UNGIS

GA res. 32/162 (1977) established the Governing Council of the UN Human Settlements Programme and its Secretariat, the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) (previously known as the UN Centre for Human Settlements). UN-HABITAT, which has its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, is charged with coordinating human settlement activities within the UN system and facilitating the global exchange of information on shelter and sustainable urban development. It also assists countries with policy and technical advice in solving their human settlement problems.

UN-HABITAT has four main objectives to:

• Promote the development of socially and environmentally sustainable human settlements and the achievement of adequate shelter for all
• Research and conduct monitoring to coordinate global efforts both within and outside the UN
• Promote technical cooperation and provide technical support to national and local governments and other partners
• Promote greater international cooperation in order to increase financing for human settlements.

Working mainly in developing countries and in countries recovering from conflict and disaster, UN-HABITAT helps governments create policies and strategies aimed at strengthening management capacity at both national and local levels. It focuses on promoting shelter for all including slum prevention and slum upgrading, improving urban governance, reducing urban poverty, improving the living environment, helping cities deal with clitnate change problem and threats, and managing disaster mitigation and post-conflict rehabilitation.