United Nations Human Settlements Programme

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United Nations Human Settlements Programme

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Abbreviation	UN-Habitat
Formation	1978
Type	Programme
Headquarters	Nairobi, Kenya
Executive Director	Maimunah Mohd Sharif
Parent organization	United Nations

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is the United Nations agency for human settlements and sustainable urban development. It was established in 1978 and is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. The mission of UN-Habitat is to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all.

History

UN-Habitat was established as a result of the first United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat I) held in Vancouver, Canada in 1976. The conference highlighted the need for an international body to address the issues of urbanization and human settlements. In 1978, the United Nations General Assembly created the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (UNCHS), which later became UN-Habitat.

Objectives

UN-Habitat's main objectives include:

• Promoting sustainable urbanization
• Improving urban living conditions
• Ensuring adequate shelter for all
• Supporting the development of inclusive and resilient cities

Key Initiatives

UN-Habitat undertakes various initiatives and programs to achieve its objectives, including:

• The Global Urban Observatory (GUO)
• The World Urban Forum (WUF)
• The Cities and Climate Change Initiative (CCCI)
• The Participatory Slum Upgrading Programme (PSUP)

Governance

UN-Habitat is governed by the UN-Habitat Assembly, which meets every four years and is composed of all 193 member states of the United Nations. The Assembly sets the agency's policies and approves its work program and budget. The Executive Board, which meets three times a year, provides oversight and ensures that the agency's activities align with its mandate.

Executive Directors

The Executive Director of UN-Habitat is appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General. The current Executive Director is Maimunah Mohd Sharif, who has held the position since 2018.

Headquarters

The headquarters of UN-Habitat is located in Nairobi, Kenya, where it shares the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) with other UN agencies.

Related Pages

• United Nations
• Sustainable Development Goals
• Urbanization
• United Nations Environment Programme
• United Nations Development Programme

See Also

• World Urban Forum
• Global Urban Observatory
• Cities and Climate Change Initiative
• Participatory Slum Upgrading Programme