United Nations Human Settlements Programme Research Articles

The Evaluation of Sustainable Development Projects in Marginal Areas: An A’WOT Approach

The increasing urbanization trend, projected to reach 70% of the global population residing in cities by 2050, underscores the pivotal role of cities in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (UN, 2015) and combating climate change. Nonetheless, the 2023 report by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN Habitat) reveals an alarming gap in achieving SDG 11 “Sustainable cities and communities” by 2030. This gap highlights the urgent need for transformative shifts in urban policies and investments to prevent cities from becoming centers of global disparities, including socio-economic inequalities, digital divide, and spatial fragmentation, particularly in marginal areas. Marginal areas suffer indeed from conditions of sub-optimality in planning capacity, valuable decision-making, and project implementation. The inadequate planning, management, and governance of marginal areas, coupled with suboptimal investments, can severely compromise their socioeconomic condition. Planning efforts frequently fall short in achieving long-term sustainability goals due to localized and short-sighted decision-making processes, particularly evident in marginal areas. It is crucial, though, to support their public administrations in the achievement of the SDG 11 targets and in their responsive participation in the calls for the allocation of public funding. In this paper, we provide a theoretical and methodological approach to evaluate urban regeneration projects in marginal areas. In detail, we develop an A’WOT approach, which combines a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis to the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), to rank alternative urban development projects.

Prediction of Thermal Comfort from Operating Temperature and the Predicted Mean Vote / Predicted Percentage Dissatisfied (PMV/PPD) Indices in a Nubian Vault

The building and construction sector has a significant impact on the environment due to its high consumption of energy resources and increasing levels of emissions, and pollution. According to the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-HABITAT), the energy used by buildings and construction accounts for more than a third of the final energy consumed in the world and a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions. African countries such as Burkina Faso are concerned in this reality in the field of building. This is why the major issue in the tropic today is the construction of new buildings with high environmental quality and high energy performance. Today's construction choices will have an impact on future generations. The technique and materials of a building contribute to the health, safety and comfort of people. In the present work, the operating temperature and the PMV/PPD indices in a Nubian vault were determined. The operating temperature and the PMV/PPD indices are indicators of thermal comfort. Thus, the knowledge of these indicators allows to appreciate the state of comfort in the Nubian vault. It is in this perspective that the operating temperature will be determined by the adaptive method. The Fanger model is used for the determination of the PMV/PPD indexes. From the state of sensation obtained, acceptable ambient conditions can be defined for an individual in a tropical zone. As an alternative, the most suitable construction type and building materials could be recommended for each type of climate.

Redefining shelter: humanitarian sheltering.

Shelter is one of the most 'intractable problems' in humanitarian aid and yet there is little clarity on an overarching definition. Terminology for shelter and housing is often conflated, and the most prominent definition does not fully reflect recent progress in the Shelter and Settlements Sector. This paper explores the varying terminology utilised in definitions of shelter within humanitarian aid since 1990, reflecting on the concepts of 'shelter' and 'housing', alongside surrounding perceptions of 'house' versus 'home', and related measures of adequacy. The current, most prolific definition is also deconstructed, demonstrating ambiguity in some of terminology such as 'dignity' and 'privacy', and revealing that interpretation of this definition depends on the reader's knowledge. Lastly, a new definition of 'sheltering' is proposed, encompassing five key reflections: the concept of process over object; the inclusion of communities and individuals; the commonality of long-term sheltering; the wider effects of shelter; and the impacts on host communities and environment.

Inequalities in the prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors in Brazilian slum populations: A cross-sectional study.

