World Habitat Day, a globally recognized event, marks the commencement of ‘Urban October’ every year on the first Monday of October.
World Habitat Day, a globally recognized event, marks the commencement of ‘Urban October’ every year on the first Monday of October. The inaugural World Habitat Day was hosted in Nairobi, Kenya, in 1986, centered around the theme ‘Shelter is my right.’
This year, World Habitat Day 2023 adopts the theme of “Resilient Urban Economies: Cities as Drivers of Growth and Recovery.” The key objective of this event is to gather influential stakeholders from cities worldwide to deliberate on strategies for rejuvenating urban centers in the aftermath of the dual impacts of Covid-19 and conflicts on the global economy, as stated by the UN in its concept note.
The objectives of World Habitat Day 2023 include:
Addressing Economic Slowdown:
This involves a comprehensive examination of the various facets of the economic slowdown affecting cities, with a focus on identifying actionable measures that cities can implement to stimulate economic recovery.
Facilitating Knowledge Sharing:
The event seeks to create a platform for cities to exchange experiences, enabling them to learn from one another’s approaches in combatting inflationary pressures and navigating the challenges posed by the global financial landscape.
According to the United Nations, for economic growth and recovery to be sustainable, cities must be equipped to absorb, rebound, and prepare for potential future economic shocks. Additionally, these efforts should align with green recovery frameworks, encouraging increased investments in both the public and private sectors to transition towards a climate-neutral economy in a post-Covid world.
A significant highlight of World Habitat Day is the prestigious UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Awards. Initiated in 1989 by the United Nations agency dedicated to sustainable urbanization, UN-Habitat, these awards aim to acknowledge outstanding contributions by individuals and institutions to urban development. Awardees are recognized for their exceptional work in enhancing the quality of urban life and for their efforts in providing adequate, affordable, and accessible housing.
With preparations underway worldwide, cities are poised to engage in constructive dialogues to seek solutions that will strengthen urban economies and foster sustainable growth in a dynamically changing world as World Habitat Day 2023 approaches.