Midterm Review of the New Urban Agenda (NUA) - General Assembly, 103rd Plenary meeting, 80th session

I declare open the 103rd Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly. The Assembly will continue its consideration of Agenda Item 178 entitled Follow-up to the Implementation of the New Urban Agenda and Strengthening of the United Nations Human Settlements program to hear the remaining speakers in the high-level meeting of the Assembly on the midterm review of the New Urban Agenda. Before giving the floor to the first speaker from my list, I would like to remind delegations that the time limit will be 5 minutes for individual delegations And 7 minutes for statements made on behalf of a group of states, which will be strictly enforced by means of automatic microphone cutoff. To assist delegations in managing their time, a countdown clock will be displayed on the screens Please be aware that the remaining speaking time is displayed on the left-hand side of the rostrum. Having said this, I would appeal to all speakers to deliver their statements at a reasonable pace in order to facilitate interpretation into the six official languages. I now give the floor. To His Excellency Mr. Hussein Awad Mohamed Sitt, Minister of Public Works and Roadways of Yemen.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Please.

Mr. President, Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, we meet today to take stock of the decade that passed since the adoption of the New Urban Agenda and to chart the course for the next decade leading to 2036. Urban sustainable development is no longer a contemporary— a complementary option. The arena where the cross-cutting issues of climate, peace, and human security converge, as confirmed by the SG reports and the midterm review currently under discussion today. Mr. President, Yemen's urban experience is a stark example of the complex challenges that our plans must address for the second decade. Our cities are not facing normal demographic growth. We are facing a forced urban expansion. The years of conflict have led to unprecedented waves of internal displacement in the direction of safe urban centers, leading to an intense pressure on the housing, land, and basic service sectors. This fast urban sprawl, coupled with poor urban advanced planning and the adverse effects of climate change and floods, has put our cities on a direct confrontation path with cities that lack advanced plans to provide decent life— decent safe housing for its citizens, as the Agenda advocates. Ladies and gentlemen, our vision in the Yemen Republic for the next decade is based on transformation from temporary crisis management to sustainable urban recovery. We believe that peacebuilding starts with reshaping the urban space, providing decent housing for the displaced persons and host communities alike, and planning cities that are resilient to both climate crises and social shocks. We hope that the political declaration of this midterm review would include a genuine international commitment in support of urban resilience strategies in post-conflict countries. We need effective Effective partnerships that help us move in the direction of spatial planning, strengthen urban management capacities, and provide innovative financing mechanisms that do not only provide tents and temporary shelters but also build sustainable and integrated urban communities. We can only achieve the goals of the New Urban Agenda by 2036 if cities in developing and conflict-affected countries are at the core of this global effort. The right of each person to a safe and sustainable city is an inherent right. No one should be left behind. Thank you for your attention, and God's peace be upon you.

I thank the Minister of Public Works and Roadways of Yemen. And I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Moussa Badafou Fana, Minister of Urban Planning, Local Communities, and Regional Development of Senegal.

President, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, allow me at the outset to commend the organizers of this high-level meeting on the New Urban Agenda. 10 years after its adoption in Kyoto, This meeting is an important milestone for taking stock of progress achieved, identifying remaining challenges, and reaffirming our common ambition to build cities and communities that are more inclusive, resilient, sustainable, and prosperous. My delegation aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of G77 in China as well as the African Group. In this regard, Senegal remains fully committed to the implementation of the New Urban Agenda, which it views as a key driver for attaining the SDGs, especially SDG 11. As part of the Senegal 2030 Vision, structural reforms have allowed us to make significant progress especially with a project that helped to implement over 900 infrastructure units while strengthening local governance. We also have launched decentralization initiatives on July 2nd, 2026, confirming our ambition of making cities real drivers of national transformation. Since 2016, significant strides have been made. We have strengthened our urban planning framework and begun planning our work for major land planning reforms, and we have placed local communities at the heart of the implementation of public policy. The government has also launched key initiatives focused on access to housing, promoting better planned urban development, strengthening our city's resilience to climate change, and reducing inequalities between regions. More recently, we adopted a national framework for attaining the SDGs on our territory and carried out the first voluntary review in the city of Beijing. We've also launched a sector for territorial development and have begun a trend toward local land use development for several regions that drive economic growth. This demonstrates our desire to make regions and provinces a real driver of national growth. However, challenges remain. Urban growth, since it is so rapid, is putting strain on infrastructure, essential services, housing, mobility and public equipment. The effects of climate change are accentuating the vulnerability of many cities while the financial capacity of local communities remains insufficient for addressing all of our— all of the need that exists. Implementing the New Urban Agenda over the past decade requires focusing on 4 priorities. First of all, strengthening local governance by consolidating decentralization and coordination between the state and local governments. Secondly, focusing— investing more in urban planning based on reliable data, risk anticipation, and sound management of real estate. Thirdly, developing innovative mechanisms for local financing to bolster investment in urban infrastructure, housing, and essential services. Lastly, the environmental transition in our cities should be fostered based on nature-based solutions, better climate resilience, and low-carbon urbanization. We are also pleased to reaffirm our commitment to pursuing the New Urban Agenda in keeping with the 2030 Senegal Vision, the 2063 Agenda of the African Union, and the SDGs.

Thank you.

We are also pleased to strengthen our partnership with UN-Habitat, the Local Coalition 2030, multilateral development banks, technical and financial partners, as well as local governments for the development of innovative mechanisms to build up our capacity for cooperation and development. Senegal remains fully committed to contributing to this global momentum to ensure that the New Urban Agenda becomes a tangible reality for all cities, territories, and populations. Thank you.

I thank the Minister of Urban Planning, Local Government, and Regional Development of Senegal. I now give the floor floor to His Excellency Mr. José Carlos Esteves, Minister of Public Works, Housing, and Urban Planning of Guinea-Bissau.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, it's an honor to be taking the floor on behalf of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau. At the outset, I'd like to say that we align ourselves with the statement delivered by Uruguay on behalf of G77 and China. During this midterm review of the New Urban Agenda, which was adopted almost a decade ago, we took on the collective commitment of building inclusive, safe, sustainable cities in accordance with SDG 11. Today, it is time to take stock of progress made, correct our trajectory, and accelerate efforts to ensure that no one is left behind. Excellencies, for Guinea-Bissau, demographic growth, which is rapid, as well as rural— the rural exodus are a highly complex challenge. These flows can be— are focused in our capital, the city of Bissau. We are facing a large number of informal structures which has led to untenable pressure on housing, sanitation, energy, and mobility. The impact on the environment is also troubling. The unchecked development of our wetlands and sensitive ecosystems jeopardizes our biodiversity. Our populations are paying a heavy price for this degradation. They are on the front lines of cyclic flooding and natural disasters. Ladies and gentlemen, our main domestic challenge is institutional fragility, a lack of technical capacity, weak coordination between the various sectors, as well as financial limitations are hampering the implementation of comprehensive urban policies. However, Guinea-Bissau is not giving up. We remain firmly committed to the principles of the New Urban Agenda. We know that land use planning and local governance are crucial for our resilience. That is why We are issuing an urgent call to the international community to bolster technical and financial cooperation. We must invest together in climate-resilient infrastructure and modernize our regional information systems. In closing, this midterm review that we are doing today must not be simply a diagnostic exercise. It ought to galvanize our political resolve to transform crises into opportunities. Guinea-Bissau reaffirms its determination to work together with all of its partners To build together cities that generate wealth, protect nature, and guarantee dignity to all of our citizens. Therefore, we support the Declaration of UN-Habitat here at this Assembly, and I thank you for your attention.

Thank you.

I thank the distinguished Minister of Public Works, Housing, and Urban Planning of Guinea-Bissau. I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Ahmad Nkamba, Minister of Land, Regional Government, and Religious Affairs of Gambia.

Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of The Gambia, I'm honored to participate in this high-level meeting and to join fellow member states in assessing our collective progress at the midpoint of implementation of the New Urban Agenda. I seize this opportunity to commend the United Nations, UN-Habitat, and all partners for their, for their leadership in advancing sustainable urbanization as a critical pathway towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals. Mr. President, like many developing countries, The Gambia is facing urban— rapid urban transformation, increasing pressure from population growth, rural-urban migration, housing deficit, informal settlement expansion, demands for infrastructure, and the growing impact of climate change on our urban and coastal areas. The Gambia is progressively working towards strengthening urban governance and promoting balanced territorial development with the formulation of the Gambia Land Policy 2026-2035, the, the review of legal instruments and reforms aimed at improving land administration, enhancing local government system, strengthening decentralization, and promoting integrated planning approaches that support sustainable urban growth. These efforts are guided by our commitment to reducing poverty. We are also strengthening evidence-based planning to better inform urban policy and decision-making, while recognizing the central role of local governments in localizing the Sustainable Development Goals and translating global commitment into tangible improvements. Recognizing that land is a fundamental pillar of sustainable urbanization, The Gambia continues to prioritize equitable access to land, improve land governance, and responsible land management practices. It is our belief that secured land rights are essential for housing development, investment, and social inclusion and economic empowerment. Despite these ongoing reforms, significant housing deficit persists, particularly among low and middle income earners owing to financial and technical constraints Challenges also remain in expanding access to basic services, resilient infrastructure, and sustainable transport. Climate change further compounds these challenges. Rising sea levels, coastal erosion, flooding, and extreme weather events pose serious risks to our urban settlement infrastructure and livelihoods. Addressing these challenges requires greater investment in climate adaptation, resilient infrastructure, and risk-informed urban planning. Integrated urban planning will be essential to building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable cities that are better equipped to respond to climate and development challenges. At the national level, The Gambia, with the support of the World Bank in implementing the West African Coastal Area Management, the WACA project, to reduce flood risk and strengthen the resilience of communities along the coastal stream through nature-based solutions. while reinforcing national policies and public institutions. Your Excellencies, distinguished delegates, to achieve more progress towards 2036 and address the existing gaps, we must focus on the following: 1, increasing investment in affordable housing, strengthening access to sustainable urban finance, increased concessional financing and mobilization of public and private investment, reinforce multilevel governance and international cooperation. In this regard, The Gambia called for stronger participation to promote knowledge sharing, capacity development, technology— technological transfer, increased access to climate change finance, and climate resilience. We further underscored the application of science, technology, and innovation, including digital solutions, geospatial technologies, and artificial intelligence, to strengthen urban planning and service delivery. Monitoring, and evidence-based decision-making. Robust urban data systems will be equally important to ensure that policies respond effectively to emerging realities. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the challenges before us are significant, but so too are the opportunities sustainable urbanization offers to pave the way to economic growth and social inclusion, environmental sustainability, and human dignity. The decision we make today will shape the future of billions of people and determine whether we leave future generations cities and communities that are resilient, prosperous, and equitable. This midterm review is also an opportunity to assess and renew our collective ambition and commitment to sustainable urbanization. So I submit. Thank you.

Je remercie les I thank the Minister of Land, Regional Government, and Religious Affairs, and now give the floor to His Excellency Shakaf Ahmad Yusuf Ahmed, the Minister of Housing and Land of Mauritius.

Mr. President, Excellencies, 10 years ago in Quito, we adopted the New Urban Agenda and we called it a promise to the people who live in the cities of the world. Today, at the midpoint, let me be honest with ourselves. 1.16 billion people live in slums and informal settlements today, 170 million more than when we made that promise in Quito. 3 billion, nearly 4, in every 10 human beings on this planet do not have adequate housing. Those are not my figures, they are in the Secretary-General's own report before us. Yes, there has been progress on transport, on land use, on services, but on housing itself, on the very promise we came here to renew, the numbers do not lie. So let me say it plainly: on the promise that matters most, we are not behind schedule, we are moving in the wrong direction. I represent a small island of 1.3 million people in the heart of the Indian Ocean. We did not cause the climate crisis, and yet in Mauritius every centimeter of sea level rise is measured in lost homes, lost roads, For the Small Island Developing States, the New Urban Agenda is not a public policy document.

It is a document of survival.

