Advancing Inclusive Efforts for Housing Strategies Across the Arab Region

The Arab population is projected to reach 604 million by 2050 with a growth rate far exceeding the global average (ESCWA 2022). More than 56% of the current Arab population lives in cities. Such dynamics place enormous pressure on the region’s resources, and present challenges related to the provision of services across different sectors and the achievement of sustainable development goals. Out of which, is access to adequate housing which directly impacts multiple human development areas such as access to health, employment and education.
Achieving global housing goals in the region is met with a range of distributive challenges some of which are faced globally such as climate change and poverty while others are specific to the region such as conflict and access to resources. Despite such challenges, the national and local governments across the region remain committed to enhancing cities and the urban setting while responding to the increasing housing need.
The session introduces the newly inaugurated regional project ‘Advancing Inclusive Efforts for Housing Strategies Across the Arab Region’ which aims to support Arab countries to advance priority housing objectives through the development of national housing profiles and strategies. This is done through capitalizing on national efforts and local experience and encouraging cross-learning to create an enabling environment for advancing housing across the region.
This session will bring together the different participating leading government entities in the housing sector across the region to engage in a discussion around the initial project findings and future potentials for the regional efforts to advances national housing profiles and strategies to increased access to affordable housing for all. The session supports cross-learning among the region to highlight rising initiatives and best practices and common challenges along with opportunities for future cooperation. The process of developing a national housing strategy remains filled with many lessons learned that can be capitalized on and shared among neighboring countries. Such a process can lead to the creation of an enabling environment that encourages cross-learning and regional cooperation towards enhancing Arab cities.