Since 2015, UN-Habitat has been providing technical assistance to the national, regional and local governments of Guinea-Bissau, as well as other relevant stakeholders, on policies, plans and strategies, as well as operational activities related to:
- housing
- sustainable urban development
- slum upgrading
- urban resilience to climate change
- land management and community land demarcation
- strategic planning at a regional and local level
Country: Overview
Country: Overview
Country: Overview
Impact
Country: Impact and Urban Numbers
1 National Spatial Development Framework elaborated (2021)
4 Regional and Local Spatial and Strategic Development Plans developed and published (Bijagós 2030, Bissau 2030 and Bolama and Bijagós plans)
6 Municipalities implemented the City Resilience Action Planning Tool (CityRAP) aimed at developing the capacity of local governments to understand and plan actions to build urban resilience (Bolama, Bafatá in 2017; Bubaque, Cacine, Mansoa and São Domingos in 2022)
2 Territorial Development Plans for Pelundo and Quicet Sections (PBF Project)
1 Guide for the Demarcation and Planning of Community Lands (PBF Project)
1 Regulation of the Law of Territorial Planning and Urbanism in approval process (PBF Project)
2 National Urban Forum were held (2021 and 2023) and yearly Urban October activities including Urban Walk, and Neighbourhood Cleaning competitions, amongst others
1 warehouse for storage and distribution of medicines delivered in Bissau (2024)
3 water supply systems delivered in Gabu, Bubaque and Bissau (2024)
1 National Report in housing and urban development (2024)
Urban numbers
Country: Impact and Urban Numbers
Access to electricity (2020): 33.3%
Access to safely managed sanitation services (2020): 12%
People using safely managed drinking water services (2020): 24%
Challenges
Information regarding the urban situation in Guinea-Bissau is scarce and the few existing ones are outdated. In 1997, only 22,5% of the population lived in urban areas. In 2023 this number reached 45,5%, highlighting a challenging scenario regarding the urban situation (World Bank, 2024).
The urban infrastructure of Guinea-Bissau is scant, and its maintenance is practically non-existent. In the Country Capital, while the rural exodus intensifies and the population increases considerably, reaching 25% of the national population, the city and other main urban centres continue to lack functional equipment.
Country Beneficiaries
Donors and partners
The success of UN-Habitat’s work in Guinea-Bissau is dependent on a number of successful partnerships. Through the programme, UN-Habitat identifies and mobilizes diverse international and local partners who can contribute to several initiatives promoted by the Agency in the country.
With the Municipality of Bissau, An MoU was developed and signed, to pave the way for the development of the Strategic and Operational Plan of the City of Bissau.
The Ministry of Public Works, Construction and Urban Planning (MOPCU), our key governmental partner in the country, has validated and signed UN-Habitat’s Country Programme Document to be implemented between 2017 and 2020.
Organizations of the Civil Society, such as the National Youth Council (CNJ) and the Network of National Youth Associations (RENAJ), have been actively participating in UN-Habitat’s activities in Guinea-Bissau. Our last activity, the Urban Walk, which took place on April 6, 2019 and celebrated the World Health Day (April 7), was attended by approximately 70 people, comprised mostly by young men and women.