And if this agenda is a document of survival for island nations, it must also be one for those whose homes have been destroyed by war. We cannot speak credibly about adequate housing in this hall while in conflict zones And war-torn areas across the world, entire neighborhoods are reduced to rubble. The right to a home does not extend at a ceasefire line. It does not end where a bomb falls. Mauritius stands with international humanitarian law and with the right of every displaced family to return, to rebuild, and to live in dignity. That is why Mauritius has not waited. We have brought into force our National Development Strategy, a binding spatial vision that defends our coastline and refuses the false choice between development and environment. We have made housing the highest priority of this government, because a family without a home has no dignity, and a nation without dignity has no future. In a small island state, resilience is not a chapter in a policy paper. It is the difference between a village that stands and a village that disappears.

But Excellencies, the costs of the climate crisis cannot be billed to the countries that are least responsible for it.

So from this rostrum, Mauritius makes 3 calls. First, the declaration we adopt tomorrow must not be another reaffirmation. It must contain measurable, time-bound commitments with names, numbers and deadlines. Second, climate and urban finance for Small Island Developing States must be simplified, concessional and accessible in years, not decades. The next cyclone will not wait for our next application form. Third, we must finally accept that housing crisis is no longer a developing country problem. It is a human condition of the 21st century. From Port Louis to Paris, from Nairobi to New York, from every war-torn city to every rising coastline, our people are asking the same question: Where can I afford to live? Where can I rebuild? We owe them the same answer: a home.

Excellencies, the future of our cities will determine the future of our nations. and the future of our islands will determine whether this agenda is worth the paper it's written on. Let us not leave this room with a new declaration. Let us leave it with a decision. I thank you.

I thank you.

I thank the Minister of Housing and Lands of Mauritius, and I now give the floor to His Excellency, Mr. Pauline Couillard. Minister of Lodging of Guyana.

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, at the outset, Guyana welcomes the convening of this high-level meeting on the midterm review of the New Urban Agenda and welcomes the adoption of the political declaration renewing our commitment to inclusive urban urban development. This critical milestone provides a timely opportunity for the international community to assess our collective progress, identify areas where implementation continues to lag, and strengthen the commitments and partnerships necessary to advance sustainable urbanization over the decade ahead. The New Urban Agenda remains an important global framework for advancing sustainable urbanization and supporting the achievements of the Sustainable Development Goals. As the midterm review confirms, while policy frameworks of advanced and urban issues have gained greater prominence, implementation has not kept pace with the scale and the urgency of today's challenges. It is clear that the global housing deficit, financing constraints, institutional capacity gaps, and increasing climate risks require practical solutions and sustained collaboration if we are to deliver meaningful results. For Guyana, housing is a national priority and a cornerstone of national development. It has created opportunities for families to build wealth, support access to education, healthcare, and employment, strengthen communities, and contribute to social stability. Housing development must not be treated as incidental to or separate from national development agenda. It must be central to it, envisaged and planned alongside infrastructure, public services, and economic opportunities that enable communities to thrive. Guided by our Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030, Guyana pursues an integrated approach to housing and urban development that balances economic transformation with environmental stewardship and climate resilience. It recognizes that sustainable urbanization must respond to the realities of climate change while creating opportunities for inclusive economic growth and improved quality of life. To this end, we continue to expand access to affordable housing, strengthening housing finance through policy reforms and partnerships with financial institutions, regularize informal settlements, and invest in the development of communities across urban, very urban, rural, and indigenous areas. As a result of the Government of Guyana's commitment, from 2020 to present, Guyana has allocated more than 56,000 house lots, which is a testament to our commitment to expanding homeownership while creating sustainable communities supported by the infrastructure and services that improve the quality of life for every beneficiary of subsidized housing. These investments extend beyond the construction of homes. They include the building out of critical infrastructure such as roads, highways, drainage, water and sanitation system, public open spaces, recreational facilities, and other community infrastructure that supports safe, inclusive, and sustainable neighborhoods. Our objective is to create communities where families are not only adequately housed but are also connected to other social development opportunities. This integrated approach recognizes that housing outcomes are strengthened when land use planning, infrastructure investment, and community development are pursued together. As a low-lying coastal state with 90% of its people residing on the coast, Guyana remains acutely aware of the growing risks associated with climate change. Building resilience is therefore an essential component of our housing and urban development agenda. One example of this approach is the development of Silica City, envisioned as a modern, climate-smart urban center that will support sustainable growth, reduce development pressures along Guyana's vulnerable coastline, and demonstrate the importance of long-term planning in building resilient communities. President, as we look towards 2036, the challenge before us is no longer one of policy ambition, Rather, it is one of implementation of scale. Achieving the objectives of the New Urban Agenda will require a whole-of-society approach with particular focus on financing for SIDS. This practical approach will ensure that global commitments translate into measurable outcomes. Guyana therefore welcomes the renewed emphasis placed by this midterm review on implementation, partnerships, and accountability. We support continued international cooperation that strengthens national capacity, expands access to adequate and affordable housing, and enables countries to build inclusive, resilient, and sustainable communities. The next decade presents an opportunity to narrow the gap between commitment and delivery. The task before us is clear. Let us—

Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, sir.

I thank the Minister of Housing of Guyana. I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Juanito Victor Romualdez, Secretary for Internal Affairs and Local Government of the Philippines.

Mr. President, Your Excellencies, the Philippines views sustainable urbanization not simply as managing development of cities, but as creating communities where every person can live with dignity, safety, and opportunity. Since the launch of the New Urban Agenda, we transformed this global vision into a strategic Philippine government blueprint, ensuring that sustainable development is embedded in governance plans and policies. The challenge now lies in keeping up with the population growth, displacement brought about by disasters, and other emerging threats that hamper community development and economic progress. We wish to highlight a number of points. First, we recognize that access to adequate housing remains a development challenge. The Philippines continues to provide secure land tenure and housing opportunities for underserved communities. We push for a stronger social contract between the government and land recipients to ensure accountability and greater access to adequate housing. Second, climate change continues to challenge urban development and environmental protection. As one of the world's most disaster-prone countries, risk-informed comprehensive land use plans are regularly reviewed and implemented to enable local governments to anticipate hazards, guide responsible development, protect vulnerable populations, and safeguard critical infrastructure. We also harmonize local plans on development gender inclusivity, disaster risk management, and climate change adaptation into a single integrated plan to strengthen better foresight among decision-makers. Third, we leverage digital transformation to deliver citizen-centric public services and drive dynamic local economic growth. Business permit one-stop shops, digitized government transactions, and revamped emergency response systems open doors for streamlined service delivery that promote investments, job opportunities, and economic activity. At the center of all our efforts are our local governments. The Philippines has consistently advocated for a bottom-up model of governance and development. Local governments are frontline changemakers in innovating sustainable urban development practices. and translate them into concrete local solutions. Lastly, sustainable urbanization means going smart. As chair of the ASEAN Smart Cities Network, the Philippines is leading the region in exploring new avenues for smart city development and people-centered innovations. This is critical to foster regional coordination for a new urban agenda while scaling progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. Excellencies, the challenges we face are shared, and so must be our solutions. Thank you very much.

I thank the Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Government of the Philippines, and I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Avdylawendiyev, Minister of Construction and Architecture of Turkmenistan.

Distinguished President, Your Excellencies, distinguished delegates, on behalf of the government of Turkmenistan, I would like to thank the President of the General Assembly and UN-Habitat, as well as all partners that have taken part in this important high-level meeting on the midterm review of the New Urban Agenda. This meeting is a timely occasion to take stock of progress achieved since the adoption of the New Urban Agenda in 2016, to identify remaining challenges, and to reaffirm our common commitment to sustainable urban development in the upcoming decade. The New Urban Agenda remains a comprehensive global framework for the promotion of inclusive, sustainable, safe, and viable cities. As one of the key tools for accelerating the implementation of 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. It facilitates the achievement of all Sustainable Development Goals. Turkmenistan places great importance on sustainable urban development as one of the key areas of national development and consistently has been implementing large-scale programs for housing construction, modernization of utility and transport infrastructure, We're developing municipal services as well as social infrastructure facilities, ensuring the integrated development of cities and creating a favorable environment for the decent, safe, and comfortable life of citizens. A clear example of Turkmenistan's commitment to innovative development of cities is the city of Arkadag, planned and built in accordance with modern smart city principles. It incorporates cutting-edge digital technologies, smart transport systems, energy-efficient infrastructure, and environmentally conscious building standards. The city of Arkadag embodies Turkmenistan's efforts to introduce innovative technologies to enhance the urban environment and to apply principles of environmental sustainability. Distinguished President, dynamic urban development Highlights the importance of strengthening international cooperation and expanding partnerships at all levels. Turkmenistan greatly values cooperation with the UN development system and international partners, as well as the promotion and principles of sustainable urbanization. We believe that the adoption of the outcome document will be an important step toward further promoting sustainable urban development, strengthening international cooperation, and effectively implementing the goals and targets of the New Urban Agenda for 2036. In closing, I'd like to express my confidence that the outcomes of today's meeting will facilitate further development of international cooperation, the strengthening of partnerships, and the promotion of the goals of the New Urban Agenda. Thank you.

I thank the Minister of Construction and Architecture of Turkmenistan. I now give the floor to His Excellency Oliver Salofuka, Minister of Lands, Housing, and Survey of the Solomon Islands.

Madam President, Excellencies, my delegation welcomes the convening of this high-level meeting to review progress in implementing the New Urban Agenda. 10 years ago, we committed ourselves to shared visions of cities and human settlements that are inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Today, Solomon Islands reaffirms its commitment to the New Urban Agenda and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This commitment is deeply embedded in our National Development Strategy, NDS 2016 to 2035. which is driven by our national vision of improving the social and economic livelihoods of all Solomon Islanders. Although Solomon Islands remains predominantly rural, our urban population continues to grow rapidly, particularly in Honiara and emerging provincial centers, with a high population growth rate of 3%. I and a demographic structure where 70% of our population is under 29 years old, we are facing rapid unplanned urban expansion. Urban growth presents significant opportunities to economic development and improved access to services. At the same time, it places increasing pressure on housing infrastructure, public services, land administration, and the environment. Leading to the complex growth of informal settlements. For the Solomon Islands, climate change is also reshaping the future of our towns and settlements. Sea levels are rising, coastal flooding is becoming more frequent, and extreme weather events continue to threaten communities, critical infrastructure, and livelihoods. These realities reinforce the need to integrate climate resilience into every aspect of Urban Planning and Development. The Solomon Islands Urban Policy Governance Response providing a framework for managing urbanization in a coordinated and sustainable manner. It also aligns with the National Disaster Management Policy, which aims to build climate-resilient and disaster-resilient towns. Through these national efforts, we have made encouraging progress. Today, more than 93% of all Solomon Islanders living in urban areas have access to improved drinking water sources, while over 81% have access to improved sanitation services. We are also investing in transformative infrastructure through STRONG and partnerships. Katina Hydro— river hydropower will provide cleaner and more affordable electricity while supporting our transition to renewable energy. As we move forward, we recognize that successful urban development must be inclusive, participatory, and people-centered. Women, young people, persons with disabilities, customary landowners, and vulnerable communities must all have a voice in shaping the future of our cities and settlements. Addressing the challenges of informal settlements requires integrated solutions that combine secure land tenure, affordable housing, improved basic services, education and skills development, and meaningful community participation. Equally important is improving rural living standards to alleviate the poverty that drives urban migration. Madam President, partnerships remain essential. The SDG 17 recognizes this. We therefore call for strengthened international cooperation Increased access to climate and urban development finance to close the current SDC financing gaps, capacity building for urban planning and governance, technology transfer and innovation building upon recent successes like the Coral Sea Cable System and the massive network of 161 telecommunications towers across Solomon Islands under the Solomon Islands National Broadband Infrastructure Project. Is transforming our digital connectivity, support for resilient infrastructure and nature-based solutions, and enhanced partnerships that respond directly to the specific needs of Small Island Development States. Madam President, as we enter the second half of implementing the New Urban Agenda, Solomon Islands remains committed to building inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable human settlements that leave no one behind. We stand ready to work with all member states, UN-Habitat, and our development partners to translate our shared communities into meaningful action that improves—

I thank the Minister of Lands, Housing, and Survey. of the Solomon Islands. I now give the floor to His— to Her Excellency Soleimátez Andorlanduz, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Governance, Justice, and Decentralization of Honduras.

