SUMMARY OF PLENARY DISCUSSIONS AND OUTCOMES
DAY 2 – WEDNESDAY, 22 APRIL 2026
On Wednesday, 22 April 2026, the first session of the Executive Board of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) for the year 2026 resumed in Nairobi, Kenya
Agenda item 6: Status of and discussion on the draft work programme of UN-Habitat and draft budget of the United Nations Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation for 2027
The Executive Director introduced the agenda item and provided an update on the preparation of the 2027 work programme and budget of UN-Habitat, highlighting that the 2027 work programme is the first to be fully aligned with the Strategic Plan 2026–2029. She further noted that the work programme is structured around four subprogrammes to strengthen strategic coherence, functional alignment and the link between priorities and resource needs, in line with oversight recommendations. She indicated that the draft work programme had undergone an initial review and was discussed in February 2026. The Executive Director further indicated that the 2027 draft budget had been submitted to UN-Habitat in March 2026, with consultations ongoing to finalize it for consideration by the Executive Board at its November 2026 session. UN-Habitat noted that the revised process aims to improve predictability and transparency in programme and budget preparation, with an emphasis on strengthening alignment between strategic planning and resource allocation. The Executive Director thanked Member States for their continued engagement and guidance throughout the process.
Interventions by Member States
CHINA took note of the draft 2027 work programme and supported its alignment with the Strategic Plan 2026–2029; reaffirmed support for UN‑Habitat’s core mandate; emphasized coherence, people‑centred development, balanced attention to governance, and capacity‑building for developing countries; and stressed the need for stable and sustainable funding, efficient resource use, and continued cooperation and experience‑sharing. SIERRA LEONE, speaking on behalf of the Africa Group, welcomed the work programme’s integrated and sustainable focus, while expressing concerns about ambition versus predictable financing; and called for stronger resource mobilization, prioritization of large‑scale housing interventions, enhanced capacity‑building, greater South‑South cooperation and closer alignment with national priorities. FRANCE thanked UN-Habitat for the draft 2027 budget and work programme; welcomed the UN‑Habitat Hub in Paris and requested regular updates on its activities and financing; underlined the importance of stable and predictable voluntary contributions; and expressed concern over the scale of the proposed Foundation non-earmarked budget increase and requested that future submissions be based on realistic income projections. GERMANY welcomed the alignment of the draft 2027 work programme with the Strategic Plan 2026–2029; took note of the increased Foundation non‑earmarked budget estimate; and sought clarity on next steps, prioritization and how activities would be reflected in concrete budget allocations across subprogrammes. The Chair closed the agenda item.
Agenda item 7: Implementation of the normative and operational activities of UN-Habitat, including reporting on the programmatic activities of UN-Habitat in 2025 and the implementation of its subprogrammes, flagship programmes and technical cooperation activities
The Executive Director opened the agenda item by highlighting progress in normative and operational activities under report HSP/EB.2026/8. UN-Habitat provided updates from the Brazil and Tunisia Country Programmes, urban crisis prevention and response efforts – including information on support to Ukraine and the Gaza Strip – and the work of UNITAC. The Brazil Country Programme presented updates on progress in integrated housing, upgrading of informal settlements, urban data management and training, and global initiatives on South-South cooperation. UN-Habitat also provided updates on the Tunisia Country Programme, highlighting efforts in community-driven urban planning and governance, environment and climate action, and urban crisis response. An overview of UN-Habitat’s urban crisis response initiatives was provided, emphasizing efforts to assist displaced populations and the reconstruction of human settlements affected by conflict and disaster. Focusing on Ukraine and the Gaza Strip, as part of reports HSP/EB.2025/INF.17/REV.1 and HSP/EB.2026/INF/6, UN-Habitat outlined its operational response, damage assessment, policy advice, technical assistance, capacity development, and knowledge co-creation. UN-Habitat further presented the work of UNITAC in digital tools and mapping, spatial analysis, and data-driven, participatory decision-making to advance housing, informal settlements, land, and basic services for all, as well as urban resilience and crisis response.
