The United
Nations Human Settlements Programme’s (UN-Habitat) mandate is d...
The United
Nations Human Settlements Programme’s (UN-Habitat) mandate is derived from the
General Assembly resolution 3327 (XXIX), by which the General Assembly
established the United Nations Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation;
resolution 32/162, by which the Assembly established the United Nations Centre
for Human Settlements; and resolution 56/206, by which the Assembly transformed
the Commission on Human Settlements and the United Nations Centre for Human
Settlements, including the United Nations Habitat and Human Settlements
Foundation, into the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).
In its
resolutions 69/226 and 70/210, the General Assembly recognized that, over the
years, the responsibilities of UN-Habitat have changed considerably in their
scope and complexity. In addition, the requirement to provide substantive and
technical support to developing countries in areas related to sustainable
cities and human settlements has changed.
The New
Urban Agenda reaffirms the General Assembly resolutions 51/177, 56/206, 67/216,
68/239, and 69/226, as well as other relevant resolutions, including 31/109 and
32/162. It underlines the importance of UN-Habitat, given its role within the
United Nations system as a focal point on sustainable urbanization and human
settlements, including in the implementation, follow-up and review of the New
Urban Agenda, in collaboration with other United Nations system entities.
UN-Habitat
is also mandated by the New Urban Agenda to coordinate the quadrennial report
on the implementation of the New Urban Agenda, in close collaboration with
other relevant entities of the United Nations system. It also urges UN-Habitat
to continue its work to develop normative knowledge and to provide capacity
development and tools to national, subnational, and local governments in
designing, planning, and managing sustainable urban development.
In light of
the New Urban Agenda, and with a view to enhancing the effectiveness of
UN-Habitat, the Secretary-General of the United Nations has been requested to
submit to the General Assembly during its seventy-first session an
evidence-based and independent assessment of UN-Habitat.
The
assessment report will be one of the inputs to the two-day High Level meeting
of the General Assembly, convened by the President of the General Assembly in
the 71st session, to consider the effective implementation of the New Urban
Agenda, and the positioning of UN-Habitat in this regard. It would also be a
document taken into account at the 72nd session of the Second Committee in
order that recommendations are considered for an action.