Social and environmental risk factors in informal settlements and slums may contribute to increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study assesses the socioeconomic inequalities in CVD risk factors in Brazil comparing slum and non-slum populations. Responses from 94,114 individuals from the 2019 Brazilian National Health Survey were analysed. The United Nations Human Settlements Programme definition of a slum was used to identify slum inhabitants. Six behavioural risk factors, four metabolic risk factors and doctor-diagnosed CVD were analysed using Poisson regression models adjusting for socioeconomic characteristics. Compared to urban non-slum inhabitants, slum inhabitants were more likely to: have low (less than five days per week) consumption of fruits (APR: 1.04, 95%CI 1.01-1.07) or vegetables (APR: 1.08, 95%CI 1.05-1.12); drink four or more alcoholic drinks per day (APR: 1.05, 95%CI 1.03-1.06); and be physically active less than 150 minutes per week (APR: 1.03, 95%CI 1.01-1.04). There were no differences in the likelihoods of doctor-diagnosed metabolic risk factors or CVD between the two groups in adjusted models. There was a higher likelihood of behavioural and metabolic risk factors among those with lower education, with lower incomes, and the non-White population. Brazilians living in slums are at higher risk of behavioural risk factors for CVD, suggesting local environments might impact access to and uptake of healthy behaviours.

Public health threats of diminished treatment of onsite sewage

Public health threats of diminished treatment of onsite sewage

Power through social networks: A case study of urban farmers facing land development in Delhi, India

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) recognizes community participation as an essential component of sustainable planning and development, but there are many challenges to engaging communities, particularly ensuring that marginalized voices are represented. Social networks play an important role in connecting populations who feel they lack power and influence and therefore remain vulnerable, hidden, or dismissed by the powers that be. Yet the mechanisms of social networks are not well understood. This research investigated a group of marginalized farmers facing land development in Delhi, India to understand how social networks impacted their planning participation and livelihood strategies. Employing a mixed-methods approach including semi-structured interviews with 121 farming households, this paper describes how farmers exchanged knowledge and resources through social networks; beliefs and behaviours related to land use planning; and livelihood strategies in response to land development. Households with strong social networks were more likely to report detailed livelihood strategies and had three times the odds of believing they had an influence on land use planning and development compared to households with weaker social networks. Unsurprisingly, more households overall had what we define as “weak” social networks, believed they had no or minimal influence on land use planning and development, and gave vague livelihood strategies in case of development. This research uncovers ways that social networks can impact agency within a community and in the planner-public nexus.

Reflections of the World Urban Forum in the Balkans

The World Urban Forum held eleven sessions of the global urban forum from 2002 to 2022. Modelled after the global urban forum, other urban forums take place before the global forum. Two urban forums were held in the Balkan countries in line with recommendations of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme UN Habitat in order to improve communication among diverse stakeholders in the area of urban development and prepare them for participation in the global urban forum. Experiences of Marmara region in Turkey and Serbia are shared in this paper to explain how the interaction between the global and other urban forums can open the way to improvement of urban development activities. The results could become more evident in the future since there could be more urban forums organized to take place in the Balkans.

Urban Land-Use Efficiency Analysis by Integrating LCRPGR and Additional Indicators

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 11.3 is to enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanisation and capacity for participatory, integrated, and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries by 2030. Within that goal, the indicator SDG 11.3.1 is defined as the ratio of land consumption rate to population growth rate (LCRPGR). This ratio is primarily used to measure urban land-use efficiency and reveal the relationship between urban land consumption and population growth. The LCRPGR indicator is aimed at representing overall urban land-use efficiency. This study added compactness, urban expansion speed, and urban expansion intensity to better reflect the impact of built-up area changes on the overall urban land-use efficiency. In addition, this study combined LCRPGR and the land consumption per capita rate (LCPC) to comprehensively analyse the relationship between land consumption and population growth in existing built urban areas, expanded built urban areas, and total built areas. This study employed three years of urban built-up and population data for 2010, 2015, and 2020 for 338 cities along the Belt and Road region to analyse land-use efficiency. The results show that the average LCRPGR for the period 2010–2015 was 1.01, which is close to the recommended ideal LCRPGR value of 1.0 in the United Nations Human Settlements Programme. For 2015–2020, the LCRPGR was 0.71, indicating that the overall urban land consumption in the study area decreased. This is also supported by the fact that the urban expansion intensity in 2020 was weaker than that in 2015. In addition, according to research on the tendency of changes in the entire urban built-up area, the smaller the urban population, the slower the urban expansion speed, the smaller the compactness, and the increasingly complex the urban borders. In cities where the overall LCRPGR is far from the ideal value of 1, the entire built-up area is divided into existing and expanded urban regions. It was found that the average LCPC value in expanded built-up areas was higher than that of existing built-up areas, showing that as cities developed, the LCPC of the newly developed urban areas was greater than that of existing built-up areas. Meanwhile, the LCPC in the expanded built-up areas showed a decreasing trend over time from 2010 to 2015 to 2020, indicating that land use in the expanded built-up regions tended to be efficient. These findings provide helpful information in decision making for balancing urban land consumption with population growth.

