UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme)’s Post

The problem with the urbanization in Africa is forced evictions of native the people, and without just compensation! These initiatives may be great if they are carried out in collaborative efforts with the local Populations, instead of political leaders some of whom have proven to be corrupt . #Africanurbanforum #AfricanUnion

Join the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa at the inaugural Africa Urban Forum 🌍🏙️ CoM SSA is excited to participate in the Africa Urban Forum - September 4 to 6, 2024 - in Ethiopia. We are especially thrilled to host our first in-person Regional Mayors Forum (RMF) meeting of 2024, on the sidelines of the Forum. The RMF meeting will gather mayoral representatives from each of the four sub-Saharan regions to represent the voices of all CoM SSA signatories. It will provide an opportunity to bring forward CoM SSA signatories’ priority items, and strategic inputs as we begin our preparations for #COP30. During the Africa Urban Forum, CoM SSA will also co-host two key side events: 🌱Rebuilding for Resilience: Addressing Loss & Damage in Africa's Urban Future 💡Financing Urban Resilience: Smart Solutions for an Inclusive and Climate-Proof Future in African Cities CoM SSA Mayors will be actively involved in various sessions and discussions throughout the forum, contributing to vital conversations on urban sustainability and resilience. ✍️Are you participating in the Forum, let us know in the comments. Follow our social media platforms for updates and insights from the Forum. We look forward to engaging with our partners and advancing our collective goals for sustainable urban development. #AfricaUrbanForum #SustainableCities #COP30 #UrbanResilience #urban #cities #Agenda2063 #sustainability African Union Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM) --- CoM SSA is co-funded by: European Commission Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) AGENCIA ESPAÑOLA DE COOPERACION INTERNACIONAL PARA EL DESARROLLO - AECID CoM SSA is co-implemented by: AECID Agence Française de Développement Expertise France Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH CoM SSA Secretariat is hosted by: ICLEI Africa

Freetown City Council and Climate Resilience for All Co-Host Africa’s First Urban Heat Summit 27 January 2025 The Freetown City Council and Climate Resilience for All (CRA), are co-hosting the first ever African Urban Heat Summit on 6 February 2025. The landmark event will bring together African mayors from Kanifing, Monrovia, Conakry, Accra, Ouagadougou and Abidjan among others, local council leaders from across Sierra Leone, multilateral organizations and key stakeholders to address the escalating threat of extreme heat and its significant impact on urban areas. Championed by Mayor of Freetown, Her Worship Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr and Kathy Baughman McLeod, Chief Executive Officer of Climate Resilience for All, the theme of the Summit will be “Building Resilient African Cities: Tackling Urban Heat Through Innovation, Education and Action”. The Summit aims to foster regional collaboration, explore sustainable solutions and highlight opportunities to enhance urban climate resilience through actionable strategies and partnerships. Freetown is the first country in Africa to have appointed a Chief Heat Officer with a focus on developing strategies to mitigate urban heat, enhance public awareness, and implement innovative solutions to build Freetown's climate resilience. During the summit, Freetown will unveil its inaugural heat action plan, an initiative aimed at tackling the city's extreme heat challenges through specific actions, policies, and partnerships. The Summit will include a high-level roundtable with African mayors, statements, panel discussions and breakout sessions with relevant MDAs, multilateral organisations, and other key participants. #TransformFreetown #TransformingLives #UrbanHeatAction ©️FCC Communications

🌍 Happening next week: Empowering community-led #ClimateAction in #InformalSettlements! 21-25 October 2024 in #Freetown, Sierra Leone. Cities Alliance, in partnership with SDI. (Slum Dwellers International) and International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), will host a 5-day workshop focused on practical, scalable solutions for climate #adaptation and #SustainableConstruction in informal settlements. We are honoured to have Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr OBE deliver the opening remarks as we bring together SDI affiliates from 9 countries—Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe—alongside local governments and urban stakeholders. Key themes include: 📊 Climate #DataCollection and #UrbanHeat mapping 🏡 #Circular, low-carbon, #AffordableHousing solutions 🌿 #Nature-based solutions for informal settlements 💰 #ClimateFinance for vulnerable communities. 🧱 #SustainableConstruction practices in informal settlements This workshop will foster collaborative learning and generate strategies for climate resilience and sustainable urban development in vulnerable communities at global level. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eG46BS7k #InclusiveCities #SustainableCities Sida Freetown City Council Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM) COP29 Azerbaijan Mara Forbes

Freetown City Council and Climate Resilience for All Co-Host Africa’s First Urban Heat Summit The Freetown City Council and Climate Resilience for All (CRA), are co-hosting the first ever African Urban #HeatSummit on 6 February 2025. The landmark event will bring together African mayors from #Kanifing, #Monrovia, #Conakry, #Accra, #Ouagadougou and #Abidjan among others, local council leaders from across Sierra Leone, multilateral organizations and key stakeholders to address the escalating threat of extreme heat and its significant impact on urban areas. Championed by Mayor of Freetown, Her Worship Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr OBE and #Kathy Baughman McLeod, Chief Executive Officer of Climate Resilience for All, the theme of the Summit will be “Building Resilient African Cities: Tackling Urban Heat Through Innovation, Education and Action.” The Summit aims to foster regional collaboration, explore sustainable solutions and highlight opportunities to enhance urban climate resilience through actionable strategies and partnerships. Freetown is the first country in Africa to have appointed a Chief Heat Officer with a focus on developing strategies to mitigate #urban heat, enhance public awareness, and implement #innovative solutions to build Freetown's climate resilience. During the summit, Freetown will unveil its inaugural heat action plan, an initiative aimed at tackling the city's extreme heat challenges through specific actions, policies, and partnerships. The Summit will include a high-level roundtable with African mayors, statements, panel discussions and breakout sessions with relevant MDAs, #multilateral organisations, and other key participants. #TransformFreetown #TransformingLives #UrbanHeatAction

