With rapid global urbanization, the future of humanity is urban; and thus, the future of violent conflict is also urban. At the same time, urban and rural areas might have different dynamics of crime and violence and thus require different type of approaches and solutions. Much of urban growth has been rapid and unplanned, with urban centres largely lacking the capacity to provide adequate opportunities and gainful employment, primarily affecting the young women and men. The emergence of a large un- and under-employed urban youth population provides immense opportunity for young people to play a key role in implementing UN Security Council Resolution 2250, particularly at the local level as articulated in the New Urban Agenda.

Faith-based actors play a crucial role in human and sustainable development. The respect and public trust earned over several decades of engagement with governments, local communities and other key actors has exceptionally placed and equipped religious communities and faith-based actors to play a critical role in promoting the inclusion of different groups, offering peaceful channels for conflict resolution, upholding the human rights of the most vulnerable, among others.

During the first UN-Habitat Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya, the Local and Regional Governments will hold a forum to dialogue with policy makers, the UN system and stakeholders on identifying innovative solutions to harness the New Urban Agenda to accelerate implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

The strategy provides a framework for the UN system to coordinate efforts to assist Member States harness the opportunities and meet the challenges of urbanization for the attainment of the SDGs. It builds upon earlier analytical work by HLCP, aligning it with Agenda 2030 and other global agreements and considers frontier issues, such as artificial intelligence and climate change, that will impact on sustainable urbanization.

Cities are in a unique position to be able to connect, bring communities together, celebrate diversity and inclusion. Interfaith Dialogues will offer delegates the opportunity meet, explore similjarities, challenge stereotypes and build relationships for healthier and sustainable communities.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations will host the Climate Action Summit in New York in September 2019 with the objective of boosting ambition and rapidly accelerate action to implement the Paris Agreement. The Secretary-General aims to demonstrate a leap in collective ambition with new commitments that have transformational impact, have sustainable development co-benefits, replicable and scalable, measurable and implementable, and innovative and visible.

With the adoption of the New Urban Agenda in 2016, sustainable urbanisation is now recognised as both a need and an opportunity for improved equality, prosperity, climate change action and resilience. Implementation of the New Urban Agenda and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals requires collaborative action by all actors in urban development, and UN-Habitat is responding to this by ensuring high-level engagement with business, industry and investors in line with its new strategic plan.

The streetscape design envisages Luthuli avenue as a safe, inclusive and vibrant retail corridor that not only provides a unique and quality environment for Nairobians and visitors but also provides creative features that promote the street as a public space and a driver for urban transformation.

The Forum provides an opportunity for stakeholders to address their role in fostering innovation for sustainable, inclusive and livable cities and communities in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the New Urban Agenda. The Forum will also provide an opportunity for stakeholders to identify ways to strengthen multi-stakeholder collaboration in implementing the New Urban Agenda and the SDGs in partnership with UN-Habitat as a focal point for sustainable urban development and human settlements within the United Nations System. The Stakeholders’ Collaborative Implementation Framework for the New Urban Agenda, which was discussed during the ninth World Urban Forum will provide a basis for consensus on a more coherent approach to partnership to achieve accelerated and sustainable results.

As the first country to launch a national implementation plan for the New Urban Agenda (NUA) during the sidelines of the 26th UNHABITAT Governing Council, Kenya is fully committed to the realization of the NUA shared vision of inclusive and sustainable cities and human settlements. Significant efforts have been directed towards the establishment and strengthening of the governance and management institutions at the urban levels as part of implementation of devolution.