Evaluating Performance of Public Transport Networks by Using Public Transport Criteria Matrix Analytic Hierarchy Process Models—Case Study of Stonnington, Bayswater, and Cockburn Public Transport Network

To mitigate car traffic problems, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) issued a document that provides guidelines for sustainable development and the promotion of public transport. The efficiency of the policies and strategies needs to be evaluated to improve the performance of public transportation networks. To assess the performance of a public transport network, it is first necessary to select evaluation criteria. Based on existing indicators, this research proposes a public transport criteria matrix that includes the basic public transport infrastructure level, public transport service level, economic benefit level, and sustainable development level. A public transport criteria matrix AHP model is established to assess the performance of public transport networks. The established model selects appropriate evaluation criteria based on existing performance standards. It is applied to study the Stonnington, Bayswater, and Cockburn public transport network, representing a series of land use and transport policy backgrounds. The local public transport authorities can apply the established transport criteria matrix AHP model to monitor the performance of a public transport network and provide guidance for its improvement.

Re-promoting Sustainable Underground Urbanization for Developed and Developing Countries in Our Modern History

During recent decades of overwhelming exploration of underground resources (groundwater, geothermal energy, minerals) and underground spaces (tunnels, caverns, buildings), there has been a lack of in-deep investigation on international agenda to look at the degree of political awareness of sustainable underground development. International organizations advocating and debating the use of underground space and its innovative contribution to urban futures, have been sustained through intensive interaction through conferences and working groups. These active moves involved public and private actors from developed and developing countries, with a rapidly increasing interest to explore the various and viable usage of this natural resource – subsurface space. From 2014 to present, as an international consensus built up by a long-term advocating efforts addressed through a series of World Urban Forums, United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-HABITAT) recognized the necessity of promoting best practices of the sustainable use of underground space for resilient urban development in modern era and for implementing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of UN 2030 Agenda. This article will present a first retrospect on the modern history of research initiation and international promotional agenda for sustainable underground urbanization. Qualitative archive data analysis and city case study demonstration will be used to showcase international stakeholders’ awareness enhancement, policy promotion and universal implementation.

Stunting and Anemia in Children from Urban Poor Environments in 28 Low and Middle-income Countries: A Meta-analysis of Demographic and Health Survey Data

Child malnutrition remains a global concern with implications not only for children’s health and cognitive function, but also for countries’ economic growth. Recent reports suggest that global nutrition targets will not be met by 2025. Large gaps are evident between and within countries. One of the largest disparities in child malnutrition within counties is between urban and rural children. Large disparities also exist in urban areas that have higher rates of child malnutrition in the urban poor areas or slums. This paper examines stunting and anemia related to an urban poverty measure in children under age 5 in 28 low and middle-income countries with Demographic and Health Survey data. We used the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) definition to define urban poor areas as a proxy for slums. The results show that in several countries, children had a higher risk of stunting and anemia in urban poor areas compared to children in urban non-poor areas. In some countries, this risk was similar to the risk between the rural and urban non-poor. Tests of heterogeneity showed that these results were not homogeneous across countries. These results help to identify areas of greater disadvantage and the required interventions for stunting and anemia.

