Member States of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) have endorsed a new roadmap for advancing global housing policy between 2025 and 2029, setting out key recommendations on social housing, informal settlements, tenure security, and housing finance.
The agreement was reached in Nairobi at the second session of the Open-ended Intergovernmental Expert Working Group on Adequate Housing for All, which convened national governments, housing experts, and development partners to refine policy guidance for accelerating global progress toward adequate housing for all.
Established under Resolution 2/7 of the UN-Habitat Assembly in June 2023, the Working Group is the first UN-Habitat subsidiary body dedicated exclusively to housing. It provides a platform for Member States to exchange experiences, review progress, and propose coordinated policy actions to address the world’s deepening housing crisis, currently affecting nearly three billion people who lack adequate shelter or live in insecure and substandard conditions.
The Nairobi session built upon expert consultations held earlier in June and September 2025, where government-nominated specialists and stakeholders developed draft recommendations across critical areas: housing finance, tenure security, informality, social housing, sustainability, and monitoring frameworks.
Opening the session, UN-Habitat Executive Director, Anacláudia Rossbach, emphasised that the global housing crisis demands nuanced, context-specific solutions. “While the housing crisis is global, it manifests differently across countries and regions,” she said. “I count on your support to craft sound, evidence-based recommendations that reflect local contexts, needs, and capacities, and that serve all communities effectively.”
Experts agreed that fragmented approaches are no longer sufficient. They called for integrated housing frameworks that connect land use, spatial planning, and finance to deliver sustainable, inclusive outcomes. Participants also stressed the need for a wider range of financing instruments, spanning microfinance, community savings, green bonds, and public-private partnerships (PPPs) to expand access to housing finance, especially for low-income and vulnerable groups.
Delegates urged stronger alignment between housing finance and climate objectives, noting that investments in resilient, low-carbon housing can support both social inclusion and environmental sustainability.
On tenure security, the working group underscored the importance of protecting diverse forms of tenure, including rental, customary, communal, and cooperative systems.
Strengthening local governments’ legal and institutional capacity, preventing forced evictions, and improving data collection through digital and community-based platforms were identified as key priorities.
Participants also examined policy gaps in addressing informal settlements, which remain home to over one billion people worldwide. They recommended a twin-track strategy: upgrading existing informal settlements while simultaneously creating affordable and well-serviced housing alternatives to prevent further expansion of slums.
The group emphasised the need for flexible planning standards, recognition of informal tenure arrangements, and long-term, predictable financing mechanisms to integrate informal communities into the urban fabric.
Experts further highlighted social housing as essential public infrastructure that promotes inclusion, equity, and spatial justice. They called for the establishment of robust institutional frameworks, access to well-located land, transparent allocation systems, and diversified funding sources, including state-backed housing funds and community-led models.
Design standards for social housing, participants agreed, must prioritise accessibility, environmental performance, and cultural relevance to ensure that public housing supports both dignity and sustainability.
The Nairobi meeting aimed to translate these technical insights into actionable policy guidance to help countries strengthen their housing systems and advance the right to adequate housing, as enshrined in international law. Its recommendations will shape the next phase of the Working Group’s efforts and inform the implementation of UN-Habitat’s Strategic Plan (2026–2029).
Rossbach noted that the initiative reflects a new phase of global cooperation on housing, one that recognises the intersection of shelter, urban planning, and economic inclusion. “We cannot achieve sustainable urbanisation without ensuring that every person has a safe, secure, and affordable place to live,” she said. “The Working Group is providing the foundation for a shared global housing agenda that can guide both national policies and international investment.”
By fostering closer collaboration between governments, communities, and the private sector, the Working Group’s roadmap sets the stage for a more coherent global housing response, one that bridges policy silos, mobilises finance at scale, and anchors housing at the heart of sustainable development.
As Member States advance toward the 2025–2029 implementation cycle, the new framework is expected to help countries develop evidence-based national housing strategies, strengthen local governance, and accelerate progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 11, which calls for making cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
In reaffirming their commitment to adequate housing for all, participants agreed that no nation can tackle the housing crisis alone. Through collective action, integrated planning, and sustained investment, they said, the world can move closer to ensuring that everyone everywhere has a place to call home.
