The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), established in 1978, is the lead agency within the UN system for coordinating activities in the field of human settlement development.
It is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. It also serves as the focal point for monitoring progress on implementation of the New Urban Agenda (NUA) - the global plan of action adopted at the third United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III), held in Quito, Ecuador in 2016. UN-Habitat contributes to the overall objective of the United Nations system to reduce poverty and promote sustainable development, and particularly works on the challenges of urbanization - its demographic, environmental, economic, social and spatial impacts.
UN-Habitat started its operation in Nepal to support reconstruction after the 1988 earthquake and has continued its work in collaboration with partners’ ranging from the government and local authorities to a wide cross-section of Non-Governmental Organizations and civil society groups. Aiming for the better livable and sustainable urban area and human settlements, its mission is to promote development of socially and environmentally sustainable settlements and achieve adequate shelter for all.
UN-Habitat support to the Government and people of Nepal is primarily focused on four sectors: Urban Planning and Climate Change, Land Management, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), and Inclusive Development and Housing. UN-Habitat works with both national and sub-national governments, providing technical support for policy formulations, strengthen capacities for localization of the policies, and collaborate to execute projects and initiatives to demonstrate policy implementation.
UN-Habitat in Nepal remains commited to support implementation of NUA and SDGs, through mainstreaming Green, Resilient, Inclusive Development in its processes and support to the government to reinforce the need of ensuring inclusive, safe and sustainable settlements for all, focusing particularly on the needs of the most marginalized - urban poor, slum-dwellers, landless, women and youths.