worldhabitatday - Tumblr blog

[worldhabitatday]

Press Conference: UN-Habitat on housing and the upcoming World Urban Forum.

The UN-Habitat, the United Nations entity responsible for sustainable urban development – is pleased to invite editors and reporters based in Nairobi to a media briefing on 22 February at the UN complex in Gigiri.

[worldhabitatday]

High-Level Opening Ceremony of the Global Observance of the World Habitat Day 2023.

UN-Habitat, in partnership with the World Economic Forum, believes that these models can be localised and scaled up through the Global Partnership for Local Investment, where experiences are shared to build a local finance framework for cities and communities, to help distribute existing funding and finance to where it can deliver the greatest impact.

The local finance framework integrates three key solutions to facilitate this access:

Cities Investment Facility (CIF)

UN-Habitat/UNCDF Guarantee Facility for Sustainable Cities

Rapid Own Source Revenue Analysis (ROSRA)

PROGRAMME

Get the World Health Day 2023 Programme.

Watch the High-Level Opening Ceremony of the Global Observance of the World Habitat Day 2023.

[worldhabitatday]

Roundtable 2: Post-crisis urban recovery.

In the prevailing economic situation, local governments have faced increased difficulty to gain increased access to external resources to fund their development.

The local finance framework integrates three key solutions to facilitate this access:

Cities Investment Facility (CIF)

UN-Habitat/UNCDF Guarantee Facility for Sustainable Cities

Rapid Own Source Revenue Analysis (ROSRA)

World Habitat Day is held on the first Monday of October and launches Urban October. The day centers around the global observance, which is held in a different country each year with keynote speakers and roundtable discussions focused on a specific theme. World Habitat Day was first celebrated in 1986 in Nairobi, Kenya, with the theme 'Shelter is my right'.

[worldhabitatday]

Roundtable I - Cities as national and regional drivers of socio-economic resilience and growth.

2023 has been a particularly challenging year for Urban Economies especially in developing countries. The global economy growth itself is declining to about 2.5% and, apart from the initial COVID-19 crisis in 2020 (which demonstrated that the global economic architecture makes countries highly vulnerable to shocks and that structural transformation remains of critical importance), and the global financial crisis in 2009, this is the weakest growth experienced since 2001.

Given the size of the contribution of cities to the national economy, the future of many countries especially those in lower- and middle-income countries, will be determined by the productivity of its urban areas. Cities are the engines that create value that boosts economic recovery, yet they lack adequate financing mechanisms. For this economic growth and recovery to be sustainable, we need cities that can absorb, recover, and prepare for future economic shocks. It is crucial that this is also packaged under the green recovery framework that scales up private and public investments to finance the transition to a climate-neutral economy in a post-COVID world. Cities all over the world have already embarked on this journey through implementing various models and approaches requiring proactive engagement with different stakeholders at all levels. UN-Habitat, in partnership with the World Economic Forum, believes that these models can be localised and scaled up through the Global Partnership for Local Investment, where experiences are shared to build a local finance framework for cities and communities, to help distribute existing funding and finance to where it can deliver the greatest impact.

In cities where securing private finance for public service delivery may be premature, such that it would risk leading to inequitable access to service delivery or place unsustainable financial pressure on government budgets, cities can leverage OSR tools such as UN-Habitat’s Rapid Own Source Revenue Analysis (ROSRA) tool. The ROSRA helps local governments optimize their OwnSource Revenues (OSR) and thereby puts in place the preconditions for accessing private investment. Cities also have the Cities Investment Facility (CIF) at their disposal to help unlock significant private capital flows to inclusive, sustainable urbanization projects, by assisting in project identification, preparation, and financing.

UN-Habitat, in collaboration with UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) – the UN Subnational Financing Hub – on the SDG Cities joint initiative, further provides innovative financial mechanisms and instruments that promote urban resilience and transformation through local government finance. For example, the International Municipal Investment Fund (IMIF) accompanied by a Technical Assistance Facility (TAF) managed by UNCDF serves to increase the capacity of local governments from emerging and developing contexts to access capital for their projects of infrastructures and services. As a vital instrument for sub-national financing, the “Global Guarantee Facility for Sustainable Cities”, backed by the European Fund for Sustainable Development plus (EFSD+) will be used to support local transformative investments and test innovative infrastructure financing solutions that can be taken to scale, specifically in Africa and Southeast Asia. There is wide appreciation to urgently increase capital flows towards sustainable infrastructure including local infrastructure particularly given the rapid growth rate of cities in emerging and developing countries. Optimizing and rethinking the structure and usage of development finance including local government finance as way of closing the global infrastructure gap is one of the key focus areas of this year’s World Habitat Day in the Republic of Azerbaijan, a country that is a good reference for the design and establishment of new resilient urban economies, especially in the post-conflict reconstruction context.

