UN-Habitat welcomes the Report of the High Level Independent Panel to Assess and Enhance the Effectiveness of UN-Habitat, which comes in the midst of one of humankind’s greatest challenges: the boom in population and the concurrent mass migration from country to city all over the world.

In that context, the report recognises that UN-Habitat’s work is much sought after by donors and governments, and calls for UN-Habitat to be rapidly strengthened in order to have it deliver on the urban aspects of the 2030 Agenda, and the New Urban Agenda.

The report acknowledges the vital feedback loop between UN-Habitat’s operational role, and the impact it has on people’s lives, and the normative work such as policy-making and research, a role UN-Habitat has conducted for 40 years throughout the world.

Furthermore, it serves as a basis for upcoming UN member state deliberations on the future of UN-Habitat, guided by the President of the General Assembly. The High Level Meeting of the General Assembly on the effective implementation of the New Urban Agenda, and the positioning of UN-Habitat in this regard, will take place in New York 5-6 September.

The report also comes in the context of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ system-wide review of the entire UN Development System, and the call by member states for a UN that is more transparent, accountable, effective, and nimble.

UN-Habitat is glad to be among the first UN entities to enjoy this scrutiny, and looks forward to actively contributing to the forthcoming process in the months to come. The organization commends the stewardship of the UN Secretary-General in welcoming the report, and thanks the Panel members for their professionalism and hard work over many months.