Very good afternoon to you. Your Excellency, President of the General Assembly, Excellency, Distinguished Director of UN-Habitat, distinguished representatives of friendly nations, I have the honor of representing Honduras at this crucial point of the midterm review. We believe that the development of a nation— it's absolutely fundamental in development of a nation to build from the foundations to ensure that the territory is able to support the life of the population. Today, 54% of our population lives in urban areas with a growth rate of 3.1% annually, the second highest in the region of Latin America and the Caribbean. This demographic momentum has led to significant changes, significant structural challenges and deficits in land ownership, but it also represents an opportunity as the youth proportion of the population has become a demographic boon for the future of Honduras. For the government led by our President, this document represents a technical roadmap for achieving social justice. Together, it guides the government of justice and decentralization that I lead, and together we are driving the first national territorial urban policy for 2026 through 2040. This is not just a document; it represents a social and institutional compact coordinated with the methodology of UN Habitat. It clearly addresses. Metrics, and it represents our guide to democratize access to land, organize land use across the territory, and ensure the right to housing. In order to make this a reality, we have a functional structure with the government of municipal infrastructure. We are decentralizing technical capacity directly to the local governments, equipping them with the scientific tools that they need to ensure governance of land use and strategic plans for urban development. We also have a vital instrument which is our framework law on the housing sector and human settlements. This sits in the context of our framework of territorial decentralization and development of the current administration. We are making progress across 3 strategic axes. Firstly, local development and the simplification of territorial administration in order to promote import— investment and exports, because we believe that an organized municipality is prosperous. A significant amount of GDP is directed directly at ensuring cadasters and to generate direct investment and generate employment. Secondly, strengthening municipal autonomy by accompanying mayors, men and women, in the design of urban plans with a territorial focus and strengthening institutional capacity for implementation of these instruments. And thirdly, active resilience to climate change. As one of the most vulnerable regions of the world, the participation of Honduras in the regional project Local Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction in Latin America and the Caribbean is a state priority. We are implementing mitigation works and community systems in those areas that are most vulnerable in 2 strategic municipalities, our capital and the main southern zone of the country. The ESG report is clear: sustainable development requires more agile multilateralism and financing that truly reaches local governments. Honduras fully supports the adoption. Of this summit, with a view to ensuring the steps through to 2030, and we are working hand in hand with local governments. Honduras is making progress towards a future where our municipalities are drivers of equity and resilience. I thank you for attention.

Je remercie la secrétaire. I thank the Secretary of State for the Ministry of governance, justice, and decentralization of Honduras. I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. General Williams, Minister of State, Local Administration and Community Development of Jamaica.

Mr. President, Excellencies, for Jamaica, as a small island developing state, Sustainable urbanization is not merely a development priority. It is an essential component of our resilience, prosperity, and long-term survival. Today, more than half of Jamaica's population resides in urban areas. Therefore, our cities and towns remain engines of economic growth, innovation, and social development. However, they face interconnected challenges, including informal settlements, increased crime and violence, housing deficits, infrastructure pressures, environmental degradation, and increasing exposure to climate-related hazards. Through enabling legislation and policies, Jamaica continues to advance a people-oriented approach to urban development, aimed at promoting sustainable housing, urban regeneration, resilient infrastructure, enhanced mobility, and equitable access to services. Excellencies, the relevance of the New Urban Agenda has been brought into even sharper focus by the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa which struck Jamaica in October 2025 as the first Category 5 hurricane to make direct landfall on our island. The hurricane caused unprecedented destruction across several parishes, damaging homes, critical infrastructure, public facilities, agricultural lands, and community assets, while highlighting the growing vulnerabilities of urban and rural settlements to the impacts of climate change. In the aftermath of the hurricane, Jamaica has embraced the principle of building back better. As such, our reconstruction and housing initiatives seek to improve housing quality, strengthen building standards, reduce vulnerability to to disasters and promote secure and dignified living conditions for all citizens. A key pillar of our reconstruction is the establishment of the National Reconstruction and Resilient Authority, NARA, designed to lead, coordinate, and accelerate post-disaster rebuilding and strategic infrastructure in a resilient manner. However, even as we have made progress, our efforts have been hindered by systemic inadequate local and technical capacity and financing gaps. Global fiscal pressures, rising debt, and a need for enforcement of aligned urban-rural planning frameworks continue to restrict localized investment at scale. Jamaica is therefore of the firm view that the successful implementation of the New Urban Agenda requires effective partnerships. There is continued need for sustained international— enhanced international funding and agency partnerships, concessional financing, technology transfer, and capacity-building support. for Small Island Developing States. As climate-related disasters become more frequent and intense, accessible financing at the level and scale required for resilient urban infrastructure and recovery must remain a global priority. In closing, Jamaica reaffirms its commitment to the New Urban Agenda and the Agenda for Sustainable Development. We remain determined to advance sustainable urbanization as a pathway to resilience, prosperity, and dignity for all. I thank you.

Je remercie.

I thank the Ministry Minister for Local. Communities of Jamaica, and I give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Janczyk, Minister of Local Policy of Poland.

Dear Chair, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, The New Urban Agenda has inspired countries around the world, including Poland, to rethink how we plan, manage, and develop our cities. It became a key reference point for shaping our National Urban Policy of 2030, which was announced during the 11th session of the World Urban Forum in Katowice, Poland, in 2022. It has influenced European cooperation, including the Urban Agenda for the European Union, by promoting integrated place-based approaches and stronger partnerships across sectors and levels of government. 10 years after its adoption, the New Urban Agenda has also shown that sustainable urban development is not only a national responsibility, but it's a shared goal commitment— sorry, shared global commitment that requires solidarity, partnership, and mutual learning. Let me stress that in Poland, the implementation of the New Urban Agenda is being advanced through the provisions of the national Urban Policy of 2030. This is more than a strategic document. It is underpinned by a dedicated implementation plan that provides a comprehensive framework for its effective— for its effective implementation, with progress overseen by the Ministerial Executive Council. This governance model demonstrates Poland's commitment to coordinated, coherent, and cross-sectoral action. It provides a practical example of how integrated policymaking across government can effectively support the sustainable development of cities and translate strategic objectives into measurable effects. Allow me to highlight 2 challenges that are particularly important for the future of urban development in Poland, and which are also shared by cities and communities around the world. That is, climate change and housing. Since 2016, Poland has made substantial progress in strengthening its national framework for urban climate adaptation. A concrete example of this approach is the establishment of a comprehensive legal framework requiring all cities with more than 20,000 inhabitants to prepare urban adaptation plans. These plans incorporate climate risk assessments, adaptation objectives, urban greening solutions, and sustainable rainwater management measures. Poland also pursues an active state housing policy. The fundamental objectives of this policy are to increase the availability and the affordability of housing, as well as to improve housing conditions across the country. A key priority is expanding affordable rental housing by supporting social and municipal housing, by providing housing cost assistance, by expanding social rental agencies, and by regulating short-term rentals. We also seek to improve the quality, technical condition, and energy efficiency of the housing stock, both in the biggest metropolises and in smaller towns and cities. Another essential pillar of sustainable urban development in Poland is strengthening the institutional and administrative capacity of local governance, particularly medium-sized cities. Our flagship project called Cities Partnerships— Cities Partnership Initiative implemented together with the World Bank is a practical example of how the principles of the New Urban Agenda can be translated into action. We notice with concern the impact of global crises, especially conflicts, on SDGs implementation. This applies clearly to SDG 11. Therefore, Poland constantly emphasizes that peace and and security are undeniable conditions for sustainable development. As an ECOSOC member, Poland is actively engaged in the debate how to accelerate the 2030 Agenda, including DSDG 11. We see here a key role of resilience buildings and— sorry, of resilience building and reducing inequalities. It also requires full involvement of various stakeholders, public administration at Government, but also local levels, the private sector, and what is key here, local communities and civil society organizations. In the face of rapid demographic changes and urbanization, it is also essential to ensure parallel social development, healthy environment, and human rights, including cultural rights. Thank you, sir.

Thank you.

Thank you very much for your attention.

I thank the Secretary of State, the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy of Poland, and now give the floor to the Deputy Minister of Construction, Housing, and Utilities of the Russian Federation.

Distinguished President, distinguished Excellencies, the Russian Federation welcomes the holding of this midterm review of the New Urban Agenda and the adoption of the declaration. The past decade has shown that sustainable urban development is possible only when international guidance is transformed into concrete national decisions, taking into account local particularities, the level of socioeconomic development, and the needs of citizens. Today, practical solutions to the issue of accessible, affordable housing and development of infrastructure must be at the heart of our joint efforts. We believe that the new urban agenda's implementation is first and foremost a state responsibility. Participation of regional and local authorities, expert communities, business, and NGOs can contribute to this effort significantly. However, the reviews should not lead to the development of new obligations for states parties. The Russian Federation carries out this work based upon long-term planning. We're implementing our strategy for the development of construction, housing, and utilities for 2030 with a projection toward 2035. At the same time, we're developing our municipal and social infrastructure, enhancing public spaces, and we're creating modern conditions of life for citizens. One of the key areas of work is the transition toward integrated master planning. Master planning must combine socioeconomic development strategy, spatial and budget planning and ensure a direct link between long-term goals and specific infrastructure projects. We prioritize modernization of utilities infrastructure and the establishment of a pleasant urban environment. Sustainable development is not possible without reliable water supply, plumbing, heating, accessible public transport, and high-quality public spaces. This action area directly affects the health, safety, and everyday well-being of people, as well as the improvement of the domestic situation. We pay special attention to digitalizing urban governance and introducing the smart city technology. The use of geospatial technologies, digital services, and AI must take into account national regulations and requirements with regard to data confidentiality and safety and technological sovereignty. In the next 10 years, we should prioritize making cost of living affordable, renovating the housing stock and utilities infrastructure, integrating integrated area development, and managing natural and man-made risks. Climate issues must take into account— must be viewed through the lens of national specificities and circumstances of States in relevant international processes. The new urban agenda should not be turned into a standalone climate regime or duplicate existing negotiation mechanisms. We should also pay attention to the reconstruction of cities and towns after natural disasters. We cannot ignore the negative impact of illegitimate unilateral coercive measures on sustainable urban development. These restrictions hinder The access of states to financing, technologies, equipment, construction materials, and software. Ultimately, it is city residents who suffer. Financial instruments for urban development ought to be adopted on a voluntary basis and should not create additional tax burdens or impose new conditions on developing states. Russia is prepared to continue its exchange of practical experience with regard to housing construction, urban planning, modernization of municipal infrastructure, and the establishment of a comfortable urban environment and digitalization. Thank you.

I thank the Deputy Minister of Construction, Housing, and Utilities of the Russian Federation, and I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Mongmadi, Deputy Minister of Public Works and Transport of the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the government of the Lao PDR, I extend our sincere appreciation to the President of General Assembly for convening this important high-level meeting. We welcome this opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to the New Urban Agenda and to share Lao PDR progress and priority as we look towards 2036. Excellencies, a decade ago, Lao PDR was still predominantly rural. Today, our urban population is growing at nearly 3 times the national population growth rate, placing sustainable urbanization at the center of our national development agenda. We recognize that well-managed urbanization is not only a response to the demographic change but also a powerful driver of economic growth, resilience, and improved quality of life. This commitment was demonstrated by Lao PDR becoming the first country in the Asia-Pacific region to submit its National Report on the Implementation of the New Urban Agenda in 2023. Guided by our National Socioeconomic Development Plans and the Five-Year Development Plans, we have made important progress over the past decade. Access to safe water now reaches almost all of our urban population, while more than 90% of households have access to adequate and affordable housing. We have integrated climate resilience into urban planning, promoted nature-based solutions to reduce flood risk, strengthened decentralized urban governance and advance digital planning through our national smart city strategy and urban planning information system. Ladies and gentlemen, looking ahead, Lao PDR will focus on the 3 priorities. First, we will strengthen integrated and climate-informed and data-driven urban planning through our One City, One Plan approach ensuring balanced territory development and resilient infrastructure. Second, we will expand innovative financing by strengthening public-private partnership, blended finance, and regional cooperation to scale sustainable urban investment. Third, we will improve housing, basic services, sustainable mobility, and resilient urban infrastructure especially in rapidly growing and secondary cities. Across all these priorities, we remain committed to ensuring that women, children, elder persons, persons with disabilities, and ethnic communities are fully included, leaving no one behind. Excellencies, we call upon on international community, UN Habitat, and our development partners to continue supporting Lao PDR through sustained technical cooperation, capacity development, climate finance, and investment in resilient urban infrastructure. Lao PDR reaffirms its unwavering commitment to New Urban Agenda and stands ready to continue working with all member states to build inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities and human settlements for present and future generations. Thank you.