[worldhabitatday]

Closing Ceremony of the Global Observance of World Habitat Day 2023.

Cities all over the world have already embarked on this journey through implementing various models.

Closing Ceremony of the Global Observance of World Habitat Day 2023

[worldhabitatday]

Resilient cities as a driving force of economic development and fighing inequalities - 2nd Azerbaijan National Urban Forum.

The 2nd Azerbaijan National Urban Forum is organized by the government of Azerbaijan in collaboration with UN-Habitat. It is preceding World Habitat Day. It will take place in the cities of Zangilan and Baku, from 29 September - 1 October 2023.

AZERBAIJAN NATIONAL URBAN FORUM.

Urban planning and city development play a crucial role in driving progress towards achieving sustainable development. Given the ongoing global urbanization trends, the significance of these development agenda items is further reinforced by specific challenges and opportunities faced by each country. The Republic of Azerbaijan represents one of such countries. As it actively supports and promotes the localization of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11 is considered a vital component of the country's post-conflict socio-economic reintegration priorities. The New Urban Agenda, offering an action-oriented universal framework for sustainable housing, holds great value in this regard. Collaboration, experience-sharing, and learning from each other are essential for the success of national and sub-regional sustainable development efforts.

To highlight the importance of sustainable urbanization processes, the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan, in collaboration with UN-Habitat, will organize the 2023 Urban Week. The Urban Week will commence with the 2nd Azerbaijan National Urban Forum (NUFA2) on 29 September 2023. NUFA2 will bring together a diverse range of urban stakeholders and participants, both from Azerbaijan and internationally, over three days. The forum will be held in the cities of Zangilan and Baku. While NUFA2 aims to discuss emerging key urban challenges, ongoing projects and the vision for the urban future in the Republic of Azerbaijan, it will also show-case international experiences in the related field to stimulate local action. Given the global importance of post-conflict reconstruction and rehabilitation, NUFA2 will be focusing on the role of urban productivity and economic growth, hereby fully deploying the potential of the SDGs and the NUA for economic resilience and transition to a circular economy. Urban  week will continue with World Habitat Day, which will be held on October 2 in Baku.

The event will bring together a diverse range of national and international urban stakeholders.  The forum will address key emerging urban challenges and showcase international experience focusing on the role of urban productivity and economic growth, hereby fully deploying the potential of the SDGs and the New Urban Agenda for economic resilience and transition to a more sustainable urban future. 

[worldhabitatday]

For tackling the critical issue of plastic pollution and its detrimental impact on the urban environment.

Scroll of honour Award 2023 winner - Sierra leone.

By recycling plastic waste for slums and communities, Ecovironment contributes to reducing plastic pollution, with a target of recycling one million tons of plastic waste and creating 2,000 green jobs for underprivileged youth and women, effectively addressing the issue of youth unemployment, and promoting social inclusion by 2030. The initiative’s efforts have also resulted in a 25% reduction in the cost of acquiring construction bricks, making sustainable alternatives more accessible and affordable for the community. Sustainability, Transferability, and Scalability: Ecovinroment’s approach to sustainability and creating resilient urban economies extends beyond environmental concerns. By integrating a business-wide approach to environmental sustainability, Ecovironment ensures the project's long-term viability.

EcoVironment, Sierra Leone.

[worldhabitatday]

For creating city-wide social, economic, and environmental development solutions for all residents in the City of Braga.

Scroll of honour Award 2023 winner - Portugal.

The “Assembleia de Moradores” was established in December 2021 and besides all empowerment actions taken during 2022, the best outcome is the codesign of the municipal programme of the City of Braga, “Viva o Bairro”. The one-year program is a model of participatory government that consists of the development of actions implemented by the civil society itself in Braga Social Neighborhood’s, with the financial and technical support of Braga City Council.

Through “Viva o Bairro”, the City Council is trying to reinforce the socio-territorial cohesion of the municipality of Braga, by mobilizing citizen energy in the search for solutions that can become sustainable into the future. The interventions can be related to the improvement of the appearance of the neighbourhood, the creation of services and activities for the community and visitors, the restoration, re-zoning and occupancy of public space, the promotion of the citizenry or the prevention of risk-related behaviour.

Assembleia de Moradores from Braga, Portugal.

[worldhabitatday]

For its action devoted to fighting housing speculation and gentrification in central areas of three major cities in Brazil.

Scroll of honour Award 2023 winner - Brazil.

