislation and Governance Section (PLGS) in Nairobi is hiring two interns for 2025. These internships focus on urban law and governance, supporting PLGS’s broader mission of sustainable urbanization. Interns will contribute to various projects by conducting research on urban law topics (e.g., planning law, housing law), analyzing data, drafting reports and publications, maintaining the UrbanLex database, and working with the Section’s toolkits. They will also be involved in creating communication materials, organizing events, and developing their own related project. This offers a valuable opportunity to gain experience in international urban development and law.

Application deadline for the internship is: February 27th 2025.

Please find application information here

host entity

United Nations Human Settlements Programme

closing Date

27 February 2025

type

Internship Opportunity

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Intern – National Urban Policy

uppadmin — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 11:57:40 +0000

Intern – National Urban Policy

UN-Habitat’s Urban Practices Branch seeks two interns for its Policy, Legislation and Governance Section (PLGS) in Nairobi. Interns will support projects related to National Urban Policy (NUP), urban-rural linkages, and metropolitan development. Responsibilities include research, data analysis, report writing/editing, creating training materials, and organizing events. One intern will focus on NUP, including reviewing materials, analyzing data, and contributing to reports. The other will concentrate on urban-rural linkages and metropolitan development, including course review, research, and event organization.

Application deadline for the internship is: March 7th 2025.

Please find application information here

host entity

United Nations Human Settlements Programme

closing Date

7 March 2025

type

Internship Opportunity

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