The theme of the High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly on the Midterm Review of the New Urban Agenda (NUA), 16-17 July 2026, is "Delivering Sustainable Urbanization for All: Accelerating and Scaling Implementation of the New Urban Agenda to 2036 Together".
Multi-stakeholder Panel 1 - Delivering for People: Scaling Adequate Housing, Land, Basic Services, and Inclusion Sustainable urban development is achieved by and for the people. Achieving the vision of the NUA hinges on responding to the needs of, and respecting, protecting and fulfilling the human rights of all, particularly those at risk of being left behind, including women, children and youth, older persons, persons with disabilities, refugees, internally displaced persons and migrants, persons experiencing homelessness, as well as Indigenous Peoples and local communities. In this regard, the right to adequate housing as well as access to land, basic services, public health and inclusive urban opportunities are important priorities. During and after crises, urban and housing solution pathways shall bridge the humanitarian-development divide as early as possible. Migration sensitive frameworks can positively contribute to migrants' dignity, reduce urban poverty and housing insecurity and strengthen urban-rural linkages. At the midpoint, progress in policy frameworks has not been matched by delivery at scale. This panel will examine how to accelerate implementation to ensure no one, and no place is left behind. Multi-stakeholder Panel 2 - Unlocking Delivery: Financing Sustainable Urbanization at Scale Local, subnational, national housing authorities face persistent constraints in accessing predictable, adequate, and sustainable urban financing. Currently, global growth uncertainties, fiscal pressures, rising debt burdens, and fragmented financing flows are further constraining urban and adequate housing investment and operations across many regions. Under these circumstances delivering on the NUA at scale will require increased efficiency and effectiveness of the application of available finance while developing new innovative financial models. This panel will examine how to unlock affordable, efficient and effective public and private financing at scale to support NUA implementation.