CORONA High-Resolution Satellite and Aerial Imagery for Change Detection Assessment of Natural Hazard Risk and Urban Growth in El Alto/La Paz in Bolivia, Santiago de Chile, Yungay in Peru, Qazvin in Iran, and Mount St. Helens in the USA

Urban growth and natural hazard events are continuous trends and reliable monitoring is demanded by organisations such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, or the United Nations Human Settlements Programme. CORONA is the program name of photoreconnaissance satellite imagery available from 1960 to 1984 provides an extension of monitoring ranges in comparison to later satellite data such as Landsat that are more widely used. Providing visual comparisons with aerial or high-resolution OrbView satellite imagery, this article demonstrates applications of CORONA images for change detection of urban growth and sprawl and natural hazard exposure. Cases from El Alto/ La Paz in Bolivia, Santiago de Chile, Yungay in Peru, Qazvin in Iran, and Mount St. Helens in the USA are analysed. After a preassessment of over 20 disaster events, the 1970 Yungay earthquake-triggered debris avalanche and the natural hazard processes of the 1980 Mt St. Helens volcanic eruption are further analysed. Usability and limitations of CORONA data are analysed, including the availability of data depending on flight missions, cloud cover, spatial and temporal resolution, but also rather scarce documentation of natural hazards in the 1960s and 70s. Results include the identification of urban borders expanding into hazard-prone areas such as mountains, riverbeds or erosion channels. These are important areas for future research, making more usage of this valuable but little-used data source. The article addresses geographers, spatial planners, political decision makers and other scientific areas dealing with remote sensing.

A Design Methodology of an Embedded Motion-Detecting Video Surveillance System

Malaysia urbanization rate has been growing fast due to rapid development and modernization (Economy Planning Unit, 2015) (World Bank, 2015). With the fast growing urban population, the property crimes associated also rises at an alarming rate (United Nations Human Settlements Program, 2007) ( Mohit Mohammad Abdul, Elsawahli H. Mohamed Hassan, 2015) (Ministry of Home Affairs, 2015). Video surveillance system is one of the trusted and efficient security systems to protect people and property against criminal (Varij Ken, 2015). Three problems and issues regarding current video surveillance system are functionality, flexibility and efficiency. The aim of this project is to design and develop an embedded motion detecting video surveillance system and to produce a functioning prototype as the final result to solve these problems. In order to achieve the aim of this project, three objectives are set to be attained. These objectives are to design and develop a motion detection algorithm based on OpenCV library functions using camera as sensor, to process and execute the algorithm using an embedded micro-computer and to compare its processing performance with a PC and to enable wireless user alert using LAN and internet connection. The first objective is achieved as the motion detection algorithm designed and developed based on background subtraction method using camera sensor and openCV library function is proven to functioning well in detecting for motion changes. The algorithm performs successfully both in BeagleBone Black module and PC and is able to deliver outputs required for embedded motion detection video surveillance system. The second objective is achieved as BeagleBone Black (BBB) module, a micro-computer embedded system is used as main processor for the embedded motion-detecting video surveillance system. The BBB module is able to process and execute the motion detection algorithm designed with image processing functions from OpenCV library. The third objective is achieved as embedded motion-detecting video surveillance system is equipped with wireless user alert function using local area network and internet connection. The system is able to send real-time alert to the user via email attached with the image captured and detected as a threat by the system.

The Spatial Development Framework to facilitate urban management in countries with weak planning systems

ABSTRACTThere is an urgent need to develop strategic spatial planning methods adapted to the conditions of countries with weak planning systems facing rapid urbanization. These methods should allow evaluating the territorial qualities of the system of cities and to meaningfully guiding the implementation of national urban policies or strategies. In this context, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UNHabitat) has developed the Spatial Development Framework (SDF) method, which is presented here for the first time, after having been tested in different countries. The SDF method helps to develop an understanding of the roles and inter-linkages of various urban settlements in the territory and to frame the territorial structure in a context of fluidity and uncertainty typical of countries facing uncontrolled urbanization. The method is then discussed and conclusions for the way forward are drawn.

