The UN-Habitat Executive Board, CPR, and UNHA bureaux convened in Mexico City, Mexico, from March 21st to 23rd, 2024. The meeting was hosted by the chair of the UN Habitat Assembly, with Ms. Alice Wahome, the Cabinet Secretary for Lands, Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development, attending as the chair of the bureau of the Executive Board representing the Africa Group. She was accompanied by Mr. Daniel Kottut, Charge d’ Affaires of the Kenya Permanent Mission to UN-Habitat, along with officers from the state departments for Housing and Urban Development and the Mission.
Key agenda items included preparations for the Global Celebration of World Habitat Day 2024 in Queretaro, Mexico; updates on the implementation of resolutions from the United Nations Habitat Assembly; the status of the next Strategic Plan 2026-2029; discussions on upcoming elections of UN-Habitat Governing Bodies and Executive Board membership; a briefing on the upcoming resumed second session of the United Nations Habitat Assembly in May 2025; preparations for the twelfth session of the World Urban Forum; contributions to upcoming priorities of the United Nations in 2024 and 2025, focusing on Multilevel Governance and Cooperation with Local and Regional Governments..
In her address, CS Alice Wahome, as the chair of the Bureau of the Executive Board, emphasized the significance of the 10 substantive resolutions and the Ministerial declaration adopted during the last session of the Assembly. She noted that these resolutions establish global norms and standards, which will greatly influence the global agenda on sustainable urbanization. CS Alice Wahome highlighted that the outcomes of this session will prompt action by Member States on common challenges such as housing, urban planning, climate change, and slum upgrading. She also stressed the importance of positioning UN-Habitat as the focal point within the UN System for the New Urban Agenda and in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11).
The Cabinet Secretary emphasized the significance of commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of UN-Habitat with an event planned in Nairobi before the third regular session of the United Nations Habitat Assembly (UN-Habitat @50). Kenya expressed eagerness to host and contribute to this milestone celebration. Additionally, she praised the Executive Board's work and highlighted their commitment to follow up on decisions made in their last meeting in November 2023. Furthermore, Kenya affirmed its dedication to the Building Climate Resilience of the Urban Poor (BCRUP) initiative, with its strategy plan launched by Kenya's President, H.E. Dr. William Ruto, at the Africa Climate Summit, and its implementation launched in COP 28.