FICA is a nonprofit founded in 2015 in São Paulo, Brazil. FICA crowdfunds and buys properties in downtown São Paulo and rents these at non-speculative prices. Its mission is unique in the Brazilian context and in acting as a social landlord, it offers a new role devoted to fighting speculation and gentrification. FICA is a legally established association, run by a board of directors, with 150 sponsors, 23 investors and 4 institutional funders. FICA also counts on an extensive network of partners: volunteers, social movements, other non-profit organiza3ons, public policy makers, universities and private sector partners.

FICA (Fundo Imobiliário Comunitário para Aluguel), from São Paulo, Brazil.

[worldhabitatday]

For establishing and implementing the Fat, Oil and Grease Waste Recycling Programme (FOG) to deal with waste material from the hospitality industry.

Scroll of honour Award 2023 winner - United Emirates Arab.

Thousands (i.e over 8000) of restaurants/ hotels process food in large quantities and an equal amount of Fat, oil and grease ( FOG) waste is dumped down the drains. FOG cause major problems to drains and sewers when disposed of down the kitchen sinks or drains cause blockages and when they enter rainwater pipes or gullies, they cause pollution in streams and rivers.

In order to overcome this issue, Dubai Municipality (DM), and M/s Al Serkal group established a FOG waste recycling facility in year 2008/2009 on Boot basis for 25 years which recycles Fog waste from hotels, restaurants and food processing industries. In fact, this project has achieved environmental sustainability and promoted circular economy and has created awareness in the region as well employed more professionals within department to manage proper collection /disposal of FOG waste at facility. Some 50 professionals are directly employed by M/s Al Serkal envirol facility to manage operation of plant and is being expanded and extended to other emirates which will create more job opportunities.

Dubai Municipality, United Arab Emirates.

[worldhabitatday]

For developing training programmes that promote job creation and improve economic productivity in cities.

Scroll of honour Award 2023 winner - Mexico.

Fundación ProEmpleo was born as a response to the unemployment and instability kicked off by the economic crisis 1994 in Mexico. Through training and consulting programs, they promote economic activities like job creation, entrepreneurship, formalization, and the growth of microenterprises. ProEmpleo is, in Mexico, a reference in promoting the culture of entrepreneurship as a dignified and desirable way of life that allows people to recognize and exercise their human rights to create better environments. ProEmpleo empowers people through knowledge to obtain a broader vision in the search for their inclusion in the productive world and mo3vates them to be community leaders and future entrepreneurs.

Fundación Pro Empleo Productivo A,C., from Mexico City..

[worldhabitatday]

Informal settlements are growing worldwide — here's what we need to do?

More people than ever before are living in slums or other informal settlements. This isn't just a global scale problem, though — it's also a global scale opportunity.

The number of people living in slums or other informal settlements has grown by 165 million in the past 20 years, bringing the total to nearly 1.1 billion.

Unable to access affordable housing, families have no alternative to living in substandard homes, with little access to sanitation services, electricity and safe drinking water. Residents of informal settlements often lack security of tenure or land rights, living under the constant threat of eviction.

Nearly 1.1 billion people live in slums and other informal settlements around the world.

A new report models the impact of improving informal settlements, and found it would enable millions of children to attend school and increase some countries GDP by more than 10%.

Solutions include providing land tenure, expanding microloans and supporting low-cost housing start-ups.

[worldhabitatday]

From Resource to Resilience: Harnessing Urban Water for Inclusive and Sustainable Cities - 2nd session of the UN Habitat Assembly.

Water has been the lifeline of human civilization, influencing the location and development of cities.50 percent of the world's population lives closer than 3km from a freshwater body, while 40 percent of the world's population lives within 100km of the coast. Urban waters have, however, been placed in direct conflict with urbanization, resulting in pollution, destruction of ecosystems, limited access to public spaces, climate change related hazards, and poor urban health for over 3 billion people.

[worldhabitatday]

Final Plenary of the 2nd session of the UN-Habitat Assembly.

Remarks by the Executive Director of UN-Habitat at the Final Plenary of the 2nd session of the UN-Habitat Assembly

[worldhabitatday]

Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations at the High-level Interactive Strategic Dialogue on Special Theme - 2nd session of the UN Habitat Assembly

Remarks by Mrs. Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations at the High-level Interactive Strategic Dialogue on Special Theme - 2nd session of the UN Habitat Assembly

[worldhabitatday]

A sustainable urban future through inclusive and effective multilateralism: achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in times of global crises.

The second session of the United Nations Habitat Assembly will be held from 5 to 9 June 2023 in Nairobi. Kenya. The theme of the session is "A sustainable urban future through inclusive and effective multilateralism: achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in times of global crises".

[worldhabitatday]

2nd session of the UN- Habitat Assembly - Day III.

The second session of the United Nations Habitat Assembly will be held from 5 to 9 June 2023 in Nairobi. Kenya. The theme of the session is "A sustainable urban future through inclusive and effective multilateralism: achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in times of global crises."