UN-Habitat: New strategic plan to focus on housing, land and basic services

A more inclusive and sustainable approach in urban planning and housing policy is essential, stated Jose Chong, a representative of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), at the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), Report informs.

According to him, the mid-term review phase of the implementation of the New Urban Agenda is currently underway: "This is a 10-year international agenda, and we are at the halfway point of its implementation. Architects and urban planning specialists are often not fully aware of the day-to-day processes of this agenda. However, these principles should be taken into account when developing urban planning and architectural projects."

Chong noted that UN-Habitat's new strategic plan covering 2026-2029 will focus primarily on housing, land, and basic services: "This plan serves to promote inclusive prosperity, strengthen environmental and climate measures, as well as support crisis preparedness, response, and recovery processes. Currently, fragmented models prevail in the approach to urban development worldwide. This problem is observed not only in Global South countries but also in other regions. We are promoting more sustainable, integrated urban and territorial planning."

The UN-Habitat representative added that it is essential for local governments to have more effective tools for planning, financing, and implementing housing and basic services.