Summary

Wednesday, 19 January 2022, Nairobi, Kenya – UN-Habitat Executive Director, Ms. Maimunah Mohd Sharif briefed Member States representatives on the preparation for the High-Level Meeting (HLM) on the Implementation of the New Urban Agenda (NUA). The HLM, called for by the General Assembly in its Resolution 74/224 of 20 December 2020, will be convened by the President of the General Assembly (PGA) on Thursday, 28 April 2022 in New York.

The one and a half-hour meeting was attended by approximately 50 participants representing the Member States, the High-Level Meeting secretariat and UN-Habitat.

The 2022 Report of the Secretary-General on progress on the implementation of the New Urban Agenda (Quadrennial Report) will inform the deliberations of five Regional Forums on Sustainable Development taking place in March 2022. A special segment of ECOSOC will be held in New York in April 2022 to discuss the findings with special consideration of the theme of inequality. Finally, the Quadrennial Report constitutes the basis for the deliberations and outcomes of the HLM itself.

The Quadrennial Report was compiled during a virtual write shop with a wide range of stakeholders and provides an in-depth analysis of the National Reports submitted by the various Member States on the implementation of the NUA. National Reports, actions and best practices illustrating progress made towards implementation of the New Urban Agenda are accessible online here, on the Urban Agenda Platform.

An Advisory Committee comprised of diverse constituencies of the NUA has been established to help the PGA convene the meeting. This is composed of partner organizations and Permanent Representatives of the Governments of Indonesia, Canada, Kenya, Jamaica, South Africa, Lebanon, Slovakia, Ecuador, and Botswana that also represents the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Member States, through their respective Permanent Missions in New York, are encouraged to reach out to the Advisory Committee Members to share their views and provide support to the preparations for the HLM.

Member States, through the UN-Habitat Regional Representatives, are also encouraged to utilize the Regional Forums for Sustainable Development to provide a regional input to the HLM. This will help elevate urban issues in the regions as well as foster cooperation among the regional network of cities, associations of professionals and Member States.

The HLM offers an opportunity for Member States to take stock and identify ways to revitalize the implementation of the New Urban Agenda, to utilize the transformative commitments and drivers of the NUA to achieve the outcomes of Agenda 2030 and of the Paris Agreement on Climate Action.   Possible outcomes of the HLM might include: 

Decade of Action – Commitment by Member States to elevate the New Urban Agenda as a road map for accelerating the Paris Agreement and the Decade of Action for Sustainable Development. 

Cities and Pandemics – Recognition of the role of cities in COVID-19 response and contributing to and spearheading the implementation of healthy, just, and sustainable national recovery. 

New Social Contract – Alignment of New Urban Agenda with Our Common Agenda on the future of multilateralism, with the integration of housing, services, health, and basic incomes. 

Climate Action – Strengthening of local government contributions to nationally-determined commitments on climate mitigation and adaptation, with a strategic focus on green infrastructure and resilience for the urban poor.   

Peace and Security – Call for Global Action Plan on inclusive urban planning in countries in post-conflict and disaster situations, strengthening social cohesion through the provision of durable solutions.