UN-Habitat

UN-Habitat

National Urban Policy

Sparking a national conversation about cities

As more countries look to write national urban policies, getting all the right players in a room for a 'national urban forum' is a good place to start.

Gregory Scruggs October 27, 2017

Urban-Rural Connections

‘Urban-rural continuum’ essential to achieving New Urban Agenda

Planners must strengthen the synergies between urban and rural areas, UN-Habitat says.

David Hatch October 18, 2017

Urban Planning & Design

What urban planners want from the international community

An interview with Peter Calthorpe.

Gregory Scruggs September 11, 2017

So, what came out of this week’s high-level U.N. meeting on urbanization?

The ‘UN Urban’ proposal didn’t get much support, but several other key proposals did.

Gregory Scruggs September 8, 2017

Governments nearly united in scepticism toward ‘UN Urban’ proposal

At high-level meeting, U.N. member states questioned other recommendations to reform UN-Habitat.

Gregory Scruggs September 6, 2017

To deal with rapid urbanization, U.N. urged to copy global climate mechanisms

Ahead of key meeting next week, civil society grouping pushes ‘UN Urban’ proposal to go further.

Gregory Scruggs August 31, 2017

Next month, a key opportunity to re-imagine the global response to an urban world

A high-level U.N. meeting on 5-6 September may sound arcane, but the decisions made there could decide how sustainable our cities are for generations. Here’s what needs to happen.

Aromar Revi August 22, 2017

Proposed ‘UN Urban’ would coordinate global approach to urbanization

Panel of experts’ recommendations could further complicate funding for UN-Habitat, some worry.

Gregory Scruggs August 15, 2017

Public Participation

Using Minecraft to engage the public and plan better public spaces

How a popular video game became an urban planning tool.

Carlin Carr July 28, 2017

Questions raised over composition, timeline of UN-Habitat assessment

8-member panel’s work now expected to wrap up by end-July.

Gregory Scruggs June 21, 2017

The U.N.’s urban agency is seeing record demand — even as its funding plummets

It remains unclear whether countries will pay for UN-Habitat to coordinate implementation of the New Urban Agenda.

Gregory Scruggs May 25, 2017

Disaster Response

U.N. increasingly looking to its urban agency on crisis response

National governments have authorized the creation of a voluntary fund to support UN-Habitat’s rapid deployment.

Gregory Scruggs May 22, 2017

National Urban Policy

Countries starting to get message on national urban policies

Three dozen nations gathered in Paris to discuss what these frameworks are getting right — and what they need to do better.

Gregory Scruggs May 17, 2017

New details approved on monitoring of New Urban Agenda

Countries “signaled” that UN-Habitat would be given a coordination mandate for the Habitat III strategy — but contingent on assessment.

Gregory Scruggs May 15, 2017

New Urban Agenda

2018 reporting period will prove critical for New Urban Agenda, advocates say

“World Urban Forum 9 will be the place to craft this whole reporting process,” said one advocate.

Gregory Scruggs May 11, 2017

UN-Habitat reforms will hold up New Urban Agenda implementation

On most issues, this week’s Governing Council meeting is in wait-and-see mode.

Gregory Scruggs May 10, 2017

Key storylines to watch as UN-Habitat’s Governing Council meets

Next week’s biennial gathering of the agency’s board is garnering far more attention than usual.

Gregory Scruggs May 5, 2017

Panel’s formation marks turning point in confusion over New Urban Agenda monitoring

U.N. secretary-general tasks 8-member body with offering key assessment of UN-Habitat by June.

Gregory Scruggs April 13, 2017

Urban Planning & Design

Is a universal definition of the ‘city’ on the horizon?

Yes, say experts. A working group meeting this month hopes to offer first-ever guidance in the next few years.

Brendon Bosworth April 5, 2017

National Urban Policy

Since Habitat III, an uptick in interest around national urban policies

Initiative wants to see such policies in half of all countries by 2025.

Gregory Scruggs March 24, 2017

UN-Habitat facing ‘considerable decline’ in core funding, assessment warns

External evaluation comes as the agency is seeking to take the lead on implementation of the New Urban Agenda.

Gregory Scruggs March 17, 2017