I thank the Vice Deputy Minister of Public Works and Transport. of the Lao PDR, and I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Krsto Palandakov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria.

Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, Bulgaria welcomes the high-level meeting on the Midterm Review of the New Urban Agenda as a timely opportunity to reaffirm our shared commitment to sustainable and inclusive urban development, and the importance of multilateral cooperation in this crucial moment of implementation. Since 2016, important progress has been made in strengthening integrated and territorial approaches to urban development, bringing policy frameworks closer to coordinated place-based solutions. In Bulgaria, this is reflected in improved coordination between municipalities and regions across infrastructure, social, and economic priorities. However, implementation gaps remain significant. They are linked to fragmented governance, uneven administrative capacity, and limited investment capacity in smaller and rural areas, compounded by demographic decline, climate risks, and persistent territorial disparities. In this context, Bulgaria sees the next decade as one of delivery, where integrated place-based approaches become the standard for urban policy. This is already reflected in our practice through territorial planning enabling coordinated investments in transport, urban infrastructure, social services, energy efficiency and environmental action, and strengthening cooperation between municipalities and regions. 3 priorities guide our approaches. First, stronger multi-level government through better coordination between national, regional, and municipal authorities and improved alignment of sectoral policies with territorial needs. Secondly, integrated place-based investment including urban regeneration, sustainable transport, climate adaptation, and modernization of the building stock. In this context, Bulgaria has developed a national building renovation plan which targets to 2030, 2040, and 2050 and focuses on energy efficiency, renewable energy integration, and climate resilience. Thirdly, stronger territorial cohesion by reducing disparities between urban and rural areas and improving functional links across regions, ensuring equal access to services and opportunities. At the same time, demographic change should be fully integrated into planning given its territorial impact. Distinguished Excellencies, Bulgaria remains firmly committed to integrated territorial development based on partnership between national, regional, and local actors. We continue to use integrated territorial investment as a key instrument to reduce disparities and ensure coordinated action across all levels of governance. We're advancing a national housing strategy for affordable and social housing, renovation of the holding stock— housing stock, and targeted support to vulnerable— for vulnerable groups. In parallel, Bulgaria is implementing a large-scale building renovation program focused on energy efficiency, renewed energy implementation, and climate adaptation supported by long-term financing frameworks including our Social Climate Plan. We remain committed to cooperation between cities, regions, and academia together with civil society as well as international partners ensuring shared ownership and effective delivery of sustainable urban development. Mr. President, Bulgaria believes international cooperation must have more— must move from principles to delivery, from commitments to measurable results on the ground, and it should focus on territorial cohesion, practical solutions, and stronger partnerships between governments, local and regional authorities, international organizations, and financial institutions. Capacity building, peer learning, and innovative financing remain essential, particularly for smaller municipalities and regions with limited administrative capacity.

Greater emphasis should be placed on translating global frameworks into

I thank the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, and I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Xiao Wangchen, Deputy Minister of Housing and Urban and Rural Development of China.

Your Excellency President, Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, the New Urban Agenda carried our shared vision over the past decade as it guided cities around the world to make solid gains in sustainable development. The Chinese government fully committed to the People's City concept put forward by President Xi Jinping. Has delivered on our commitment to the new urban agenda and made historic progress in urban development. First, progress in social sustainability. Through vigorous adoption of a new type of people-centered approach to urbanization, China has reached 67.89% in regular urbanization with the urban population now standing at 954 million, We have built the world's largest housing security system, having delivered more than 68 million units of government-subsidized housing and redeveloped informal housing, benefiting over 170 million families with housing difficulties. Second, progress in economic sustainability. Efforts have been made to foster drivers for urban growth, turning cities into ever greater economic engines. 19 city centers are now home to about 75% of the country's population, contributing 85% of national GDP, with 29 individual cities surpassing the 1 trillion yuan GDP threshold. Third, progress in environmental sustainability. We have pursued a multi-pronged approach to green and low-carbon transition and have vigorously promoted green production lifestyles, with green coverage of completed urban areas now exceeding 43% and park and green space over 15 square meters per capita, our cities enjoy bluer skies, cleaner water, and a more beautiful environment. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the New Urban Agenda. Based on our stocktaking of the implementation of the agenda, we have prepared a national report which we're happy to share with the countries of the world as part of our efforts to share experiences. Looking ahead, China will continue to put into practice people's city concept, pursue intensive urban development to build innovative, livable, beautiful, resilient, civilized, and smart modern cities for the people. First, be more people-centered. Meeting people's aspirations for a better life is both the beginning and end of our endeavor. Focus first and foremost on ensuring that everyone has a decent home. We will carry out high-quality urban renewal and systematically advance the Four Goods initiative, i.e., building good housing, good residential compounds, good communities, and good urban districts. Second, pursue more intensive and efficient development. We will optimize the functional structure and spatial layout of cities, revitalize existing inventory while ensuring that new additions are of higher quality and that the overall quality keeps improving. We will accelerate the green and low-carbon transition, advance the development of green buildings, green households, and green communities in an integrated manner. Third, greater emphasis on distinctive development. Building on local resource endowments and leveraging comparative advantages, we will develop new quality productive forces in light of local conditions. We will preserve and carry forward the historical and cultural heritage of our cities, draw inspiration from the fine traditional Chinese culture, shape distinctive urban landscapes and cultivate a city spirit that reflects deep cultural roots and unique character. Fourth, invest more in governance. We will develop new governance concepts, models, and tools, deepen new technology applications, and promote one-stop online processing of government services, unified online management of city operations, and one-stop online access to public services. Through these efforts, we will make urban governance more scientific, refined, and smart. Fifth, a greater emphasis on integrated coordination, seeing cities as living organisms. We will strengthen coordination across all sectors, all stages, and among all actors develop a safety system for urban life infrastructure lifelines, put in place a system of full life cycle housing safety management, and make our urban governance more holistic, systematic, and coordinated. Distinguished delegates, the implementation of the New Urban Agenda is entering the second half of the journey. At this new starting point, China is ready to continue to work with all parties to deepen cooperation Through platforms such as World City Day and the Global Award for Sustainable Development in Cities, and to jointly respond to the 4 global initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping, we will push forward for further tangible progress in implementing the new urban agenda and create better urban homes where hundreds of millions of people can enjoy a happy life. Thank you all.

I thank the Deputy Minister of Housing and Urban and Rural Development of China. And I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Febrian Rudia, Deputy Minister of Planning and National Development and the Deputy Minister of the National Agency for Planning and Development of Indonesia.

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, Indonesia welcomes this high-level meeting on the adoption of the political declaration which renews our collective commitment to advance the implementation of the New Urban Agenda. 10 years after Quito, our challenge is no longer to define sustainable urban development. Our challenge is to deliver it, because the future of sustainable development will not ultimately be decided in these conference rooms. It will be decided in our cities. Cities are where inequality is either reduced or deepened, where resilience is either strengthened or weakened, and where the aspirations of the 2030 Agenda become either tangible progress or unfulfilled promises. Today, nearly 60% of the world's population lives in urban areas. As urbanization accelerates, the future of humanity will increasingly be shaped by the future of our cities. Advancing the New Urban Agenda is therefore not only about achieving SDG 11, It is about accelerating the entire 2030 Agenda while laying a stronger foundation for the global development agenda beyond 2030. As we look ahead, cities will become more than centers of economic activity. They will become the places where trust in public institutions is built, social cohesion is strengthened, innovation flourishes, and resilience to future crises is created. Indonesia has remained firmly committed to the New Urban Agenda since its adoption. Its principles are embedded in Indonesia New Urban Agenda 2045 and integrated into our national long-term and medium-term development plan. Our effort to upgrade informal statement— informal settlement, expand affordable housing, and strengthen urban infrastructure have contributed to reducing slum area as acknowledged in the Scotty General Report. Under the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto, Indonesia is guided by one simple conviction: a house is more than a structure; it is the foundation of human dignity. Housing policy is therefore not merely about constructing buildings; it is about creating communities where people have access to education, healthcare, decent work, clean water, sanitation, transportation, and a safe environment. Thank you, Mr. President. Only then can people truly thrive. Indonesia's experience has taught us another important lesson: sustainable urban transformation cannot be delivered by infrastructure alone. It requires capable institutions, empowered communities, innovation, and partnership working together. Allow me to briefly share 4 practical experiences. First, we are expanding inclusive digital transformation through the 100 Smart Cities Initiative to improve public services while ensuring that no community is left behind. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Second, we continue to strengthen people-centered urban development through kampung improvement, self-help housing assistance, and subsidized mortgages, because resilient cities begin with resilient communities. Third, we're investing in nature-based solutions, mangrove restoration, coastal protection, and circular waste management, making resilience both sustainable and affordable. Fourth, we are strengthening integrated planning and innovative financing through the 3 Million Houses Programme. Ultimately, the success of New Urban Agenda will not be measured by the number of strategies we adopt. It will be measured by the quality of life we improve, by whether a family lives in a safer neighbourhood, By whether cities become more inclusive, more resilient, and more humane. Indonesia stands ready to work with all partners because no nation can build sustainable city alone. Our future is shared, our responsibility is shared, and the choices we make today will shape not only the cities of tomorrow but also the dignity, opportunity, and resilience of generations yet to come. And I thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Je remercie le vice-président.

I thank the Deputy Minister of Planning, National Development, and the Deputy Minister of the National Agency for Planning and Development of Indonesia. And I now give the floor to Her Excellency Madam Rita Odoleso-Wah, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Religious Affairs of Ghana.

Thank you very much. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, Ghana welcomes this high-level meeting as an important milestone in accelerating implementation of the New Urban Agenda towards 2036. We commend the United Nations for convening this platform to review progress, identify gaps, and renew global commitment at this midpoint. Over the past decade, Ghana has made steady progress through strong national leadership, decentralized governance, and evidence-based planning led by the National Development Planning Commission and the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs. Multidimensional poverty declined from 24.9% in 2024 to 21.9% in 2025. Access to basic services remains high, with 96.9% access to water, 94.8% electricity and 63.4% to sanitation. These gains have been supported by social protection programs including LIP, the National Health Insurance Scheme, and the school feeding program, as well as key reforms such as the Land Act and the Affirmative Action Act. We have also strengthened urban governance, economic productivity, and institutional performance through digital systems skills development, and private sector participation. However, progress has not kept pace with rapid urbanization. Housing remains our most pressing challenge. Ghana faces a housing deficit of more than 1.8 million units, while up to 37% of urban population lives in informal settlements. Ghana is focused on 4 priority actions to accelerate delivery of the New Urban Agenda. First, scaling affordable and inclusive housing through implementation of the 2024 Housing Profile recommendations and the National Slum Upgrading and Prevention Strategy. Second, strengthening integrated urban development and spatial planning through the National Urban Policy 2026 to 2035. Third, expanding urban infrastructure and local economic development through initiatives such as the Ghana Secondary Cities Program, GARID project, the Smart SDGs Program, and the Sustainable Cities Program. Fourth, advancing climate resilience and economically sustainable cities while strengthening urban governance, institutional capacity, coordination, and data systems, including the operationalization of a Ghana Urban Observatory. Looking ahead, Ghana reaffirms its commitment to accelerating implementation. We will scale up affordable housing and slum upgrading, strengthen local government fiscal capacity, expand sustainable urban financing, integrate climate resilience into planning and infrastructure, enhanced data systems and digital governance. These efforts will be pursued in partnership with our development partners, the private sector, and local communities. Ghana underscores the importance of stronger international cooperation. We call for increased and predictable financing for housing and urban development, direct access to climate finance for cities, and expanded technology— technical and multilateral collaboration. In conclusion, Ghana remains firmly committed to ensuring that our cities provide adequate housing, basic services, resilience, and opportunity for all, ensuring that no one and no place is left behind.

