Welcome
In many ways, 2023 was the year of renewed commitment and drive in global efforts towards sustainable urban development.
At organizational level, 2023 marked the second session of the United Nations Habitat Assembly (UNHA2), convened around the theme of a sustainable urban future through inclusive and effective multilateralism. Delegates to UNHA2 acknowledged adequate housing as one of the most pressing problems of the 21 century and called for accelerated action in the remaining years of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development “to build the foundation for a transformation meeting the needs of today’s estimated one billion slum and informal settlement dwellers”.
In this regard, the Member States adopted a historical resolution on affordable housing for all. Member States also adopted nine other resolutions, five decisions and one ministerial declaration to accelerate implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and New Urban Agenda. As the Urban Practices Branch is the normative nerve centre of the organization and the home of most of its global programmes, the vast majority of resolutions adopted relate directly to the work of the Branch and it will have a significant role in driving their implementation.
This Policy, Legislation and Governance Section Annual Report 2023 presents the effort of the Section to
advance UN-Habitat’s priorities as well as accelerate the achievement of the SDGs and implementation of
the New Urban Agenda. In addition to describing how PLGS shaped policies, legislative and governance
processes in 2023, the report also details how the section contributed to UN-Habitat’s aim to be “a centre of
excellence and innovation”.
A lot was accomplished in 2023 – yet, much more needs to be done to accelerate efforts towards
implementing the New Urban Agenda to achieve the SDGs. 2024 appears to be another engaging year for
those working on the sustainable urban development agenda. The upcoming 12th session of the World Urban
Forum will be a particularly important opportunity to take stock of the progress made and to
identify opportunities going forward. WUF12 will focus on localizing the SDGs and on
the local actions and initiatives required to meet current global challenges.
I hope you will not only read and share this report widely, but also be inspired to
join forces with the Policy, Legislation and Governance Section, to advance its
many exciting initiatives.
Shipra Narang Suri
Chief ~ Urban Practices Branch
Remy Sietchiping
Chief ~ Policy, Legislation and Governance Section
I am pleased to share with you our Annual Report 2023,
which provides information on pivotal milestones,
progress and achievements and, equally, lessons to carry forward from the role that the Policy, Legislation
and Governance Section (PLGS) played in implementing the UN-Habitat Strategic Plan and progressing on
the Sustainable Development Goals and the New Urban Agenda.
In 2023, PLGS built on the momentum generated in 2022 and engaged with more than 44 activities in
over 37 countries globally. These activities, which included projects, knowledge and tools development
and deployment, capacity development and advocacy, continued to shape urban policies, legislation and
governance processes.
Our work in 2023 also enabled significant strides to be made in
supporting governments and other stakeholders to strengthen urban-rural linkages and applying sustainable
metropolitan approaches in the governance of ever-expanding cities and communities.
More countries made formal requests for support
in developing urban policies. Some of the impacts from the ongoing demonstration projects have shown
what can be achieved when these urban policies are implemented. It is also encouraging to report that
several countries have made progress in legislative and governance reform processes, with some of their
governments enacting laws with the influence of our technical support.
In addition, the rising number of downloads as well as the correspondence from organizations using our tools and knowledge products
demonstrates their continuing relevance in the global efforts towards sustainable urban development.
Our capacity development tools and initiatives witnessed more in-person and virtual interactions in 2023.
Noteworthy is the renewed interest by partners, including academia, to include several of the tools and
knowledge products into their curricula. The established thematic centres within these academic institutions,
and the forthcoming centres are becoming the go-to hubs for policy research and debate, capacity
development and advocacy. Our global and country-level advocacy efforts in 2023 raised more awareness
about the urgent need to make concerted efforts towards a sustainable urban future. These events were
also opportunities to strengthen partnerships and develop new ones to jointly implement sustainable urban
initiatives.
All these achievements were made possible with the support of PLGS donors and development
partners, and collaboration with sections, branches, divisions, regional and country
offices within UN-Habitat, for whom we are grateful.