Interventions by Member States
BRAZIL highlighted the essential role of UN-Habitat in supporting local action; and noted the persistence of challenges in informal settlements and encouraged the expansion of the country programme beyond pilot initiatives, with strengthened programmatic approaches and new innovative collaboration modalities. COLOMBIA expressed strong support for UN-Habitat’s efforts, particularly regarding the urban crisis in the Gaza Strip; voiced concern over the damage to livelihoods and impact on vulnerable groups, particularly women and children; and reaffirmed support for restoring housing rights and basic services. GERMANY commended the presentations and encouraged stronger links between normative work and country-level delivery; reaffirmed support for UNITAC, welcoming progress on data-driven solutions and confirming funding through 2028; advocated for a people-centred approach to smart cities, scaling and institutionalizing UNITAC globally; and requested scaling up UNITAC tools for crises recovery to other crises contexts. UKRAINE expressed its appreciation for the report and UN-Habitat’s continued engagement; highlighted the destruction of housing affecting 2.5 million households; and raised concerns regarding violations of international law. SIERRA LEONE, on behalf of the Africa Group, commended the comprehensive report and welcomed progress in informal settlement upgrading and adequate housing; noted the need for expansion of capacity-building initiatives, including through Local2030 and SDG Cities; and underscored concern over inadequate and unpredictable financing, underfunded land and tenure programmes, and widening gap in digitalization and technology access and capacities. TUNISIA highlighted rapid urbanization and national prioritization of social housing, including new programmes for vulnerable populations; and appreciated UN-Habitat’s technical assistance and collaboration, including through the Rise-Up Programme as well support with funding from Japan. SOMALIA emphasized the importance of coherence between normative and operational work; appreciated UNITAC’s digital app for water access, calling for its replication in Africa; and expressed support for efforts in crisis and recovery contexts. JAPAN expressed appreciation for the presentation; reaffirmed support for UN-Habitat initiatives, including the African Clean Cities Platform and its continued expansion; and requested further clarification on how normative guidance, including digital solutions, can support country-level implementation. STATE OF PALESTINE welcomed updates on Gaza; called for full access by the United Nations; and highlighted the scale of destruction and expressed appreciation for international support, including from Japan. LEAGUE OF ARAB STATES expressed appreciation for the session; reaffirmed that sustainable urban development and housing are key priorities; indicated that it looked forward to continued collaboration with UN-Habitat; and strongly condemned ongoing aggressions in the region. INDONESIA expressed concern over the funding situation, noting risks to the continuity of UN-Habitat’s presence in Ukraine. ZIMBABWE aligned itself with the Africa Group; emphasized the importance of integrated planning and data-driven governance; and welcomed continued support to strengthen human settlements. FINLAND expressed appreciation for the presentations; highlighted the importance of scalable solutions as well as balance between normative and operational work; and requested further clarity on coordination with other UN agencies in Ukraine. ISRAEL emphasized the need to consider broader global initiatives in the sustainable reconstruction of Gaza; and expressed support for improving conditions for the Palestinian people and regional stability. RUSSIAN FEDERATION welcomed the revised report on recovery efforts in Ukraine, noting its comprehensive nature; and called for a consistent and uniform approach to crisis situations globally. The Chair closed the agenda item, taking note of the reports under Agenda Item 7, as well as the respective updates provided by the Executive Director, as contained in the documents HSP/EB.2026/8 and HSP/EB.2025/INF.17/REV.1, HSP/EB.2026/INF/6.
Agenda item 8: Update on the implementation of the resolutions adopted by the United Nations Habitat Assembly
The Executive Director introduced the item by highlighting progress in the implementation of resolutions adopted by the United Nations Habitat Assembly, underscoring their importance for effective mandate delivery in line with the UN-Habitat Strategic Plan 2026–2029, and noting that resolutions adopted in 2019 and 2023 continue to guide the organization’s normative and operational work, with implementation aligned to the UN80 reform agenda and Member States’ calls for more effective and impactful delivery. UN-Habitat presented an update on the implementation of the resolutions, highlighting progress achieved through the Strategic Plan 2026–2029 and its four outcomes, including on resolutions 2/2 and 2/7, and noted that both normative and operational advances were reported across all outcome areas, with reference to relevant mandates such as resolution 2/1 on the International Guidelines on People-Centred Smart Cities and resolution 1/3 on enhancing capacity-building. UN-Habitat further presented the financing status of the various resolutions, noting that the online resolutions tracker had been fully updated with the latest available information.