Thank you.

I thank the Deputy Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs of Ghana. And I now give the floor to Her Excellency Ms. Soumaya Oumey Mayamed Gouami, Secretary General of the Urban Council and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport of Sudan.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Mr. President, Excellency, distinguished delegates, at the outset, Sudan aligns itself with the statement delivered by Uruguay on behalf of the G77 and China, and would like to add the following remarks on its national capacity. Excellencies, Sudan welcomes this high-level meeting on the New Urban Agenda and commends UN-Habitat for its leadership in advancing sustainable urban development worldwide. It also welcomes the adoption of this vital political declaration. Sudan's cities are confronting an urban crisis of exceptional scale, driven by the ongoing aggression and systematic attack of the militia. Homes, hospitals, schools, water and electricity networks have been destroyed across the country, displacing around 30 million people, among the largest displacement crisis in the world and revising years of progress towards the New Urban Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. Despite this, Sudan remains firmly committed to the agenda's principles. We have adopted a 10-year recovery and reconstruction strategy.

Thank you.

2026 to 2036, developed with national experts and international partners focused on restoring basic urban services, rebuilding housing, and reviving local economy. In January 2026 is government resumed its official function once again from the capital, Khartoum, anchoring reconstruction efforts at the heart of the country. And on the— on ground, resettlement projects are already combining permanent housing with livelihood supports, helping returning families move from aid

Thank you.

The government established the Urban Cities Profiling Projects to assess the condition of cities before and after the wave of displacement. The initiative have already generated findings in several of most affected urban areas and continues to expand It is covered, providing clearer understanding of how war was impact essential services. Excellencies, yet the need remains vast. Sudan estimates that some 5 million housing units are required, and 15.5 million people need urgent shelter assistance.

Thank you.

Meeting these challenges demands resolving land tenure uncertainty and expanding civil documentation, and above all, mobilizing sustainable national and international financing. Sudan has approved an emergency 2026 budget for reconstruction, but national resources alone are not enough. Therefore, we call on development partners, international financing institutions, and UN-Habitat to scale up support for housing, infrastructure, and municipal capacity in conflicted countries. Rebuilding our cities is not merely an infrastructural challenge. It is an investment in human dignity, social cohesion, and lasting peace. Also, building our data system and local infrastructure capacities is fundamental. Excellency, to conclude, Sudan remains ready to work closely with UN-Habitat, developed partners, to develop a more prosperous and peaceful future. Our cities and our people, leaving no one behind, especially countries under conflict. Thank you.

I thank the Secretary-General for the Urban Council at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport of Sudan. I now give the floor to Your Excellency, Madam Tep Boramin, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning, and Construction of Cambodia. Thank you.

Excellency, ladies and gentlemen, Cambodia stands firmly behind the 3 transformative commitments at the heart of the New Urban Agenda. First, on social inclusion and In ending poverty, we are determined to leave no one behind. We are helping families move out of informal settlements and building not merely housing but homeplaces of health, learning, and dignity. Under the NDC 3.0, 4,000 climate-resilient houses will be built for low-income families. And for the first time, social and child protection are recognized as frontline measures of climate adaptation. Second, on inclusive urban prosperity, We are diversifying our economy and equipping a new generation with skills so that the wealth our city generates is shared widely. We are investing in transit-oriented planning, cleaner public transport, and electric mobility. In digital infrastructure, and in the small enterprise that are the lifeblood of every Cambodian town, so that prosperity reaches the street vendor as surely as the boardroom. Third, on environmentally sustainable and resiliency Our ambition is planet. Our new nationally determined contribute contribution commit Cambodia to cut emission by 16% by 2035 on our own and by 55% with international support. We will raise renewable energy to as much as 70% of our electricity and halve the deforestation rate by 2030. We were the first nation in ASEAN and the second least developed countries in the world to chart a path to carbon neutral— neutrality by 2050. In our city, green building certification, a green space toolkit, and climate risk planning in 10 cities will turn these pledges into brick, shade, and safe ground. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, the UN-Habitat project in Cambodia is quite successful and would like to ask that it be extended further to all over the country to answer the need of the country and the current displaced persons, about half a million people, as a result of the current invasion and occupation. I would like also to invite everyone to visit the project to learn from the uniqueness and its effectiveness. And we— and while you are visiting the project dropped by Angkor Wat, one of the 7 World Wonders. I will be waiting for you to show you Angkor Wat. I thank you all.

I thank the Secretary of State at the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning, and Construction of Cambodia. I now give the floor to Zambia.

Something wrong?

Your Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, 10 years after the adoption of the New Urban Agenda, Zambia reaffirms its unwavering commitment to sustainable urbanization as a catalyst for inclusive growth, resilience, and improved quality of life. We commend UN-Habitat and all partners for steering this important midterm review, which provides an opportunity not only to reflect on our progress but also to renew our collective ambition for the decade ahead. Since the adoption of the New Urban Agenda, Zambia has made significant strides in integrating its principles into national development planning. The 8th National Development Plan mainstreamed the Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 11, while promoting territorial development, climate resilience, and inclusive urban growth. At the local level, District Integrated Development Plans provide a coordinated framework for investment, service delivery, and sustainable land use. We are promoting rural growth centers and development corridors for balanced territorial development, economic diversification, improved connectivity, and equitable access to services. We've strengthened decentralization through increased fiscal transfers and devolved functions to local authorities while expanding the number of local planning authorities to improve orderly urban development. Zambia is also advancing implementation of the National Urbanization Policy, promoting affordable housing through revised national housing policy, undertaken participatory slum upgrading in partnership with UN-Habitat, and improving security of land tenure through systematic land titling, particularly for women, youth, and vulnerable communities. Chairperson, while these achievements are encouraging, significant challenges remain. Rapid urbanization continues to outpace infrastructure, housing, and service delivery. Climate change is increasing the vulnerability of our cities, while financing constraints, institutional capacity gaps, and limited urban data continue to slow implementation. As we look toward 2036, Zambia is committed to accelerating implementation of the New Urban Agenda through strengthened integrated spatial planning, climate-resilient urban development, affordable housing, improved municipal finance, enhanced local government capacity, and the application of digital technologies for evidence-based planning and service delivery. We are also strengthening localization of the Sustainable Development Goals through voluntary local reviews, recognizing that sustainable urban development is ultimately delivered at the local level through effective multi-level governance and active citizen participation. Chairperson, achieving the ambitions of the New Urban Agenda requires stronger partnerships, partnerships that we can trust. We must therefore ensure predictable financing for sustainable urban development, strengthen technology transfer and capacity building, invest in urban data and innovation, and reinforce partnerships that empower local authorities and regional governments to deliver inclusive, resilient, and sustainable cities. Chairperson, the midterm review reminds us that sustainable urbanization is central to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Zambia therefore reaffirms its commitment to working with all member states and partners to accelerate implementation of the New Urban Agenda Ensuring that 2036, our cities and human settlements are inclusive, resilient, prosperous, and leave no one and no place behind. Thank you very much for your kind attention.

Je remercie la.

I thank the distinguished representative of Zambia. I now give the floor to Italy. Mr.

President, Excellencies. distinguished colleagues. Italy aligns itself with the statement by the European Union on behalf of its member states. The midterm review of the New Urban Agenda provides an important opportunity to renew our collective commitment and to reflect on the essential role that cities and territories play in advancing our global objectives. Drawing on Italy's experience, we wish to highlight 4 key priorities to strengthen the implementation of the New Urban Agenda over the coming decade. First, achieving sustainable urban development requires effective multi-level governance, greater policy coherence for sustainable development, and stronger integration across sectors and levels of government. It is essential to ensure the full participation of local authorities in decision-making implementation, and monitoring processes. Italy's voluntary national review presented this year at the High-Level Political Forum provides a concrete example of this approach, incorporating 14 voluntary local reviews. Second, the localization of sustainable development is a critical factor to accelerate the implementation of the new urban agenda. In this regard, the Partnership Platform on SDG Localization, promoted jointly with UN-HABITED and linked to the UN Local 2030 Coalition, supports collaboration between national governments and territorial stakeholders, fosters peer learning, and advances the development of national frameworks for SDG localization whose importance is appropriately recognized in the political declaration. Third, we underscore the importance of ensuring the meaningful participation of young people in decision-making processes. This year, Italy completed its first voluntary youth review, thereby contributing to the implementation of the Pact for the Future and the Declaration on Future Generations. Finally, we reaffirmed the importance of integrated and participatory urban and territorial planning that promotes nature-based solutions and recognizes culture and sport as powerful drivers of sustainable development, social cohesion, and community well-being. In this regard, Italy is committed to promoting sporting events and sports facilities as spaces for community engagement, social inclusion, and the active participation of younger generations in advancing the sustainability of their territories. 10 years after the adoption of the New Urban Agenda, Italy renews its commitment to working closely with partners, partner countries, cities, territories, international organizations, and all relevant stakeholders to advance its full implementation, guided by the principle that no person and no place should be left behind. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Italy, and I now give the floor to Pakistan.

Excellencies, colleagues, Pakistan welcomes this midterm review, an important opportunity to take stock of and renew our commitment to the New Urban Agenda. Like many other countries, Pakistan faces growing pressures on housing, transport, safety, and the environment as urbanization accelerates. Allow me to outline the concrete steps Pakistan is taking to respond to these. First, following frequent urban and riverine flooding that claimed over 1,000 lives nationwide in 2025 alone, we are developing our national urban strategy in collaboration with UN-Habitat to ensure that climate resilience is designed into our cities from the outset. Second, On housing, our post-flood reconstruction program has already rebuilt over 400,000 homes for displaced families. We remain committed to incorporating these same resilience and planning standards into our broader housing efforts. Third, on transport, we are expanding affordable low-emission mobility. Fourth, on social protection, the Benazir Income Support Program now reaches over 9 million families nationwide, with a growing share of support directed to low-income households in our fastest-growing cities. And fifth, on urban safety, safe city authorities are expanding real-time monitoring and integrated command centers across our provinces to better protect citizens. However, none of these efforts will succeed without creating opportunities for our youth, who constitute nearly 67% of our population. As young people increasingly, increasingly migrate to cities, ensuring their access to education education, employment, and training will be central to ensuring that urbanization becomes a source of prosperity. It is for this reason that the Prime Minister's Youth Program, under the able leadership of Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, together with partners, launched Pur Azam Pakistan, aimed at connecting young people to skills, jobs, and entrepreneurship pathways. Pakistan stands ready to work with all member states to share our experiences in handling urbanization and to ensure that this midterm review delivers concrete outcomes for present and future generations. I thank you all. Thank you very much.

I thank Pakistan. I now give the floor to Thailand.

Mr.