It is also important to recognize the many lessons learned in 2023. These lessons
will spur us to advance better in 2024 and achieve more together.
Aligning with the UN-Habitat Strategic Context
At the core of the UN-Habitat Strategic Plan 2020- 2025 is the vision to achieve “a better quality of life for all in an urbanizing world”. The plan harnesses the role of UN-Habitat as a focal point in sustainable urban development and human settlements to accelerate progress in the implementation of the New Urban Agenda to achieve the urban dimensions of the Sustainable Development Goals. PLGS is one of the sections of UN-Habitat responsible for programmatic delivery of the strategic plan and plays a catalytic role in advancing two of the four Drivers of Change of the Strategic Plan; these are
- Policy and Legislation;
- and Governance.
In 2023, PLGS collaborated with at least ten organizational units of UN-Habitat both at headquarters and at the regional and country level to contribute to all the outcome areas of the UN-Habitat Strategic Plan 2020-2025.
2023 saw more projects aligning and contributing to the flagship programmes.
- The Republic of Korea-funded National Urban Policy Programme (K-NUPP), whose second phase (five countries) kicked off in November 2022, places people-centred smart city approaches at the centre of its implementation.
- In September 2023, K-NUPP participated in the World Smart Cities Expo in Korea, organizing various bilateral and informal consultations to advance this topic.
- PLGS is finalizing the draft guide on Socially Inclusive Urban Policies to support implementation of Phase 2 of K-NUPP in Phase 2 in the participating countries.
- As part of a project in Vietnam, PLGS delivered the draft case studies and comparative analysis report which contains the benchmarking of urban laws from Chile, Kenya, Panama, Peru, and the United Kingdom. The report supports development of the urban development and management law.
- PLGS launched a course on Advancing Climate Action through Urban Law in December 2023. The e-learning course is a valuable resource for governments at national and subnational levels as well as other urban actors seeking to adapt their urban planning and environmental regulations and policies to manage climate change effectively. This in turn can lead to the enhanced climate resilience of communities, including the urban poor.
- In the first month of its launch, the course was accessed by 167 learners globally, with 17 learners successfully completing the course.
- A guide on Mainstreaming Migration and Displacement into Urban Policy was released in 2023 (288 downloads so far). Besides outlining the basic policy processes involved in developing or revising urban policies that adequately address the realities of migration and displacement, it also includes a 10-step pathway of recommendations and actions to achieve a more holistic, integrated, and effective policy response.
- PLGS is developing an SDG legal checklist in collaboration with the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA), Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA) and the Commonwealth Association of Planners (CAP) as well as the network of academic partners. The legal checklist will provide a list of key questions that lawmakers, implementing officials, or urban practitioners are to consider to ensure their laws support sustainable urban development. The aim is for the diagnostic tool to be user-friendly and accessible to facilitate the achievement of SDGs in cities and to create city awareness on how key legislative frameworks drive sustainability. The main entry points are adequate housing for all, environmental protection and digital governance.
PLGS 2023 Achievements at a Glance
Guided by the UN-Habitat Strategic Plan 2020-2025, UN-Habitat’s Policy, Legislation and Governance Section (PLGS) reached several milestones, made progress and realized results in 2023 along the various delivery mechanisms. This report presents the progress of PLGS within the UN-Habitat strategic context and contains the results from internal and external collaborations. It presents achievements under the PLGS focus areas and reviews the financial portfolio. The report also features the planned outcomes PLGS has for 2024.
In 2023, UN-Habitat through the Policy, Legislation and Governance Section delivered over 44 activities in more than 37 countries, with the activities including country projects, tools and knowledge development, capacity development initiatives, and advocacy efforts.
Growing uptake of PLGS tools in country level-projects
Advanced more than 28 projects in 24 countries.
Supporting more National and sub-National Urban Policies
More countries: Iraq, Lesotho, and Nigeria’s Abia State, have requested UN-Habitat (PLGS) support in developing NUPs.
