Building relationships and strengthening local housing governance in Eastern Europe and Central Asia

Housing systems across Central Asia and Eastern Europe are at a critical stage, balancing the legacies of mass privatisation with the need for sustainable, inclusive growth. While the legacy of mass housing privatisation has led to high levels of private ownership, it has also introduced challenges such as lack of support for different type of tenures and alternative housing solutions, aging housing stock, delayed renovations, energy inefficiency, and energy poverty.
Despite significant strides in policy development, gaps remain in aligning national housing strategies with local implementation, leading to uneven progress. Urbanisation, climate change, and regional displacement further complicate housing governance, particularly for marginalised groups such as migrants, women, youth, and displaced populations, who face disproportionate barriers in accessing adequate housing.
However, there is growing momentum in the region to address these challenges through more integrated, participatory housing policies that prioritise sustainability, inclusivity and a vision of housing as central to urban planning and socio-economic development.
Several municipalities are exploring successful strategies to localise housing policies, especially by embracing participatory town planning, where communities have a voice in shaping their urban environments. This participatory approach aligns with UN-Habitat’s “Housing at the Centre” framework, which emphasises housing as a core element of urban policy, connected to sectors such as health, education, and employment.
This session will bring together national and local government representatives, development banks, and civil society from across Central Asia and Eastern Europe to engage in dialogue on housing governance. By fostering collaboration and sharing best practices, the event will provide a platform to explore integrated, sustainable, and inclusive housing solutions that can address the region’s shared challenges and build on its successes.