Chair and Madam Chair, Excellency, distinguished delegates, Thailand aligns itself with the statement made by Uduphai on behalf of Group of 77 and China. Madam Chair, 8 years after Habitat III This meeting is an opportunity to renew our commitment to sustainable development. The NUA is closely linked to SDG 11 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Thailand has translated this agenda into action through our 20-year master plan on housing development, strengthens local governments' community-driven development, and localization of the SDGs. We recognize the key role of UN-Habitat in supporting member states. In implementing the NGA, Mr. Chair and Madam Chair, Thailand believes that adequate housing is the foundation of human development. Allow me to share Thailand's experience in translating the NGA into concrete action in 3 main areas. First, we have improved access to quality and affordable housing for all. Guided by the principle of dual self-design, the Home for Thai initiative promotes inclusive and accessible housing for all. Second, we are putting people and community at the heart of urban development. The Ban Man Kong Collection Housing Program has benefited more than 100,000 low-income households by empowering communities to plan, upgrade, and manage their own neighborhoods. Similarly, the Din Dang Herbal Renewal Project promotes inclusive redevelopment with preserving Exciting community. Third, we are strengthening herbal resilience and government. The Japan City concept ensures climate resilience through green space and water retention to reduce flood risks. The Department of Public Works, Town Square, digital provide convenient, transparent, and inclusive access to herbal planning services. But Mr. Chair and Madam Chair, Thailand recognized that herbal challenge continue to evolve, depress the progress. The stronger means of implementation will be Essential to accelerate delivery of the NUA, Thailand believes that strengthened partnership and international cooperation are needed more than ever. Look ahead, Thailand will be continuing advancing affordable housing, inclusive community, climate resilience, and digital innovation to build cities for our talent commitment and advancing the NGOA by sharing this experience in community-led housing and resilience, urban development, the South-South cooperation, and working with our partner to build inclusive, resilient, and sustainable city. Let's leave no one behind.

Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Thailand. I now give the floor to Serbia.

Mr. President, Serbia was among the few countries in Southeast Europe to prepare Habitat III report on urban development and housing in 2016. In 2019, our government adopted its first national urban policy, the Sustainable Urban Development Strategy, and 2 years later, action plan for implementation of the national urban policy. All these documents incorporate the the principles of New Urban Agenda. In preparation for the World Urban Forum, Serbia has successfully organized 3 national urban forums. The first one was in our capital Belgrade in 2023. The second one was in the city of Niš, and the third one has been recently held in the middle-sized city of Ranië this year. The themes of these national forums corresponded to the topics of urban forms. Serbia is making efforts to strengthen the greener and the resilient dimension of urban development, aligning local needs with international trends. Driven by the EU integration reform agenda, the digitalization of spatial and urban planning is among priority activities. We are currently establishing the advanced e-space e-prostur platform and its component e-plan. The integration of geoinformation technologies, artificial intelligence, and e-government tools are crucial for this rollout. I will give you one example. An important milestone was achieved in 2024 when we developed the first voluntary local review for the city of Niš. To accelerate the delivery of urban principles from Agenda 2030, in particular Sustainable Development Goal 11, and its targets, Serbia is focusing on 3 main pillars. First, inclusive policy for all and better quality of life. Second, better coordination of public policies through a more integrated territorial approach and better participation in planning practice. And third, improved monitoring of territorial development to support evidence-based policy. To achieve all this, our implementation strategy relies on strategic partnerships. Multilaterally, we collaborate closely with the United Nations and the European Union, where Serbia holds EU candidate status. Locally, we focus on empowering local governments and upgrading their capacity to manage modern urban trends. We are going to continue our efforts in order to improve the state of urban development. Approaching the timeline of the UN Agenda 2030, which is also the timeframe for our national urban policy, we view this as an opportunity to continue the work on urban challenges such as housing issues, green urban development, financing, governance, and smart digitalization. Finally, we are constantly expanding our cooperation with the UN-Habitat. It's our aim to welcome UN-Habitat as a resident agency within the UN Country Team in Serbia. Furthermore, the newly established UN-HABitat Regional Office in Istanbul will be important in urban cooperation across Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and Southeast Europe in particular. Thank you very much to all, and I wish you a very successful meeting.

I thank Serbia.

Serbia, and I now give the floor to Mexico.

Muchas gracias, señor Presidente. Thank you very much, President, distinguished delegates, colleagues. Good afternoon. Mexico recognized that over the last 10 years the international community has made tangible progress, although it has been uneven in some cases. The most visible signs of progress have been in terms of norms and institutions, but we are falling short of the mark when it comes to action on the ground. Mexico is bringing its own contribution to this progress. We have consolidated a national system of territorial planning with a national strategy for territorial planning through 2040 with 7 official Mexican standards. And we have placed housing and made it a right, especially for households with low income that historically have been financially excluded. Under the framework of this midterm review, we recognize that there is still an enormous amount still to do in a number of areas. This is urgent. The most critical barriers that need to be overcome globally are as follows: the global housing crisis and affordability, persistent spatial inequality, the gap in financing and capacity, and the climate and risks emergency. In this context, we propose that the member states focus their efforts towards 2036 on the systemic intensification rather than isolated efforts. Based on our experience, Mexico proposes the following priorities for collective deliberation: repositioning adequate housing not as a privilege but rather as a human right. It should have sustained public finance housing, and it should be aimed specifically at those who have been excluded from the market and from loans. We must integrate territorial planning into a single policy. We must overcome the fragmentation of the environmental, urban, and rural aspects so that we can produce housing that is appropriately located with decent services. And we should strengthen multilevel governance and localization of the agenda, giving local authorities the capacity, data, and resources that they need. And we should drive networks between subnational governments and coordination networks. Substantive equality, intersectionality must be at the center of urban design. And we should understand that Cities have previously been built on structural inequalities. We must make resilience and climate adaptation a cross-cutting axis of planning, and this should replace the reactive culture to disasters, and we should rather have one of prevention and risk reduction. Mexico reaffirms its readiness to share methodologies and tools and its good practices with countries in a similar situation on the principle— based on the principle of solidarity and non-conditionality supporting South-South and triangular cooperation. For Mexico, international cooperation is crucial for implementation of the New Urban Agenda, and this is why we're driving multi-stakeholder and multi-level partnerships across governments, development banks, academia, the social sector, and communities using a joint responsibility model that is underpinned by a more just, financial architecture in terms of fairness for cities and solidarity and horizontal networks that contribute to closing these structural gaps that exist in consolidating sustainable town planning as a global public good for present and future generations. Finally, I am pleased to highlight that the City of Mexico was selected as the host for the New Urban Forum to be held in 2028, where we will be ratifying our commitment to the New Urban Agenda as a catalyst for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda and supporting actions aimed at ensuring adequate housing, territorial development, social inclusion, urban mobility, environmental sustainability, and local governance. I would invite you to join us and I look forward to seeing you in a couple of years in the City of Mexico. Thank you very much.

I thank Mexico. I now give the floor to Madagascar.

Distinguished President, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, it is an honor for me to take the floor today on behalf of the government of the Republic of Madagascar at this high-level meeting on the midterm review of the New Urban Agenda. Madagascar. Warmly welcomes the holding of this high-level meeting to take stock of progress already made, as well as, as a tool for catalyzing transformation and promoting prosperity of cities to make them more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive. We welcome the conclusions of the 13th Urban Global Urban Forum, which was held in Baku in May. Which issued a call that encouraged and guided us with regard to our country's transformation. The central topic, Housing the World: Safe and Resilient Cities and Communities, resonates deeply with challenges and ambitions. We have our first national report on the New Urban Program for as well as resolutions of the National Assembly for Land Use Planning and Real Estate Services, which have defined a roadmap that is clear and practical to reform this sector and to ensure that decent lodging— decent housing is a reality for every citizen. We have an estimated deficit of 1.7 million housing units and an annual demand of 130,000 units. The government has therefore implemented an ambitious program to mass-produce affordable housing with the support of the private sector and technical partners. Secondly, building resilient— climate-resilient cities that can resist natural disasters, their second priority. The recent passage of the Fitia and Gezani cyclones, which damaged our economy to the tune of 3.4% of our GDP, is a brutal reminder of this vulnerability. We have a national adaptation and climate change mitigation strategy for the urban environment with the support of UN-Habitat. The National Assembly strengthened this commitment by calling for the revision of technical construction standards as well as promoting local and eco-friendly materials. And mapping high-risk zones to guide future urban planning. Thirdly, we must consolidate multi-level governance and decentralization. That's the third priority. The National Assembly has strongly reaffirmed the need to strengthen the powers of regions, communities, and the Fokonolona for effective local governance. We have a national decentralization plan adopted in 2023 and that is our roadmap for effectively delegating competencies and resources to decentralized local governments. The government has also committed to increasing the proportion of the national budget allocated to these by more than 2%. We also have placed youth at the heart of our land use planning policy. And has called for strengthening the fight against corruption. This is the prerequisite for ensuring safe investments as well as equitable access to housing and land for all. In closing, President, Madagascar is currently building through its reform process a productive urbanization of well-planned cities that can address— that can face the next decade and that is in line with its internal public policy. We're determined to play an important role through engaging in reform, investment, and mobilization of all actors, showing our resolve to transform challenges into prosperity.

Thank you.

I thank Madagascar and now give the floor to Kazakhstan.

UN-Habitat, and all member states for bringing us together today to share our experience and build stronger cooperation. We welcome the adoption of the political declaration of the New Urban Agenda. It shows that sustainable urban development remains a shared priority and that we need to work together to build better cities. Today, this commitment is more important than ever. Cities are facing rapid urbanization, climate change, and growing pressure on infrastructure. Guided by Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 11 on sustainable cities and communities, Kazakhstan is advancing climate action, improving water security, and investing in resilient infrastructure and green urban development. As a result of these efforts, Kazakhstan is ranked 16th out of 190 countries in the United Nations Human Development Index, reflecting the country's steady progress in improving the quality of life and sustainable development. As part of this effort, Astana became the first resilient hub in Central Asia. Under Making Cities Resilient 2030 initiative, creating a regional platform for cooperation, knowledge sharing, and exchange of best practice. This achievement reflects more than 5 years of dedicated works. During this time, we adopted international approaches, complete a city resilient assessment and introduced a new approach to urban planning based on the principles of the New Urban Agenda. Today, these principles are reflected in integrated planning, the annual planting of more than 1 million green plantings, the creation of a city resilience assessment, and introduced a new approach to urban planning based on principle of New Urban Agenda. We believe Kazakhstan experience can contribute to the global dialogue on sustainable urban development. We highly value our cooperation with UN-Habitat, UNDP, UN-DURR, and sincerely thanks the organization for its continuing support in promoting knowledge exchange, innovation, and international partnership. Together with our international partners and academic institutions, we remain committed to working together to build more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable cities. Thank you for your attention.

I thank Kazakhstan and now give the floor to Ethiopia.

Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, at the outset we would like to thank the President of General Assembly for organizing this important high-level meeting. Ethiopia also extends its sincere appreciation to the United Nations and UN-Habitat for their continued leadership in advancing sustainable urban development. Mr. President, the New Urban Agenda provides a transformative framework for promoting inclusive, resilient, safe, and sustainable cities. For Ethiopia, where urbanization is progressing rapidly at 5.4% annually, sustainable urban development remains center to our national transformation agenda. Just a month ago, Ethiopia adopted a new urban development policy aligned with the New Urban Agenda, Sustainable Development Goals, and Agenda 2063. Accordingly, Ethiopia has also fully integrated the New Urban Agenda into its 10-Year Prosperity Plan, ensuring that urban development prosperity are mainstreamed in its national planning and implementation rather than being pursued as standalone initiatives. We have strengthened urban land governance nationwide by increasing cadastral coverage, significantly improving tenure security and land administration. In our urban area, The government's social protection effort is expanding. Our Urban Productive Safety Nets program now operating in 87 urban centers, benefiting over 1.2 million vulnerable citizens, particularly women and youth. Our effort to improve housing conditions has also delivered measurable results. Proportion of urban residents living in slum conditions has declined from 74% to 52%, supported by affordable housing program aimed to build 1.5 million by 2030. Access to basic urban services continues to improve. Urban access to safe drinking water has increased from 52% to 84%. while access to electricity has reached 63%, supported by an energy support system in which almost 98% electricity generated comes from renewable resources. Mr. President, one of the most transformative initiatives is the nationwide corridor development program. What begins in Addis Ababa has now expanded to more than 75 cities and towns of Ethiopia, transforming urban landscapes through integrating human-oriented infrastructure including pedestrian sidewalk, bike lanes, green space, river and lakeside developments, and public infrastructure. Through own source revenue, the program has already delivered over 628 million 628 kilometers of pedestrian sidewalk, nearly 300 kilometers of dedicated bike lanes, and more than 115 kilometers river and lakeside development creates safe, greenery, and more inclusive urban environment while stimulating local economic development. While we are encouraged by this progress, formidable challenges remain. remain. Rapid urbanization, affordable housing needs, climate change, infrastructure finance, urban data systems continue to request strong national efforts and enhanced international cooperation. In conclusion, we remain fully committed to build inclusive, productive, and climate-resilient cities and to work closely with development partners to realize our shared vision of sustainable urban development. I thank you. I'm Saginello.