Read more →
Implementing NUP Demonstration Projects
Ongoing NUP demonstration projects set to benefit over 50,000 households in Niger State, Nigeria, with improved access to water and sanitation.
Read more →
Scaling up and Replication of Initiatives
- The Korea-funded National Urban Policy Programme (K-NUPP) transitioned to phase 2, implemented in five countries.
- Building on the success of urban legislation support provided in Tajikistan, a similar project was initiated in Kyrgyzstan.
Strengthening Urban Legislation
- Several countries: Comoros, DRC, Lesotho, and Oman, are developing urban planning laws. The African Union is also developing a model law on housing.
- As a result of the influence of UN-Habitat’s project to support climate legislation, Zimbabwe enacted the Carbon Credits Act 2023
Strengthening partnerships
Collaborated with 10 more partners in 2023 (12% increase).
Partnership with 3 Commonwealth Assosciations
Agreed with three Commonwealth associations to collaborate on enhancing the capacity of national and local governments to promote effective, climate smart and rightsbased law.
Read more →
Partnership between Kenya and China
Songyang County, China, and Nyamira County, Kenya, established friendly relations on areas of common interest such as agriculture, rural tourism, and nature.
Read more →Expanding knowledge
Developed and released 15+ new tools, guides and knowledge products in 2023 (Over 1,600 downloads in total).
Voluntary Metropolitan Review series
Metropolitan areas including Valle de Abura, Guadalajara and San Salvador continue monitoring their progress on SDGs through the voluntary metropolitan review series released in 2023.
Read more →
National Urban Policy Database
Partners such as the Commonwealth Association of Architects used the NUP database to source NUP information for various countries, including Uganda.
Read more →
UrbanLex Database
UrbanLex database updated with over 230 laws from 9 countries. Brings total to 2,500+ legal instruments.
Read more →Up-taking and Scaling up Capacity
Strengthened capacity for up to 1,400 learners globally who accessed the new online courses on digital governance and on climate law
Launch of Centre for Urban-Rural Linkages in Africa
Capacity development and partnership led to launch of the Center for Urban-Rural Linkages in Africa, at the University of Nairobi, Kenya.
Read more →
Application of UN-Habitat Tools
Academic institutions from Kenya, Italy and Spain integrated UN-Habitat guidelines and tools as part of their urban professional education.
Read more →
MetroHub Capacity Development Programme
As a result of continued metropolitan capacity development, led to requests to establish the MetroHUB centre at Politecnico di Milano, Italy.
Read more →
Urban Law Days 2023
Strengthened capacity of over 150 participants on urban law and related themes. Two (2) Urban Law Days were held in 2023.
Read more →
Community of Practice
Enhanced collaboration and increased external participation at the PLGS Community of Practice sessions.
Read more →Advancing Advocacy efforts
More awareness on sustainable urban development created from the 30+ events organized or participated.
UN-Habitat Assembly
5 side events (including a Ministerial Session) 28 bilateral and multilateral consultations with 17 countries and over 10 organizations Over 300 participants in total engaged.
Read more →
Third International Forum on Urban-Rural Linkages
Held in Songyang, China 180+ participants from 17 countries 18 international organizations.
Read more →
Urban October
12 engaging thematic events (organized and/or participated) Over 350 in-person and virtual participants engaged
Read more →
Financial Snapshot
In 2023, UN-Habitat, through PLGS, expanded its partnerships and mobilized additional resources for implementation of sustainable urban development initiatives. For some projects, the numerous donor consultations led to an increased confidence in the work of PLGS and additional funding was approved to extend or replicate the projects in subsequent phases.
Additionally, PLGS made new funding acquisitions in 2023 including:
- Global State of Metropolis, supported by Barcelona Metropolitan Area;
- Urban-Rural Assembly project, supported by the Technical University of Berlin;
- Strengthening the capacities of the DRC Ministry of Urban Planning and Housing to develop an effective legal framework for urban development and construction - Phase II as part of the KIN-Elenda Project, supported by the World Bank-DRC.