Interventions by Member States
SOMALIA thanked UN-Habitat for the update and welcomed progress in implementing resolutions at the regional level; emphasized the need for more consistent uptake across countries, particularly in Africa; and called for strengthened dissemination of lessons learned, including through South-South cooperation. SIERRA LEONE, on behalf of the AFRICA GROUP, expressed appreciation for the alignment of UN-Habitat’s strategic focus with African priorities, including climate resilience and infrastructure upgrading; highlighted the need for enhanced digital tools for evidence-based policymaking; expressed concern over financial constraints to implementing core resolutions and the gap between normative and operational work, including the limited scale of implementation on the ground; and called for improved regional balance and more context-specific implementation while reaffirming its commitment to the New Urban Agenda. COLOMBIA welcomed progress in implementing resolutions, particularly resolutions 2/4 and 1/4; and highlighted the adoption of a feminist foreign policy and its alignment with UN-Habitat’s mandate and the New Urban Agenda. PERU expressed appreciation for the report and commended UN-Habitat’s normative and operational work; expressed concern regarding the underfunding of land-related resolutions; and requested clarity on the sustainability of long-term financing for underfunded mandates. ZAMBIA welcomed the update and called for a resource mobilization strategy that ensures balanced funding across all resolutions, with priority support for the most vulnerable countries. FINLAND expressed appreciation for the update; reaffirmed support for resolution 2/2 on SDG localization, including continued funding and partnership engagement; confirmed participation in the Partnership Platform and upcoming thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13); and reiterated strong support for resolutions 2/1 and 2/7 and their continued implementation. The Chair closed the agenda item.
Agenda item 9: Preparations for the High-Level meeting of the General Assembly on the midterm review of the New Urban Agenda
The Chair opened the agenda item and invited Ambassador Krzysztof Szczerski, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Poland to the United Nations in New York and co-facilitator of the Political Declaration of the High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly on the midterm review of the New Urban Agenda, to introduce the item on behalf of the co-facilitators, Poland and Malawi. Ambassador Szczerski noted that the High-Level Meeting would be held in New York on 16 and 17 July 2026, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 79/214, and that the Political Declaration is expected to be concise, action-oriented and focused on renewing commitment and accelerating implementation. He outlined the process to date, including the Food for Thought paper, consultations with Member States and stakeholders, the preparation of the Elements Paper, further consultations planned in May, and negotiations leading to the expected adoption of the Political Declaration in July. He emphasized the importance of engaging delegations in Nairobi, given their substantive expertise on sustainable urbanization and UN-Habitat’s work. The Executive Director introduced document HSP/EB.2026/10, noting that 2026 marks the midpoint of the 20-year implementation period of the New Urban Agenda and provides an important opportunity to take stock of progress, reflect on persistent challenges and identify priorities for accelerating implementation to 2036 and beyond. She highlighted the preparation of the 2026 quadrennial report of the Secretary-General, the broader roadmap to the High-Level Meeting, and preparations for the concise, action-oriented Political Declaration. The Executive Director highlighted the strong engagement in the review process, including the expected submission of 69 national progress reports for the 2026 cycle, of which 44 had already been received, as well as contributions from the United Nations system, local and regional governments and stakeholders. She underscored the need for accelerated action, particularly on housing, financing, data and multilevel governance; highlighted upcoming milestones, including the thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum in Baku and the High-Level Meeting in July; and encouraged Member States to participate at the highest possible level.