Реформа программы ООН по населенным пунктам

The study focuses on the implementation of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), the leading sustainable development pro-gramme, that is in crisis. In the author’s opinion, it has limitations in terms of credibility, efficiency, transparency, and accountability. It is obvious that UN-Habitat and the overall urban issues have low significance to the UN system. However, the importance of urbanization issues is extremely high in the context of sustainable development. This was acknowledged in the report of the High-level Independent Panel to Assess and Enhance the Effectiveness of UN-Habitat submitted to the UN General Assembly in 2017. The report stated the urgent measures should be taken to reform UN-Habitat’s governance structure and enhance its normative mandate. The transformation process was launched by the new executive director of the programme in 2018. The study proposes possible solutions to the above-mentioned problems and presents the first-year reform results. The author concludes that it is necessary to enhance the nor-mative mandate of UN-Habitat and establish the credibility of the programme’s assessment to im-prove the situation in settlements around the world and provide their sustainable development.

Urban planning and popular participation: A diagnosis of the effectiveness of participatory processes applied to the revision of São Paulo master plan

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) recognizes community participation as an essential component of sustainable planning and development, but there are many challenges to engaging communities, particularly ensuring that marginalized voices are represented. Social networks play an important role in connecting populations who feel they lack power and influence and therefore remain vulnerable, hidden, or dismissed by the powers that be. Yet the mechanisms of social networks are not well understood. This research investigated a group of marginalized farmers facing land development in Delhi, India to understand how social networks impacted their planning participation and livelihood strategies. Employing a mixed-methods approach including semi-structured interviews with 121 farming households, this paper describes how farmers exchanged knowledge and resources through social networks; beliefs and behaviours related to land use planning; and livelihood strategies in response to land development. Households with strong social networks were more likely to report detailed livelihood strategies and had three times the odds of believing they had an influence on land use planning and development compared to households with weaker social networks. Unsurprisingly, more households overall had what we define as “weak” social networks, believed they had no or minimal influence on land use planning and development, and gave vague livelihood strategies in case of development. This research uncovers ways that social networks can impact agency within a community and in the planner-public nexus.

ФОНТАНИ ЯК АРХІТЕКТУРНО-БУДІВЕЛЬНИЙ ЗАСІБ АДАПТАЦІЇ УРБАНІЗОВАНОГО МІСЬКОГО СЕРЕДОВИЩА ДО КЛІМАТИЧНИХ ЗМІН

Ukraine's population living in cities is about 68%. The tendency of population growth and increasing their concentration in large cities of the country is anticipated. There happens the formation of a qualitatively new urbanized environment. The relevance of this study stems is dued to the global report on human settlements “Cities and climate change: strategy directions” (United Nations Human Settlements Program, 2011). The consequences of urbanization and climate change are dangerously combined, threatening environmental, economic and social stability in the world. The report aims to raise awareness of governments and anyone who's interested in the strategic development of cities on a number of topical issues: the impact of cities on climate change; the impact of climate change on cities; the role of cities in consequences mitigation. The aridity of climate has significantly increased in Ukraine, during the last decades. This article discusses the main effects of climate change, mitigation measures, and ways to adapt the urban environment. The factors affecting the increased climate change in the urban environment are described here. And the negative effects of climate change in the cities of the country are analyzed. Much attention is paid to the problem of the formation of heat island in an urban environment. The heat island is the result of a temperature anomaly over the central part of the city and factor influencing the manifestation of heat stress. The leaded research has been analyzed in next direction: heat stress - as a consequence of climate change in an urbanized city environment. Here were learned the groups of measures to improve the adaptability of the city to the negative effects of climate change. The article deals with research on modeling urban spaces. Much attention is paid to developing a plan for adapting the urban environment to climate change. The fountains were recognized as the main architectural and construction method for adapting large cities of the country to heat stress. The evolution of the development of modern fountains as architectural objects in the urban environment is traced, as well as a historical change in the functional content. Modern fountains are “living” urban air conditioners that regulate the climate of the urban environment (cool and moisten the air, reduce air pollution). The noise of urban street fountains, created by the variety of water sounds, improves the sound of urban areas affected by traffic noise. Fountains contribute to increasing the comfort of an urbanized city environment and increasing the adaptation of cities to heat stress. Here's clarified the definition of the term. A fountain is a specific structure for improving the climate of the environment with all the main and auxiliary devices and equipment that belong to it (State Standard D.1.1-1: 2013 Rules for determining the cost of construction). Here's raised the issue of the rational use of water resources in the organization of fountains in an urban environment. The article examines the experience of building fountains in countries with arid climate. Described in detail: • The Bellagio fountain in Las Vegas - the brand identity of tourist destinations, internationally recognized as the most spectacular; • The Dubai Fountain is the largest fountain in the world, a prime example of the rational use of water resources. As a result of the study, the following conclusions were made: modern fountains help to reduce the negative effects of climate change, reduce the manifestation of heat stress, passively cool urban spaces, normalize the functioning of urban energy systems, reduce air pollution, improve the quality of used water. Fountains also improve the sound of urban areas affected by traffic noise. Fountains as a part of the city’s adaptation plan to climate change manifestations increase the adaptability of the urbanized city environment to heat stress and carry out a set of measures aimed at increasing the comfort of urban areas. Creating interactive maps of cool zones with the presence of fountains on the territory of large cities where people can spend a hot day, and giving a block of such information to maps located in the city for tourists are the first steps to improve the adaptation of cities to climate change. Also, fountains are a tourist potential for the development of recreation zones and the historical part of the cities of Ukraine.