2023 in Photos
© AMB
© OPAMSS
© UN-Habitat
© UN-Habitat
© Serkan Şentürk
© Songyang TV
© GIMPA
© UN-Habitat
© Songyang TV
© University of Nairobi
© UN-Habitat
© UN-Habitat
Knowledge Nuggets
Child-Responsive Urban Policies, Laws and Standards: A Guidance
UN-Habitat and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have developed this Guide which highlights the important role that policy and legislation play in setting normative standards and minimum expectations for duty-bearers in all aspects of children’s development.
Learn More
Enabling Meaningful Public Participation in Spatial Planning Processes
A step-by-step process on how to engage the public and civil society and has a series of mechanisms that can be adapted and aggregated in the form of policy mixes that can better suit the local context, the stage of the process and the available resources.
Learn More
Integrating Sustainable Food Systems in Urban Policies (Pre-release version)
UN-Habitat with contributions from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and academic experts has developed a guide on integrating food systems in urban policies. The guide can be used by decision-makers and stakeholders to integrate food systems and nutrition into urban policies.
Learn More
Decision Making in Metropolitan Governance
UN-Habitat collaborated with the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona to develop this guide which offers practical tools based on international trends and 22 global case study findings to facilitate inclusive and equitable processes of decision-making in metropolitan areas.
Learn More
Mainstreaming Migration and Displacement into Urban Policy: A Guide
The connection between migration and urbanization is central to the well-being of migrants, refugees and Internally Displaced Persons, and the cities hosting them. This guide has been developed for governments at all levels in the management of migration and displacement in urban areas.
Learn More
Guidelines for the Scrutiny of the Quality of Urban Legislation: A Manual for Parliamentarians
A Manual for Parliamentarians to act as a point of reference and reflection into quality law-making for all parliamentarians and lawmakers, with the hope of stimulating discussion over ways to address shortcomings in urban legal frameworks.
Learn More
Compendium of Inspiring Practices on Urban-Rural Linkages - Third Edition
This third Compendium showcases 17 case studies from Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. It provides inspiring examples of efforts in various areas, such as linking urban and rural areas, food and biodiversity, waste management, social integration and nutrition.
Learn More
Horizon 2030: Metropolitan Solutions to Global Challenges
In this publication, UN-Habitat supported the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona along with a diverse group of international experts to conceptualize metropolitan solutions, as well as to identify the first series of metropolitan solutions already boosting the implementation of the New Urban Agenda and serving the territorialization of Sustainable Development Goals at metropolitan level.
Learn More
A Comparative Analysis of Urban Governance for Planning in 10 Countries Of The Global South
UN-Habitat has conducted this in-depth study on the state of urban governance for planning in 10 countries in the global South (Afghanistan, Cameroon, Guinea, Niger State, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Syria, Tajikistan, and Uganda), based on governance principles in the SDGS and NUA.
Learn More
Urban-Rural Linkages and covid-19 lockdown measures, perspectives from Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal and Zimbabwe: Summary Research Report
Many development practitioners have, until recently, viewed urban and rural areas as two mutually exclusive territories. However, this does not reflect the realities of the spatial and sectoral linkages between urban and rural areas.
Learn MoreLooking Ahead...
PLGS envisions building on the gains made in 2023, in 2024. With less than seven years until 2030, there is a need to accelerate efforts towards implementing the SDGs and the New Urban Agenda for a better urban future for all. In his message, the United Nations Secretary General sees 2024 as “a year for building trust and hope in all that we can accomplish together”.
"we will need to redouble our efforts to ensure that every individual has a place to call home. Recognizing the urgency of climate action, urban climate finance and local action emerge as vital tools in mitigating the impacts of climate change in our cities."
In 2024, PLGS will continue to mobilize resources and expand partnerships to accelerate implementation of the initiatives that support national and subnational governments and other partners to drive towards sustainable urban development.
