UN-Habitat сhief warns of systemic failure in transition from humanitarian aid to long-term development

UN-Habitat сhief warns of systemic failure in transition from humanitarian aid to long-term development

Shifting the focus from humanitarian assistance to sustainable long-term development remains a top priority for the United Nations, Executive Director of UN-Habitat Anacláudia Rossbach said during a panel discussion at the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku.

Anacláudia Rossbach made the remarks during the session titled "From Global Housing Finance to Local Action on Affordable Housing: Leveraging Global Development Finance and Subnational Financing."

"I call on the international community to place the sustainable development agenda at the center of its priorities. Cuts in humanitarian financing have exposed the systemic failure of mechanisms designed to transition from emergency assistance to long-term development," she stated.

Rossbach stressed that without a strategic focus on development, it would be impossible to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, fulfill climate commitments, or implement the New Urban Agenda.

Among examples of ongoing cooperation, she highlighted projects in Kenya aimed at transforming refugee camps into fully functioning urban communities, as well as initiatives in Ghana where partners are helping develop a national urban policy.