Land tenure and urban climate resilience in the South Pacific

ABSTRACTUrbanisation trends and global environmental change are two of the most critical modern-day stressors threatening the resilience of cities around the world. This paper focuses on Honiara, the capital city of the Solomon Islands, which is experiencing rapid urbanisation and a resultant spread of informal settlements. Similar to other primary cities in the South Pacific, the rate of urbanisation is severely testing the local government’s ability to respond to growing levels of informality; and increasing the climate vulnerability of residents. Based on recent urban climate resilience and land tenure research conducted for the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and the Global Land Tool Network (GLTN) respectively, the paper analyses land issues in two informal settlements in Honiara to highlight the inter-linkages between security of land tenure and climate vulnerability, and how insecure land tenure adversely impacts local adaptive capacity and adaptation planning. This analysis is embedded in the context of the South Pacific region, where duality tensions exist between Western-influenced land tenure arrangements within cities - a legacy of colonial times - and customary arrangements that operate in the surrounding peri-urban and provincial areas. Given the identification of strong links between security of land tenure and climate vulnerability, and the complexity of property rights in the region, the paper argues that principles of good land governance are an essential component of climate resilience thinking and actions.

We the public space. Strategies to deal with inequalities in order to achieve inclusive and sustainable urban environments

At the Ninth session of the World Urban Forum, convened by UN-Habitat, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, held on 7-13 February 2018 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, City Space Architecture was selected to coordinate a networking event, which took place on Sunday February 11 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.The networking event was intended to be an effective contribution to the discussion related to improvement of human health and well-being, overcoming discrimination and inequalities, thus giving rights to vulnerable community-groups. Those references are relevant both for the implementation of the New Urban Agenda and for the achievement of the SDGs. Human health and well-being are strongly related to public space and the way it is designed and managed. Nowadays we often record the increasingly privatisation of the public domain in direct and indirect ways; also, the lack of facilities to access, live and enjoy the public space often isolate communities, limiting their freedom to engage into the public sphere. We mainly refer to public space's cultural richness, identity and diversity, but in our contemporary times public space is dealing more and more with inequalities, poverty and conflicts. Public spaces are meant to be open, inclusive and democratic, but today we see physical, social and economic barriers that challenge the true nature of public space: economic issues, social and cultural segregation, huge real estate investments, privatization trends and gentrification processes are dominating aspirations of local communities and different social groups. We also experience theoretical barriers to an open discussion on public space: the discourse is often limited to specific national or linguistic areas and the dominance of exempla from the so-called global West or global North are limiting our knowledge about public space, often imposing an oversimplified view of public space design, management and use. Those barriers, physical and theoretical, are a threat to our communities in terms of access to basic needs; they are also an obstacle for the implementation of the New Urban Agenda and its principles.

Policy Note: "Addressing Trade-offs to Promote Safely Managed Wastewater in Developing Countries"

Policy Note: "Addressing Trade-offs to Promote Safely Managed Wastewater in Developing Countries"