Philanthropy and Civil Society

Over the last two decades, we have witnessed the emergence of a global housing crisis. The scenario has been shifting and evolving, affected by developments such as the 2008 market collapse, the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic, worsening affordability crisis, increasing disasters, recent global political turmoil and the changing climate. As public funds shrink, it is clear that a conversation on innovative approaches for the housing and land sector is urgent. 

Central to such discussion is acknowledging the role of a diverse pool of actors in advancing responses to the global housing crisis. While conversations on how to leverage the participation of the private sector and financing institutions are ongoing, there’s a case to be made on the role played by civil society organisations, grassroots movements and allied practitioners and academic & research institutions. These have been particularly strategic in supporting community-led responses that address both emergency situations and advance new models for housing provision, through mechanisms such as cooperatives and community land trusts.  

Despite the relevance of such work, these organizations are facing significant challenges amid the current geo-political context. These include shrinking civic space, reduced funding and increasing fragmentation, with many rights-based organisations being directly targeted or indirectly affected by misinformation and funding cuts. There’s a clear urgency for consolidating pathways to support such organizations and their work in responding to the polycrisis of housing & climate. 

UN Habitat’s 2026-2029 Strategic Plan emphasizes the importance of coalitions in creating a more enabling environment for sustainable, inclusive, and rights-based urbanization. Through its ongoing strengthened stakeholder engagement strategy, UN-Habitat is leveraging its role as a strategic convener of multiple actors and as a central broker for agenda-setting, expertise sharing and informing action and policy-making. Central to this strategy, the 13th World Urban Forum offers a critical moment to convene key actors and deepen collaboration.  

Amid the context previously described, WUF13 presents itself as a ripe opportunity for leveraging the possibilities for a strengthened role of philanthropic actors in the housing and land sector. Beyond opportunities regarding diversification of funding strategies, philanthropies can play a strategic role in agenda-setting, raising awareness around the global housing crisis, identifying linkages with other ongoing global challenges and expanding connections between ongoing efforts and strategic actors to overcome these.