Summary

This report documents the progress made in the implementation New Urban Agenda in Asia and the Pacific between 2018 and 2021. The report is based on desk review and analysis of a wide range of data sources, including the Voluntary Local Reviews for cities in the region and national reports on the implementation of the New Urban Agenda.

The report discusses; the progress made in the three transformative commitments of the NUA, which are social inclusion and ending poverty; inclusive urban prosperity and opportunities for all; and environmentally sustainable and resilient urban development; the effective implementation of the New Urban Agenda in terms of the urban governance structure and the planning and managing urban development; and the means of implementation of the NUA with respect to the mobilisation of financial resources; capacity development; and information technology and innovation.

Implementation of the NUA in Asia and the Pacific requires enormous efforts by the Member States. Countries have focused more on infrastructure development and service provision at the national level than policy reform. In many countries, subnational funds have been set up to support urban infrastructure investments in small- and medium-sized cities and towns. However, small- and medium-sized cities and towns need enormous investments in infrastructure development as they are likely to experience higher demographic growth than metropolitan and megacities. Countries have been taking numerous initiatives towards implementing the NUA, but there is little monitoring and reporting. Hence, more integrated approaches are needed to implement NUA in the Asia-Pacific region.

Outdated urban governance structures and planning systems are huge impediments in managing rapidly growing cities and towns. These need to be reformed to effectively implement the NUA in Asia and the Pacific. Local governments in several countries need enormous financial support for urban infrastructure investments. Small- and medium-sized cities and towns require institutional and technical capacity development. And though many cities in the Asia-Pacific region have taken initiatives to promote innovation and utilise technologies, including ICTs, many other cities have been lagging in this crucial area of urban economic development and management.