Heads of Delegation Meeting on Adequate Housing for All

This meeting will provide a prominent platform for Heads of Delegation to:

• Discuss the implementation of the Adequate Housing for All Resolution, a turning point in addressing global housing deprivations,
• Foster engagement among Member States in support of the resolution's objectives.
• Engage key stakeholders, including financial institutions and local authorities, to reinforce efforts toward adequate and sustainable housing for all.

According to the latest SDG 11 synthesis report "between 1.6 billion and 3 billion people are estimated to be affected by different forms of housing inadequacy”. A lack of global progress, and in some cases steps back, in addressing housing deprivations spanning from homelessness to informal settlements, unfit housing and unaffordability is recorded in all regions globally. 

Against this backdrop, Member States gathering at the United Nations Habitat Assembly, recognised critical elements needed for achieving universal access to adequate housing, including a renewed commitment to a human rights-based approach to housing and urbanisation, the establishment of robust government-led strategic frameworks for stakeholder engagement, improved data collection on housing conditions, and the provision of appropriate financing mechanisms for housing delivery models prioritising affordability and sustainability. 

At the Assembly, Member States made a resounding commitment to address urban poverty, homelessness, informality, and inadequa¬te housing. This commitment, as outlined in the “Adequate Housing for All” resolution sponsored by Bahrain, Egypt, France, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Pakistan, and the United States of America, marks a turning point in government-led strategic frameworks to prioritise access to housing through improving data and financing. 
In particular the Resolution establishes a regular and dedicated forum for Member States – the intergovernmental working group - to deliberate on housing issues, bridging the gap in multilateral dialogue. It also paves the way to the provision of systematic and up-to-date information on housing situations, trends, and best practices, filling the knowledge gap.

Following the Assembly, in March 2024, the Declaration de Chaillot was negotiated and endorsed by 70 governments, emphasizing sustainable building practices and the urgent need to decarbonise the built environment. The Declaration underscores the importance of recognising the interplay between housing and climate and ensuring access to adequate housing without exacerbating climate change, resource scarcity, or biodiversity loss. It also highlights the need to acknowledge that the climate crisis already poses significant challenges to the right to live in security, peace, and dignity for many people and families.

In light of the first convening of the Open-Ended Intergovernmental Expert Working Group, scheduled for 9-11 December 2024 in Nairobi, it is crucial to seize the opportunity presented by the World Urban Forum to strengthen the coalition of countries championing the issue, while broadening support.

To this end, the Heads of Delegation Meeting on the implementation of the Adequate Housing for All Resolution will offer the opportunity to raise awareness about the Resolution and its objectives, expand support among Member States, engage other key actors such as financial institutions and local authorities to reinforce collective efforts.