Over the past two years, UN-Habitat has engaged in developing global norms and supporting innovative models to assist national governments and local authorities increasing their knowledge on sustainable urbanization as well as improving national and local policies on housing and urban development. This is meant to enhance
regional, national and local capacities for the effective implementation of pro-poor human settlements policies much needed for poverty elevation in line with the Habitat Agenda and the Millennium Development Goals.
More concretely, the main focus of UN-Habitat’s work at the global, regional, national and local levels has been on promoting policy reforms as well as building institutional and human capacities and supporting the implementation of local and national plans of action for sustainable urbanization. In view of the current rapid urbanization in much of the developing world, the development of efficient legislation and policies, the promotion of adequate infrastructure and basic services as well as effective urban planning and design are of utmost importance for the creation of socially inclusive, resilient, economically prosperous and energy-efficient cities that maximize the benefits of agglomeration, minimize the demand for urban mobility and transport, and provide conditions necessary for urban economic growth and job creation.

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