Interventions by Member States
MEXICO emphasized the importance of an inclusive process and welcomed continued engagement with Member States in Nairobi in the preparations for the High-Level Meeting and the Political Declaration. PERU highlighted two key elements for the Political Declaration: the importance of adequate housing, resilience and inclusive access to basic services, and the need to reflect the diversity of regional, national and subnational realities; and welcomed the incorporation of Permanent Missions in Nairobi into the process. CHINA welcomed the opening statements and emphasized the importance of people-centred development, innovation and green development; highlighted the relevance of long-term development strategies, including five-year planning, and stressed the importance of comprehensive and sustainable approaches to urban renewal and development. COLOMBIA highlighted the importance of adequate housing and the need to address emerging challenges, including those related to technology and artificial intelligence; and emphasized the importance of strengthening national capacities, ensuring a comprehensive and balanced approach across the three transformative commitments of the New Urban Agenda, and empowering local actors. FRANCE welcomed the information provided and the presence of Ambassador Szczerski; called for a bold Political Declaration, particularly on housing; and highlighted the relevance of the Open-Ended Intergovernmental Working Group on Adequate Housing for All and the Paris-based housing hub. GERMANY noted concern about the limited number of national reports on implementation of the New Urban Agenda and called for strengthened UN-Habitat guidance for monitoring, while recognizing improvement compared to the previous reporting cycle; asked how Member States could be included in a timely manner in the review of SDG 11 at the High-Level Political Forum, in a manner similar to the New Urban Agenda High-Level Meeting process; and encouraged UN-Habitat to align preparations for the High-Level Meeting with discussions on the post-2030 agenda. The Chair thanked the co-facilitators, the Executive Director and Member States for their contributions, and closed the agenda item.
Agenda item 10: Preparations for the thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum
The Chair introduced the agenda item and invited the Executive Director to provide an update on the preparations for the thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 17 to 22 May 2026. UN-Habitat provided an overview of the status of preparations, highlighting that the programme includes a Ministerial Meeting on the New Urban Agenda, six high-level dialogues, assemblies, roundtables, special sessions and approximately 390 partner-led events. UN-Habitat indicated that new programme components had been introduced, including the WUF Practices Hub, the Business and Innovation Hub and the WUF Academy, aimed at strengthening practice-oriented exchange, private sector engagement and academic participation. UN-Habitat further outlined ongoing outreach and engagement efforts, including the implementation of a global advocacy roadmap, diplomatic briefings and regular communications with Member States and stakeholders. UN-Habitat further confirmed that all teams are fully mobilized in the final phase of preparations to support participation, including speaker coordination, while security arrangements continue to be monitored closely in coordination with the United Nations system and the host country. UN-Habitat further indicated that Mexico City has been selected to host the fourteenth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF14) in 2028, following a competitive bidding process.
Interventions by Member States
AZERBAIJAN reaffirmed its commitment to delivering an inclusive and high-quality Forum, emphasizing openness and continued collaboration with UN-Habitat and Member States in the final stages of preparation. SOMALIA welcomed the preparations for WUF13 and commended Azerbaijan for its leadership; highlighted the importance of building on the outcomes of the African Urban Forum and strengthening continuity between regional and global urban platforms; emphasized that the World Urban Forum remains a key space for inclusive dialogue on sustainable urbanization; and stressed the need for broad and balanced expert representation in the open-ended working group on adequate housing, encouraging Member States to nominate experts to ensure diverse technical perspectives. INDONESIA underlined the importance of addressing housing, urbanization and housing finance, particularly for developing countries; highlighted the value of knowledge-sharing across the Global South; called for the Baku Call to Action to reflect the needs of rapidly urbanizing countries, including access to financing and strengthened local government capacity; supported the inaugural leaders’ summit and urged that WUF13 deliver concrete and measurable outcomes; and requested further detailed information on the programme, including confirmed panellists and time