Regenerating historic settlements for adequate housing: traditional techniques, value chains, resilient homes

Historic settlements house millions of people and play a critical role in the social, cultural, and economic life of cities. In contexts affected by prolonged socio-economic challenges, disasters, or climate shocks, these areas are often among the most exposed and least supported. Fragile housing structures, aging buildings, informality, and limited access to services increase vulnerability, while development efforts frequently bypass historic neighborhoods or prioritize heritage preservation over adequate housing. This session will explore how the rehabilitation of historic settlements can drive inclusive, resilient, and sustainable housing recovery. The session will highlight place-based and people-centered approaches that integrate safe housing rehabilitation, climate resilience, and cultural heritage preservation, while strengthening local economies through the use of local materials, traditional construction techniques, and local value chains. Drawing on experiences from contexts in Africa, the Arab region, and beyond, the event will shed light on promising United Nations cooperation, bringing together national governments, practitioners, development partners, civil society, and academia to share lessons learned, good practices, and implementation challenges. Discussions will focus on how rehabilitation of historic settlements can contribute to social and economic development while reducing environmental impact, enhancing resilience to future shocks, and ensuring continuity of community life. The session will also examine enabling conditions, policy frameworks, financing mechanisms, governance arrangements, and technical tools, that allow historic settlement rehabilitation to be integrated into national housing strategies and development plans. Particular attention will be given to inclusive approaches that protect vulnerable populations, prevent displacement, and enhance tenure security. By placing historic settlements at the heart of the housing agenda, the event aims to demonstrate how rehabilitation with local materials and knowledge can strengthen resilience, safeguard cultural identity, and contribute to long-term, inclusive urban recovery.