President Uhuru Kenyatta (2nd L) with UN-Habitat officials during the 26th Session of the Governing Council of the UN-Habitat at the United Nations Complex in Gigiri, Nairobi, May 8, 2017. [Photo/PSCU]
President Uhuru Kenyatta has underscored the need to reform the UN-Habitat to create smart towns and cities that are economically viable, socially livable, environmentally resilient and politically stable settlements.
He said the capacity of the UN-Habitat should be strengthened to enable it to serve as a focal agency for sustainable urbanisation.
“That is why we must empower UN-Habitat with the resources it needs – and these resources must be adequate and predictable,” Kenyatta said, according to PSCU.
Speaking at the United Nations Complex in Gigiri, Nairobi, where he opened the 26th Session of the Governing Council of the UN-Habitat, Uhuru also welcomed the recent appointment – by the UN secretary-general – of a high-level panel of experts to conduct an evidence-based and independent assessment of UN-Habitat, saying the initiative was timely.
''In light of recent challenges – challenges that will not be unfamiliar to any of us – I believe that the organisation and structure of the agency requires reform to make it more effective, efficient, accountable and transparent in its decisions, and their making,” he said, Monday.
The president termed the 26th session a milestone for UN-Habitat, being the first meeting of the Governing Council after the adoption of the momentous 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and the New Urban Agenda that sets the global strategy around urbanisation for the next two decades.
The 2030 Agenda is a comprehensive, integrated and inclusive outcome document that aims to achieve peace, prosperity, dignity and opportunity for all on a healthy planet.
He further pointed out that the 2030 Agenda presents a renewed political commitment for sustainable development and provides the basis for reviewing the mandate of the UN-Habitat and its positioning within the UN System.