I thank Ethiopia, and I now give the floor to Burkina Faso.

President, ladies and gentlemen, I would first like to convey to you the fraternal greetings of the people of Burkina Faso. Burkina Faso has been facing a security and humanitarian crisis that has affected parts of its country since 2016. That was the year that the New Urban Agenda was adopted, and these crises have undermined our efforts to make our cities and our countryside the drivers of development. Under the leadership of Comrade Mikael Sidibé, Minister of Homeland Construction in Burkina Faso, my country, together with the support of UN-Habitat and our technical and financial partners, has begun to implement structural projects aimed at tackling the urban challenges identified in the New Urban Agenda. Amongst these initiatives, I would like to recall the following: the project Strengthening the Resilience of Local Against the mass displacement of populations in the COVID-19 pandemic at a total cost of $4.6 million. This has allowed us to increase the resilience of local authorities and vulnerable communities thanks to an integrated approach. We have the social and economic inclusion of internally displaced persons and urban host communities. The IPDCA project has help reduce the vulnerability of a significant proportion of displaced persons and households that receive them in 2 municipalities that have been significantly impacted by this. By placing women and girls at the heart of its priorities, this project has improved access to housing, strengthened food security, and strengthened the capacity of local stakeholders. Ladies and gentlemen, in addition to these actions, Burkina Faso has launched several programs aimed at strengthening spatial and social inclusion as part of implementation of SDG 11. These are the establishment of sustainable solutions to forced displacement of second-tier cities through an integrated territorial approach, total value €17.5 million, the construction of urban infrastructure for resilience in 3 second-tier cities, estimated value of some €7 million, contributing to the stabilization of these cities and the improvement of local governance and the resilience of their populations. The strengthening of the resilience of 3 other second-tier cities located on the Abidjan-Ouagadougou corridor through market infrastructure, urban mobility, and socioeconomic integration actions coming at a total cost of $11.7 million, and the definition of an urban development program to the tune of $585,000 aimed at strengthening urbanism sustainability and the strategic role of cities. cities in our national development and the implementation of our ambitious 5-year program Burkina Faso 2024 through 2029. This project aims to build 50,000 social and low-cost housing units in 61 localities at a total cost of 3.97 billion over the period 2026 through 2029. This program mobilizes an unprecedented partnership involving the state, real estate developers, banks, social security institutions, and technical and financial partners, and their contributions are estimated at some $44.4 million. Ladies and gentlemen, these examples demonstrate Burkina Faso's desire to better regulate urbanization and to improve the living environment for its population, but the scale of the need exacerbated by population growth, the security crisis, and financial constraints, calls for a change of scale to make it more coherent, inclusive, and sustainable when it comes to public action. And so to this end, our priorities to step up implementation of SDG 11 are clear, and they will seek to control urbanization and securing land, ensure inclusive access to decent housing and basic urban services, build resilience to crises and environmental risks, consolidate effective territorial governance that is supported by lasting financing, and accelerate the updating and upgrading of local government plans and regional sustainable development plans. The implementation of these actions requires considerable financial resources and innovative strategies. In this regard, Burkina is committed to indigenous housing financing mechanism based on dedicated budget lines and the mobilization of national financial institutions. This aims to reduce the total cost of ownership for housing and to secure predictable repayment flows in accordance with the principles of the New Urban Agenda. In conclusion, Burkina Faso remains committed to the promise made at the time of the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Sustainable Development, to leave no one behind, to leave no African behind, to leave no Burkina Faso person behind. And we're also in line with the vision of the President of Burkina Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who strongly reminds us that housing for all is not a luxury but rather a necessity. Together we shall be victorious. I thank you.

I thank Burkina Faso. I now give the floor to Brazil.

Mr. President, Excellencies, Brazil fully aligns itself with the statements made by Uruguay on on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, both after the vote of our midterm review declaration and during this debate. 25 years after the adoption of Brazil's City Statute and 10 years after Quito, we have no shortage of diagnosis. What is missing is implementation. The global urban crisis does not stem from insufficient technical knowledge. It stems from a lack of political will, persistent inequalities, and our collective difficulty in turning commitments into concrete investments. While we discuss goals, millions of people continue to live without adequate housing, sanitation, or decent transportation, and remain increasingly exposed to the impacts of the climate emergency. We cannot naturalize this reality. Cities have become the stage on which the great contradictions of sustainable development unfold. Wealth and poverty, innovation and exclusion, prosperity and abandonment. The New Urban Agenda remains our main political framework, but documents do not build cities, reduce housing deficits, or protect families from flooding and informality. In Brazil, 87% of the population lives in urban areas. About 16.4 million people still live in slums and informal settlements. we still face a deficit of approximately 6 million homes. These figures reveal who pays the price for unequal urbanization: families without full access to housing, sanitation, mobility, and protection from climate risks. The urban challenge is therefore a challenge of social justice. For this reason, Brazil treats housing as a human right, as a development policy. Our housing policy financed nearly 10 million homes between 2009 and 2026 with a strong social focus. 70% of beneficiaries are low-income families and ownership prioritizes women. We also created the Casa Brasil reform program because housing policy also means improving existing homes, recovering communities, preserving social bonds, and ensuring dignity where people already live. Confronting worsening extreme climate events, Brazil has developed mechanisms that accelerate access to ready-to-occupy houses for impacted families, because the climate emergency is not paced by the rhythm of bureaucracy. Throughout the Periferia Viva program, we promote the integrated urbanization of slums and communities, including infrastructure, land regularization, public facilities, and essential services. We also expanded investments in sanitation, sustainable mobility, and resilient infrastructure. The Ministry of Cities coordinates national urban policies with states and municipalities, the basis for the climate federalism referred to in the most recent Brazilian NDC, and aligned with our commitment to the CHAMP Coalition. The Brazilian Council of Cities and the National Conference of Cities ensure social participation. Urban democracy is essential for public policies to reflect the realities of those who experience cities every day. Excellencies, the implementation of the New Urban Agenda also depends on fairer international architecture. Developing countries cannot continue to be called upon to deliver global results without access to means of implementation commensurate with the scale of the challenge they face. We need to expand financing for sustainable urban development strengthen technical cooperation, enhance local government capacities, and ensure that the multilateral system acts as an instrument of development, not only as a space for consensus building. If we want resilient cities, we must first build resilient multilateralism. UN-Habitat has a central role to play in this regard and deserves strong, predictable, and sustained support. This midterm review must mark a new stage, accelerating implementation of the New Urban Agenda while laying the foundations for the International Urban Agenda that will succeed 2036 and contribute to the post-2030 development agenda. Brazil will continue to do its part, but it will continue to affirm that there can be no sustainable cities in a world that naturalizes inequalities, underfunds development, and turns implementation into deferred promises. The time has come to match declarations with investments, commitments with implementation, and speeches with results. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Brazil. I will now give the floor to Kenya.

Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, Kenya aligns with the statement delivered by the Oriental Republic of Uruguay on behalf of the Group of 77 and China and wishes to make the following remarks in our national capacity. The midterm review provides a crucial opportunity to assess our progress, renew our political commitments, and accelerate concrete localized actions to guide global development over the coming decade. The Secretary-General's Quadrennial Report warns that while the New Urban Agenda is essential for achieving sustainable development, its implementation is lagging. Despite generating over 80% of global GDP, cities face overlapping housing, infrastructure, and climate crises that local authorities cannot effectively address due to funding shortages and fragmented governance. Kenya's urban strategy localizes global principles to prioritize affordable housing, inclusion, and climate resilience. Key achievements include the formulation of Kenya's popular version of the New Urban Agenda, which translates global principles into local opportunities, prioritizing adequate housing, social inclusion, and environmental resilience. Additionally, we have the Affordable Housing Program backed by the Affordable Housing Act of 2024, whose aim is to build 200,000 units annually, with over 190,000 currently under construction. Kenya is also actively strengthening urban resilience and housing through multiple initiatives, which include co-leading the Global Building Climate Resilience with the Urban Poor Program, expanding affordable mortgage financing via the Kenya Mortgage Financing Company, and championing UN-Habitat Resolution 27 on adequate housing for all. Kenya is advancing sustainable devolved urban development in partnership with UN-Habitat. Following a joint 2025 UN Call to Action for Affordable Housing, Kenya hosted the 2026 Second African Urban Forum, adopting the African Urban Forum 2 Nairobi Declaration to scale these inclusive housing and climate resilience initiatives across the continent. Furthermore, we are building climate-resilient municipalities nationwide and transforming the Nairobi River into a green vibrant public space. Key initiatives include $385 million river regeneration project, urban mobility expansion, and the $5.2 million UNEP-backed Nairobi Green Neighborhood Project. Despite progress in some areas, implementing the New Urban Agenda faces hurdles like low awareness, funding limits, capacity gaps, poor data, and fragmented governance. Overcoming these global challenges requires collective action across all sectors. Between 2026 and 2036, success depends on empowering local authorities, expanding municipal financing, leveraging digital technology, and prioritizing housing rights, climate action, and inclusive planning. UN-Habitat continues to face systemic, financial, and localized bottlenecks in implementing the New Urban Agenda. In this regard, we call upon the international community and member states to make deliberate efforts in prioritizing and upscaling urban planning and development within national planning processes, supported by long-term, predictable, and sufficient funding, commit to bridging massive urban housing deficits via improved community co-production and housing finance, ensure commitments formalized during the World Urban Forum translate global urban development goals into local people-centered solutions, and strengthen and support UN-Habitat through sufficient, reliable, predictable funding and adequate staffing levels. To reach our 2036 Sustainable Urban Goals, we must abandon outdated approaches. Facing escalating slums, climate risks, and infrastructure gaps, we urgently need renewed political commitment. By prioritizing affordable housing, climate adaptation, and inclusive services, we can turn our bold CITO commitments into lived reality to ensure no one is left behind. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Kenya. I now give the floor to the United Arab Emirates.

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, colleagues from the UN-Habitat, it's an honor to speak on behalf of the United Arab Emirates at this high-level meeting on the midterm review of the New Urban Agenda. The midterm review is only— is not only an opportunity to assess our collective progress, but also to recalibrate our ambition and accelerate implementation towards 2036. A decade after Habitat III, our cities remain at the frontline of the world's most pressing challenges: climate change, rapid urbanization, displacement, displacement, and the growing demand of adequate housing, our basic services. How we build and manage our cities over the next decade toward 2036 will shape whether we deliver on the promise of sustainable development for all. The UAE has approached urban development as a national priority, guided by the belief that resilient, well-planned cities are the foundation of sustainable growth. We have invested in integrated urban planning, sustainable infrastructure, clean energy, and smart city solutions that improve quality of life while reducing environmental impact. Today, the UAE has achieved one of the world's highest home ownership rates, with more than 91% of Emirati families owning their own homes, reflecting our longstanding commitment to adequate housing and sustainable development. communities. These efforts reflect our broader commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 11, building cities and communities that are inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. The UAE reaffirms its support of an action-oriented political declaration that renews global commitment to the New Urban Agenda and translates it principles into measurable on-the-ground progress. In its capacity as a member of the Executive Board of the UN-Habitat, the United Arab Emirates has actively supported strengthening the program's governance, enhancing institutional effectiveness, and advancing implementation-focused urban agenda. As we look towards the next decade, implementation must become our collective priority. This requires stronger partnership, innovative financing, technology transfer, enhanced institutional capacity, and data-driven decision-making to ensure that no city and no community is left behind. The UAE looks forward to working closely with the UN-Habitat, member states, and partners to accelerate implementation of the New Urban Agenda through knowledge sharing, innovation, financing, and partnership that put people and the planet at the center of urban development. As the incoming President of the UN-Habitat Assembly in 2027, and as the first Arab country to assume this responsibility, the United Arab Emirates is committed to delivering an implementation-focused presidency that translates global commitments into measurable actions. We will strengthen multilateral cooperation, champion adequate housing for all, promote innovation and digital transformation, mobilize sustainable urban finance, foster South-South and triangular cooperation, and support member states in accelerating implementation of the New Urban Agenda. We see the presidency not merely as an honor, but as a responsibility to build consensus, strengthen partnership, and reinforce UN-Habitat's role as a leading global platform for sustainable urbanization.