allocation, as well as the establishment of a dedicated communication mechanism to facilitate participation. FRANCE welcomed progress in the preparations for WUF13; emphasized the importance of ensuring strong visibility and prioritization of adequate housing within the Forum; and highlighted the relevance of the OEWG-H and the need to continue supporting its work. COLOMBIA expressed appreciation to UN-Habitat and the Government of Azerbaijan for organizing the Forum; stressed the importance of achieving concrete results to advance the implementation of the New Urban Agenda; highlighted national efforts to promote sustainable and resilient cities, including the formalization of informal settlements and the housing-climate nexus; underscored the value of the Ministerial Meeting for exchanging best practices; and reaffirmed its commitment to the New Urban Agenda and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 11. MEXICO welcomed the information provided on WUF13 preparations and acknowledged Azerbaijan’s leadership; emphasized the importance of participatory dialogue spaces and strengthening the implementation dimension of the New Urban Agenda; expressed support for the Baku Call to Action and conveyed its best wishes for the success of WUF13. GERMANY welcomed WUF13 as an opportunity to address global challenges related to housing, land tenure and basic services; called for more transparent and institutionalized planning mechanisms to enable meaningful participation by Member States and stakeholders; expressed concern about barriers to participation, particularly in light of the situation in the Middle East, and requested clarification on measures to ensure inclusivity; and highlighted the need for greater transparency in the selection process for events, including clearer criteria. COSTA RICA emphasized that urban resilience and security should be approached in harmony with nature; called for stronger integration of nature-based solutions, biodiversity and ecosystem protection in Forum discussions and in the Baku Call to Action; and highlighted the importance of addressing coastal and blue resilience, welcoming the dedicated special session on coastal cities. The Chair thanked the Executive Director, the host country and Member States for their contributions. The Executive Board took note of the update provided in document HSP/EB.2026/11.
Agenda Item 11 (HSP/EB.2026/12): Implementation by UN-Habitat of the reform of the development system and management of the United Nations.
Under this agenda item, UN-Habitat indicated that it continues to provide substantive and operational support to the repositioning of the United Nations development system, in line with General Assembly resolution 76/4 and in support of the oversight role of governing bodies, noting that during the reporting period 2024–2025 it met most performance indicators under the reform. UN-Habitat further indicated that it has strengthened its contribution to Common Country Analyses and Cooperation Frameworks, engaging in at least 82 per cent of the over 100 countries where it operates, in close collaboration with United Nations country teams under the leadership of Resident Coordinators, while continuing to contribute at the regional level to Regional Collaborative Platforms and Issue-Based Coalitions, and engaging, where possible, in business operations strategies and common services. UN-Habitat highlighted its continued commitment to the effective implementation of the Management and Accountability Framework, noting its central role in strengthening joint planning and accountability across the United Nations system, and underscored that achieving the ambitions of the reform will require adequate and predictable funding, including support to entities with strong normative mandates. UN-Habitat also indicated that its support to the UN80 Initiative, including on the reconfiguration of United Nations country teams and the regional reset, has contributed to shaping a more coherent, flexible and responsive system, while advocating for light and enabling regional platforms that facilitate access to expertise and strengthen support to countries, and noted that its compliance with reform requirements remains on track, with the Executive Board to be kept informed of further developments under the Strategic Plan 2026–2029.
Interventions by Member States
GERMANY welcomed progress in implementing United Nations development system reform and noted with encouragement UN-Habitat’s contribution to priority outcomes in at least 82 per cent of United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks across more than 100 countries; recognized its value as a system-wide focal point for sustainable urbanization; expressed concern that urban issues are not consistently prioritized in regional collaborative platforms; and noted increasing competition from larger entities for core leadership roles, urging UN-Habitat to be more assertive in advancing its technical authority on Sustainable Development Goal 11. The Chair closed the agenda item without further comment or reservation.