Razak KIRIBOU, a recent PASET student at the Natural Resources Institute, has recently published a scientific paper titled: "Urban climate resilience in Africa: a review of nature-based solution in African cities' adaptation plans" 🌍 African cities are bearing the brunt of climate change, despite their low greenhouse gas emissions. Rapid urban growth and inadequate planning have left 55% of the world's population at risk. This review highlights the transformative potential of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for urban climate resilience. 🌱 Key insights: ➡NbS have shown multi-functional benefits globally, reducing vulnerability to climate threats and advancing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). ➡Only 15 African countries have implemented NbS projects, focusing on various sectors but often neglecting urban areas. ➡Challenges include governance issues, insufficient resource mobilization, and a lack of evidence-based strategies. ➡By sharing successful NbS implementations from around the world, we aim to inspire sustainable city planning in Africa. Let's harness the power of nature to build resilient urban communities! Read more this recently published paper by Razak⤵ https://lnkd.in/etq49SjH #ClimateChange #UrbanResilience #NatureBasedSolutions #SustainableCities #Africa #Openaccess

🌏 Driving Fiji’s Commitment to Urban Climate Resilience 🌱 Fiji remains steadfast in its commitment to addressing the climate crisis, with urban areas playing a pivotal role in building a sustainable future. Over half of our population resides in cities and towns, making them critical hubs for resilience and innovation in the face of rising sea levels, intensified cyclones, and infrastructure challenges. At the 2-day Workshop on Assessing Enabling Framework Conditions for Urban Climate Finance, hosted by UNESCAP and Gold Standard, we reaffirmed this commitment. The workshop is an important step towards strengthening the frameworks needed to channel climate finance effectively to communities most at risk. Aligned with Fiji’s National Development Plan (2025–2029) and Vision 2050, we are focused on: ✅ Scaling up climate-resilient infrastructure to reduce vulnerabilities. ✅ Achieving 100% renewable energy by 2030 and promoting sustainable transport. ✅ Advancing nature-based solutions like mangrove restoration and afforestation. ✅ Creating inclusive pathways that empower women, youth, and marginalized communities. This workshop is a timely opportunity for Fiji, as the first Pacific nation to pilot the Urban Climate Finance Assessment Frameworks, to explore how governance, partnerships, and innovation can unlock transformative change. The outcomes from this event will guide Fiji in aligning local actions with global commitments like the Paris Agreement and COP29, ensuring our urban areas become resilient, inclusive, and sustainable for future generations. Vinaka vakalevu to all participants, partners, and organisers for advancing this critical agenda. Together, we are building a foundation for sustainable urban development in Fiji and beyond. #ClimateResilience #UrbanDevelopment #ClimateFinance #SustainableFutures #FijiLeadership

🌿 🏙️ Climate change and urban challenges are deeply interconnected, with #women often disproportionately affected by #water, #energy, #food, and #ecosystem #WEFE insecurities. In response to these challenges Cities Alliance introduces #Her4WEFE: Gender Perspectives on Urban Water, Energy, Food, and Ecosystems, a practical toolkit designed to help urban practitioners, #LocalGovernments, and civil society organizations integrate gender-sensitive approaches into the WEFE nexus. The publication offers: 🔹 Tools to assess and track gender vulnerabilities and engagement in WEFE sectors. 🔹 Participatory methodologies tailored to local contexts. 🔹 Strategies for fostering inclusive, sustainable, and resilient urban environments. By linking gender and the WEFE sectors, Her4WEFE supports more integrated and equitable urban planning, strengthening communities against climate challenges. If you are attending COP29 Azerbaijan join us for a presentation of the toolkit: 📅 Tuesday 19 Nov - 9:30-10:30 Baku time 🔵 #SEforALL pavilion. Blue zone - G12a 🟢 Learn more about the event: https://lnkd.in/ezNVeStC 🔴 Explore the toolkit: https://lnkd.in/eUJgszHj #InclusiveCities #CitiesForWomen #ClimateAction Sida Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) FAO EU Science, Research and Innovation United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG)

World Cities Day 2024 will focus on the theme "Better City, Better Life," emphasizing how youth and key stakeholders are influencing climate action and urban issues. The NGO Committee on Sustainable Development-NY, in collaboration with various partners, stresses the importance of investing in housing and essential services. Effective urban planning requires innovative strategies involving local and national governments, civil society, and the private sector to meet global housing demands. Aligning with the UN's 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, particularly SDG 11, is crucial for funding scalable initiatives. Community involvement ensures that urban projects are culturally relevant and practical. Promoting green construction and energy-efficient designs can reduce costs while supporting climate goals. Additionally, urban planning must incorporate disaster preparedness and resilience strategies to address increasing climate-related challenges. The aim is to create cities that foster equitable and sustainable living, ensuring no one is left behind as we approach significant events like the UN-Habitat World Urban Forum in Cairo and COP29. Join us by registering here https://hubs.ly/Q02WvWRJ0 #WorldCitiesDay #BetterCityBetterLife #SustainableUrbanDevelopment #ClimateAction #Sustainability #UrbanPlanning #SDG11 #CommunityEngagement #GreenBuilding #DisasterResilience #FutureOfCities