I thank the UAE, the United Arab Emirates, and I now give the floor to the European Union, speaking on behalf of the European Union and its member states.

I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the European Union and its member states. The candidate countries— Turkey, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Georgia, as well as Armenia, San Marino, and the United Kingdom— aligned themselves with this statement. We fully support an action-oriented implementation of the New Urban Agenda, firmly anchored in the 2030 Agenda, the Paris Agreement, the Pact for the Future, and the Sevilla Commitment. In this perspective, We are pleased to have supported the adoption of the political declaration on its midterm review today, and we warmly thank the co-facilitators, the permanent representatives of Poland and Malawi, for their skill, patience, and even-handed leadership in bringing this process to consensus. The EU has 4 priorities in the implementation. First, housing. With the world facing an unprecedented global housing crisis, we must continue to recognize homelessness as an affront that demands urgent action. We are pleased that the declaration preserves the practical commitments the EU has championed, in particular the need for adequate, affordable, energy-efficient, and quality housing for all. We equally welcome the recognition of the open-ended intergovernmental working group on adequate housing for all and look forward to its recommendations. Second, localization and multi-level governance. The EU emphasizes the role of towns, cities, and local and regional governments as partners, co-creators, and implementers, and calls for inclusive multi-level governance systems that empower them in decision-making, implementation, and reporting. We welcome that financial resources should reach the local level, encouraging broad stakeholder cooperation on different territorial levels, including direct access to finance for cities and local authorities and domestic resource mobilization in line with the Sevilla Commitment. In this regard, strengthening administrative capacity, improving access to advisory support, and fostering more strategic and simplified investment frameworks will be essential to enable delivery on sustainable urban development on the ground. Third, a gender-responsive and disability-inclusive approach. The EU is a champion of gender equality, and we were pleased that the declaration retains age- and gender-responsive and disability-inclusive planning and budgeting, a firm commitment to gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, and attention to gender-based violence, including femicide, in the design of safe public spaces. This is essential to leaving no, no one behind in our cities. Fourth and finally, climate and environmental resilience. The EU strongly supports coherence between the New Urban Agenda and the Paris Agreement, the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework, and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, reflecting the interconnected climate, biodiversity, water retention, and land degradation challenges facing urban areas. areas. We welcome commitments to integrate climate action and biodiversity into urban planning, implement integrated water resources management, and the need to address water scarcity, including through water-resilient urban design, develop sustainable, renewable, and affordable energy, to promote energy conservation and efficiency, strengthen disaster risk reduction and early warning systems, and highlight circular economy. We also value the Declaration's recognition of data technology and innovation as enablers of evidence-based urban development grounded in responsible data governance and human rights, and its continued support for UN-Habitat as a focal point for sustainable urban development within the UN system. Colleagues, through Global Gateway, the EU is helping turn these commitments into investment on the ground, mobilizing financing for sustainable urban energy, mobility, water, and digital infrastructure in partner countries, that this declaration rightly places at the heart of implementation. The UNS member states stand ready to turn these commitments into results in partnership with all levels of government and all stakeholders for a declaration worthy of the cities and communities it serves.

Thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of the European Union. I will now give the floor to Palau, speaking on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States, AOSIS.

Mr. President, I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States. 10 years after the adoption of the New Urban Agenda, we have an important opportunity to reflect not only on how far we have come, but on whether our cities and settlements are becoming more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable in a rapidly changing world. For Small Island Developing States, our cities and towns tell our story. They are where opportunity is created, culture is preserved, and communities come together. They are our home— they are home to our people, our ports, our hospitals, our schools, our businesses, and our governments. They are the beating heart of our societies, but they are also on the front lines of climate change. Sea level rise, coastal erosion, hurricanes or cyclones, and other climate-related disasters increasingly threaten the homes, livelihoods, and critical infrastructure upon which our communities depend. At the same time, constrained land availability, limited fiscal space, growing debt burdens and capacity constraints continue to challenge our ability to invest in resilient urban development. It is for this reason that the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS, ABAS, recognizes that resilient, inclusive, and well-planned human settlements are fundamental to achieving sustainable development in SIDS. Delivering on this vision requires integrated approaches that strengthen infrastructure, safeguard ecosystems, improve housing, enhance disaster preparedness, and ensure that no one is left behind. The New Urban Agenda and ABAS are mutually reinforcing and together provide a vision for ensuring that urban development strengthens resilience rather than deepens vulnerability. However, Mr. President, the greater— the greatest obstacle to delivering on this vision is not a lack of ambition. It is a lack of fiscal space. Too many states are forced to borrow to recover, only to emerge from each disaster with higher debt, shrinking fiscal space, and fewer resources to invest in resilience. We are trapped in a cycle where yesterday's disasters consume the resources needed to prepare for tomorrow. There is a profound injustice in asking those on the front lines of climate change to finance resilience with the smallest fiscal margins. The midterm review must therefore reaffirm a simple principle: resilience requires affordable finance. Breaking this cycle requires reform of the international financial architecture so that vulnerability, not income alone, guides access to affordable and concessional finance. Further investments in resilient urban infrastructure should not be viewed as costs but as investments in global resilience and sustainable development. The commitments reflected in the Safiya Commitment, including efforts to strengthen the sustainability, improve access to finance, and operationalize SIDS-specific initiatives, provide important opportunities to support countries in investing in resilience rather than financing recovery afterwards. Innovation must also be at the center of implementation. SIDS requires solutions that mobilize investment in data, digital technologies, and locally driven innovations that strengthen urban planning, improve risk assessments, and protect ecosystems. Mr. President, therefore, as we implement the New Urban Agenda, the 2030 Agenda, and the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS, we must recognize that these are not parallel commitments. They are chapters of the same story, a story in which resilience is measured not by how often we rebuild, but by whether we finally build a future where rebuilding is no longer the norm. Let us ensure that the international community provides cities with the financing, partnerships, technology, and policy support needed not simply to rebuild after each crisis, but to build cities and communities capable of thriving. Despite them. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Palau. I now give the floor to the Dominican Republic.

Thank you, President. The Dominican Republic aligns with the statement delivered by Uruguay on behalf of the G77 and China, and by Palau on behalf of AEOSIS. The Dominican Republic reaffirms its commitment to the implementation of the New Urban Agenda as a fundamental framework to promote cities and territories that are inclusive, resilient, sustainable, and human-centered. Since its adoption in 2016 at the 3rd United Nations Conference on Human Settlement and Development, we have made significant institutional progress and also in terms of norms in order to apply territorial planning as a public policy aimed at reducing inequalities and protect natural resources and to strengthen resilience to climate change. The midterm review represents an opportunity for assessing the progress, considering challenges that remain, and reaffirming our commitment to the 2030 Agenda, the Paris Agreement, the Sendai Framework, and the New Urban Agenda. President, the Dominican Republic has lived through a process of urbanization that has been quite rapid in recent years. A significant proportion of the population lives in urban areas, and while this growth has driven economic development, it has exerted a significant amount of pressure on land, mobility, and public services. Faced with this challenge, town planning has become a strategic axis for the promotion of more orderly, sustainable, and resilient economic growth. The main stride forward in the country has been through the passing of a law on land use planning and human settlements. This framework for the first time establishes a modern program for land planning that strengthens coordination between local government and central government, promoting environmental balance and climate resilience, and a new approach to the territory. Since 2020, the country has been implementing our National Plan of Action for implementing the New Urban Agenda and accompanying consultation processes and international cooperation to incorporate climate resilience in our nationally determined contributions. Also, the national system for town planning has seen major progress through the full formulation and approval of national plans and the passing of new instruments for strategic territories. With the support of the World Bank, we are also developing a further national program with more than 50 new municipal plans, high-precision mapping, and also creating the first metropolitan plans. Our experience has shown that implementation of the new urban agenda requires not only legal reform but political leadership. It requires also us to strengthen our institutions, adequate financing, and close coordination between territorial planning, risk management, and regional development. Implementation of the New Urban Agenda and promote nature-based solutions to ensure adaptation to climate change. President, the Dominican Republic recognizes that territorial planning as a public policy is absolutely essential for achieving the SDGs. It is also therefore fundamental that we strengthen local capacity and integrate climate resilience into our planning. We must also also improve territorial information systems and promote South-South cooperation. We reaffirm our commitment to continue building a national planning system that is underpinned by solid institutions, innovation, and an integrated vision of development, working together with the United Nations system in order to step up implementation of the New Urban Agenda for the benefit of present and future generations.

I thank you.

I thank the Dominican Republic and I now give the floor to Guatemala.

President Guatemala welcomes the convening of this high-level meeting on the midterm review of the new urban agenda, and we are grateful for the presentation of the SG's 2020-2026 report. It provides an overview of the progress that has been achieved, the challenges that still remain, and the priorities for accelerating implementation over the coming decade. This review reminds us that urbanization should not be measured only by the growth of our cities, rather, but by the capacity of our cities to guarantee And this highlights the need to continue expanding infrastructure and the development of opportunities. In the area of social housing, Guatemala has instruments such as the housing fund known as FOPAVI. This provides housing subsidies to families living in poverty and extreme poverty. Similarly, programs such as Piso Digno have contributed to improving the housing conditions vulnerable populations. However, despite these efforts, these efforts remain insufficient given the housing deficit and the growth of informal settlements. As a result, Guatemala continues to promote territorial planning, investment in infrastructure, and comprehensive neighborhood upgrades, especially in those areas particularly exposed to risk. Guatemala also has valuable local experience, and this has contributed to advancing more sustainable urban development. This includes the adoption of national regulations for the integrated management of solid waste. Another example is the leadership demonstrated by the municipality of San Pedro La Laguna in the area of environmental sustainability. The experience of the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the importance of territorial coordination, in maintaining continuity in basic services and community organization. All of these are important in strengthening urban resilience. In this context, the community development councils have contributed to identifying needs, prioritizing solutions, and supporting the localization of the SDGs. Furthermore, the fact that 110 municipalities reported zero homicides 2025 demonstrates that security can also be built through social cohesion, community participation, and by the strengthening of local government. Guatemala considers that sustainable urbanization must be grounded in inclusive and participatory governance. The population, community organizations, municipal authorities, and the national government must all work together to identify challenges build trust, and develop solutions that are rooted in local realities. Similarly, partnerships amongst national and local governance, the United Nations systems, international financial institutions, and other relevant stakeholders are crucial to promoting sustainable and long-term transformation of our urban centers. In this regard, Guatemala underscores the importance of developed countries, international organizations, and financial institutions supporting developed countries in mobilizing large-scale investment. This is especially the case in the areas of housing, water and sanitation, sustainable mobility, and resilient infrastructure. It is only through effective democratic governance, citizens' participation, multi-level cooperation, and adequate financial resources that we will be able to step up implementation of the New Urban Agenda and advance towards more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable cities. Guatemala reaffirms its commitment to continue working alongside the international community to achieve these objectives by 2036. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Guatemala. We have heard the last speaker at today's meeting. We will hear the remaining speakers at a date to be announced later on. Let me recall that, uh, Roundtables 1 and 2 will be taking place tomorrow at 10 AM and 11:30 AM respectively in the Trusteeship Council Chamber. The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its Consideration of agenda item 178, the meeting is suspended.