Agenda item 12: Actions by UN-Habitat to strengthen prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment (PSEA/SH)
The Executive Director introduced the item, reaffirming UN-Habitat’s commitment to the Secretary-General’s zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, and noting that the organization has fully reported all allegations, ensured mandatory training for personnel, and strengthened preventive and response measures, including victim-centred support, accountability mechanisms, and awareness-raising initiatives. UN-Habitat indicated that system-wide efforts to prevent and respond to PSEA/SH have been strengthened through expanded training, increased capacity across headquarters and field offices, and closer cooperation with United Nations entities and inter-agency mechanisms to ensure consistent approaches, while highlighting progress in integrating risk management tools, reinforcing reporting and accountability frameworks, and enhancing safeguards in partnerships with implementing entities. UN-Habitat also indicated that progress in strengthening prevention and response systems is reflected in improved compliance and capacity, including a 91.5 per cent completion rate for mandatory PSEA training in 2025 and the expansion of the PSEA focal point network across headquarters and field offices; it further noted the systematic reporting and follow-up of allegations, including nine cases of sexual harassment reported in 2025, which are under review in accordance with established procedures, alongside continued efforts to reinforce victim-centred support, accountability measures and risk mitigation across the organization. UN-Habitat further indicated that ongoing efforts include strengthening reporting mechanisms, expanding awareness-raising and targeted training, particularly in higher-risk contexts, and advancing risk mitigation measures, while reaffirming its commitment to upholding the highest standards of prevention, accountability and victim support in line with system-wide strategies.
Interventions by Member States
COLOMBIA welcomed the measures taken to strengthen protection against sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment; reaffirmed the importance of promoting human rights, equality and non-discrimination, including for women and LGBTIQ+ persons; and emphasized the need for sustained efforts, clear standards, and effective accountability mechanisms to ensure prevention, protection, and access to justice for victims. PERU expressed appreciation for the update and reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding against sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment; noted concern regarding the nine reported cases of sexual harassment in 2025; and requested further information on these cases while welcoming progress in strengthening risk management frameworks. The Chair closed the agenda item.
Agenda item 13: Reports of the Office of Internal Oversight Services
The Executive Director recalled that, at the previous session of the Executive Board in 2025, updates were provided on activities relating to the Office of Internal Oversight Services and the Ethics Office, including ethics-related activities of UN-Habitat, noting that the annual report on the audit activities of the Office of Internal Oversight Services for the period from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025 had not yet been published at that time and was therefore being presented at the current session, with the presentation focusing on audits conducted by the Office. UN-Habitat indicated its continued commitment to ensuring full compliance with oversight and accountability standards, underscoring the importance of strong internal controls for effective, efficient and transparent management, and noted its close cooperation with the Office of Internal Oversight Services in audits, evaluations and investigations, as well as its commitment to implementing recommendations issued by both the Board of Auditors and the Office to further strengthen accountability frameworks. The Office of Internal Oversight Services indicated that it presented its internal audit activities at UN-Habitat covering the period from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2025, noting that two audit reports were issued in 2025 – on the management of implementing partners and on operations in Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau and Senegal – which resulted in 20 recommendations, one of which was not formally accepted but has since been addressed by UN-Habitat, and further indicated that the 2026 internal audit workplan includes three audits, covering communication, advocacy and partnership management, as well as land, housing and shelter programmes and project management processes. The Office of Internal Oversight Services further indicated that it continues to conduct systematic follow-up on the implementation status of recommendations, noting that as of 31 March 2026, UN-Habitat had 16 open recommendations, all issued in 2025, addressing key risk areas including project performance monitoring, risk management and internal control, and financial management, and highlighted its ongoing engagement with UN-Habitat to support implementation and closure of these recommendations. No interventions were made by Member States. The Chair closed the agenda item, and the report was adopted without further comment or reservation.
Agenda item 14: Annual report on action by the Executive Director to update and improve the internal management, policies and procedures of UN-Habitat.
