18 April 2017
UN Secretary-General Appoints Panel for UN-Habitat Review
UN Photo/Kibae Park/Sipa Press
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UN Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed a high-level, independent panel to assess and enhance the effectiveness of UN-Habitat.

The Panel's report will be considered at a two-day meeting of the UNGA in September 2017 on the effective implementation of the New Urban Agenda and the positioning of UN-Habitat.

12 April 2017: UN Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed a high-level, independent panel to assess and enhance the effectiveness of the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), following the outcome of the October 2016 Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III).

The outcome, known as the New Urban Agenda, calls for an “evidence-based and independent” assessment to be prepared during the 71st UN General Assembly (UNGA) session, along with recommendations on enhancing the body’s effectiveness, efficiency, accountability and oversight. According to the New Urban Agenda, the report should analyze: UN-Habitat’s “normative and operational mandate”; its governance structure, considering alternatives including universalization of the membership of its Governing Council; its work with national, subnational and local governments and with relevant stakeholders, “in order to tap the full potential of partnerships”; and its financial capability.

The report should analyze UN-Habitat’s governance structure, considering the universalization of the membership of its Governing Council.

The resulting assessment report will be discussed at a two-day meeting of the UNGA in September 2017 on the topic of “the effective implementation of the New Urban Agenda and the positioning of UN-Habitat in that regard,” Guterres noted. The UNGA’s Second Committee is expected to consider a chair’s summary of the UNGA meeting, regarding action to be taken on the recommendations contained in the assessment.

Among the members of the Panel are the Permanent Representatives of Indonesia and Slovakia, the Mayor of Paris, government officials from Mexico and Lesotho, the president of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) and the head of the Society for Promotion of Area Resource Centres. Guterres said the Panel will hold consultations and workshops with UN-Habitat’s Governing Council and Committee of Permanent Representatives, as well as UN Member States, multilateral international organizations, local authorities and other relevant stakeholders.

It is expected to meet twice in New York, US and once in Nairobi, Kenya, as well as to conduct two workshops in the first half of 2017. [UN Press Release] [Announcement of Panel’s Appointment] [New Urban Agenda]

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