WUF12 Perspectives is a new UN-Habitat analysis capturing the views of participants from the World Urban Forum 12 held in Cairo in 2024, focused on localization. It highlights three dimensions—implementation, representation, and translation—and identifies nine key elements to guide stakeholders in embedding localization into sustainable urban development and advancing global SDG localization efforts.

As the world races toward a sustainable future, intermediary cities emerge as crucial players in effective climate mitigation. This guide offers practical insights into balancing economic development, environmental stewardship and social equity within these pivotal urban hubs. It delves into strategies such as climate-sensitive budgeting, urban planning and policy incentives that foster green transitions.

Designed for urban managers, climate champions and national or regional…

Cities face tremendous challenges, demanding advanced and effective urban governance measures and tools. Digital solutions offer transformative potential through resources optimization, services enhancement, and inclusivity development. The Future Cities Advisory Outlook 2024 draws a clear technological landscape and implementation roadmap; collects 10 innovative practices from Chinese cities and enterprises; and launches Global Digital Urban Governance Initiatives. By embracing tech-driven…

Building upon a successful 2023, the 2024 Annual Report of the Policy, Legislation and Governance Section (PLGS) showcases continued progress towards achieving sustainable urban development. Through a range of impactful activities, PLGS strengthened its collaboration with donors, development partners, and beneficiary countries, advancing UN-Habitat work on policy, legislation, governance, metropolitan management, and urban-rural linkages.
This report highlights key achievements,…

As the world continues to urbanize, cities face greater challenges in responding to humanitarian crises and achieving sustainable post-conflict development that upholds everyone’s right to adequate housing. The impacts of conflict are increasingly being experienced in urban areas around the world – as seen in modern crises such as those in Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, Yemen and Syria – putting the housing, land and property (HLP) rights of civilians at risk. HLP issues arise in conflict contexts,…

Evictions remove people from their homes, sometimes legally if in the public interest and with no alternatives. Forced evictions violate human rights. Authorities must justify evictions, consult affected communities, provide notice, and offer compensation. Evictions must be safe, with no unnecessary force. Afghanistan’s legal protections exist but remain uncertain post-2021, making advocacy crucial to prevent forced evictions.

The Shanghai Manual 2024 Annual Report showcases globally implemented urban best practices that present urban actors with innovative solutions to help cities navigate the complex challenges that they face today. Following the theme of ‘youth leading climate and local action for cities’, the report explores the potential of young people as urban change makers with a particular regard to climate action and urban environmental sustainability.

This report introduces Smart-Inclusive Transition (SIT) as a key driver for building more equitable urban futures by integrating smart technology with inclusive practice. The SIT Analysis is designed to help cities uncover their unique opportunities for SIT by leveraging urban SDGs data and indicators from the Global Urban Monitoring Framework. This approach will create an opportunity for cities worldwide to shape urban spaces that are genuinely designed by, for, and of all citizens.

This publication presents findings from a European Union and UN-Habitat commissioned Political Economy Analysis (PEA) on factors that influence policy, government institutions, and local communities in the context of displacement and rapid urbanisation in Burco, Jowhar, and Afgoye.