The Executive Director introduced the agenda item on actions taken to update and improve UN-Habitat’s internal management, policies and procedures, as presented in document HSP/EB.2026/14, outlining measures implemented during 2025 to strengthen efficiency, transparency and accountability across the organization. UN-Habitat indicated that, in the areas of financial and human resources management, updated guidance on programme support costs was rolled out in alignment with United Nations Staff Regulations and Rules, alongside the introduction of new business planning and budgeting tools to enhance automation, consolidation and oversight, and noted that a limited delegation of authority was granted to the Executive Director to approve exceptional cases of reduced programme support cost rates to facilitate the timely finalization of voluntary contribution agreements, while progress was also made in standardizing recruitment processes through comprehensive guidance and capacity-building for hiring managers. UN-Habitat further indicated that procurement processes were strengthened through simplified guidance, standard operating procedures and improved access to technical advice, and highlighted advances in digital workflow management and communications, including updated procedures, improved tracking mechanisms and the establishment of a global communications network, while noting that legal and compliance oversight was reinforced through updates to implementing partner risk management policies and the ongoing development of a new regulatory framework for internal policies and procedures. The Executive Director reaffirmed UN-Habitat’s commitment to continuous organizational efficiency and adherence to best practices in the delivery of its mandate, programme of work and the Strategic Plan 2026–2029. The Executive Board took note of the briefing and the report of the Executive Director.
Agenda item 15: Consideration and adoption of the outcomes of the session, including the provisional agenda for the second session of 2026
H.E. Mr. Sebastian Groth, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Germany to UN-Habitat and Chair of the Executive Board, referred to the successful informal consultations held during the current session under the leadership of Kenya, and thanked delegations for their contributions towards building consensus on the draft decisions. He noted that the final version of the draft decisions had been shared with all Member States as a clean text, as contained in document HSP/EB.2026/CRP.1/Rev.2. The draft decisions were projected on the screen for consideration and adoption by the delegations. The Executive Board adopted the draft decisions without further changes. The Chair closed the agenda item.
Agenda item 16: Election of officers of the Bureau
The People’s Republic of China (Asian Group) was elected Chair of the Executive Board for the period 2026–2027. The Vice-Chairs were elected as follows: Mexico (GRULAC), Mozambique (Africa Group), Germany (WEOG). The Slovak Republic was elected Rapporteur. The Chair congratulated the incoming office holders and wished them well in their new roles and opened the floor for statements. China, Mexico, Mozambique, Slovakia and Germany delivered statements as incoming members of the Bureau of the Executive Board. Germany’s Deputy Permanent Representative to UN-Habitat, Mr. Martin Roew, informed the session that he would be concluding his tour of duty in Nairobi, expressed appreciation to all present, commended the collaborative spirit during his tenure, and wished the organization well in its future work. There were no further requests for the floor. The Chair closed the agenda item.
Agenda item 17: Other matters
GERMANY delivered a statement in which the delegate thanked all delegations and UN-Habitat for the excellent cooperation, noting that this would be his last Executive Board Session before reassignment to another duty station. The Chair invited stakeholders to make statements. Ms. Zipporah Njenga, speaking on behalf of Children and Youth International within the Major Group for Children and Youth, welcomed expanded United Nations system coordination and reporting, while emphasizing the need for greater clarity on its intended impact and beneficiaries; expressed concern regarding UN-Habitat’s approach to stakeholder engagement, recalling the New Urban Agenda’s commitment to inclusive multilateralism and the Secretary-General’s call for networked multilateralism with meaningful civil society integration; referred to the United Nations Environment Programme as a best-practice example, citing its Major Groups and Stakeholders framework, including constituency-based engagement, observer access to negotiations and response mechanisms; and called for concrete steps to formally adopt the Major Groups framework as outlined in Agenda 21 across New Urban Agenda processes, as well as the inclusion of a specific indicator on meaningful youth engagement in the quadrennial reporting cycle, disaggregated by age, gender and marginalized group status. There were no further requests for the floor under this agenda item. The Chair closed the agenda item.
Agenda item 18: Closure of the session
The Chair invited the Executive Director to deliver her closing remarks. The Executive Director delivered her remarks, thanking Germany for its leadership as Chair of the Executive Board and all delegations for their valuable contributions to the success of the session, and expressed appreciation to the outgoing members of the Bureau, those continuing in new capacities, and the Chairs of the respective working groups for their work. The Chair delivered his vote of thanks, commending the resilience of the “Nairobi Spirit” in sustaining multilateralism in the face of geopolitical challenges, and expressed appreciation to delegates for their role in the success of the session.The Chair closed the agenda item and declared the session closed.