The UN-Habitat in cooperation with the Association of European Schools of Planning (AE-SOP) wish to announce the 1st European Urban Summer School (EUSS) for young professionals.
UN-Habitat together with the Polish Foundation in Support of Local Democracy (FSLD) are organizing a conference in Warsaw, 27-28 January 2011 on "Decentralisation - Twenty Years of Polish Local Governance: A Model for Transition?". The conference is supported by the Mazowiecki Voivod.
The report of the Warsaw Conference, Financing affordable housing and infrastructure in cities: towards innovative land and property taxation, 15-16 October 2009 is now available.
The Expert Group Meeting (EGM) on The State of Central and Eastern European Cities Report, jointly organized by the Warsaw Office of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) and the Institute of Urban Development (Instytut Rozwoyu Miast), was held in Krakow, Poland on 25-26 January 2010.
The first edition of the Regional Bulletin highlighting UN-Habitat global and regional activity is just released.
The International Conference on land and property taxation and financing infrastructural and housing development in urban areas, jointly organized by the Warsaw Office of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), the Global Land Tool Network (GLTN) and the Ministry of Infrastructure of the Republic of Poland, was successfully concluded last week in Warsaw.
As part of this year's World Habitat Day celebrations, the UN-HABITAT Warsaw office organized a one day conference, based on the theme of "Planning our urban future". The event was held together with World Architecture Day with the help of the Association of Polish Architects (SARP) and the Society of Polish City Planners (TUP).
Facing the financial turmoil, countries of Central, Eastern and South East Europe request UN-Habitat's support for innovative funding solutions for affordable housing
UN-UHABITAT Kosovo Office is looking for interns to work within a framework of 'Municipal Spatial Planning Support Programme' supporting by the Swedish Government. More information in English on "job opportunities" page.
Youth-led organizations working to improve urban living conditions in developing countries can now seek financing for their projects through a new UN-HABITAT fund provided by Norway, the agency announced on 25th March.
Among eligible countries are: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
UN-HABITAT?s Executive Director Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka has been named one of three winners of the 2009 Goeteborg Award, the prestigious 'Nobel Prize in Environment'.
The curtain came down on Friday 3 April, on the 22nd Session of the Governing Council of UN-HABITAT which was described as the most successful ever in the agency?s history.
On 24-25 February, UN-HABITAT Warsaw Office organized two consecutive meetings related to the activity of UN-HABITAT in Central, Eastern and Southern Europe.
Mayors and local authorities representing cities around the world gathered last week in Poznan, Poland, urged delegates attending a milestone session of climate change talks to ensure that cities are kept high on the agenda given that they are home to half the world's population and responsible for much of the emissions that cause climate change.
UN-HABITAT’s Executive Director, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, will join the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon and other senior officials in Poznan, Poland at the United Nations Climate Change Conference to discuss ways of adapting and mitigating against global climate change problems.
As delegates from around the world exchanged views in the newly built giant Nanjing convention and exhibition centre on Tuesday, the buzzwords on everyone's lips at the fourth session of the World Urban Forum, which started on 3 November, were "harmonious urbanization". Barely a speaker at the UN-HABITAT biennial gathering missed a chance to give their views of what a harmonious city is all about.
On 4 November UN-HABITAT unveiled a groundbreaking US$2 million fund to finance inspiring youth-led development projects around the world.
Mrs Anna K. Tibaijuka, Executive Director of UN-HABITAT said that the crisis should be viewed as a “housing finance crisis” in which the poorest of poor were left to fend for themselves.
"Clearly you cannot have a harmonious society if people are not secure in their homes", she told reporters on 23 October 2008 in London, at news conference to launch of the State of the World's Cities 2008/2009: Harmonious Cities, a flagship report published every two years by the UN agency.
More than 100 people in the premises of the Association of Polish Architects, SARP, in Warsaw took part in a conference “Environmentally Harmonious Cities. Coping with urbanisation and climate change” organised jointly on October 10th by the UN-HABITAT Warsaw Office and the Association. The event constituted a main element of the Polish celebrations of World Habitat Day 2008 and was held under the patronage of Minister of Infrastructure and Minister of Environment.
On Monday, October 6th in Luanda, Executive Director of UN-HABITAT Anna K. Tibaijuka together with Angolan President Jos Eduardo dos Santos and senior officials of his government participated in the global celebration of World Habitat Day 2008.
Many of the world's most pressing challenges - poverty, natural disasters, escalating prices for food and fuel - have important links with rapid urbanization.
Today we mark World Habitat Day at a time when the majority of the world’s people are living in towns and cities. The process is accelerating and this transformation has a direct bearing on the strategies that we must adopt to attain the Millennium Development Goals.
All those, who are interested in sustainable development of cities are invited to participate in a conference „Environmentally Harmonious Cities. Coping with urbanisation and climate change”. The event organised on 10 October 2008 constitutes the main element of Polish celebrations of World Habitat Day 2008. It will start at 10.00 am in the premises of Association of Polish Architects (SARP) at 2, Foksal Street in Warsaw. There is no entrance fee. Registration by email: przemyslaw.bobak@unhabitat.org or by phone: +22 661 97 23. The conference will be held in Polish.
The event has been registered in "Partnership for Climate", a platform of cooperation of the Polish Ministry of the Environment as UNFCCC COP 14 organiser and institutions and entities interested in education in terms of climate change prevention.
The United Nations has designated the first Monday in October each year as World Habitat Day. The idea is to reflect on the state of our towns and cities and the basic right to adequate shelter for all. It is also intended to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat.
During an initial inter-university joint course organised by Warsaw University within NOHA (Network on Humanitarian Assistance Universities) on 6 September 2008, a representative of the Office presented UN-HABITAT experience in mitigating effects of humanitarian crises.
For detailed requirements in Polish, please check oferty pracy page.
The Government of the People’s Republic of China has confirmed that the Fourth Session of the World Urban Forum, which is to be held in the city of Nanjing, will now take place between 3-6 November 2008. Deadline for booking a hotel room expires on 3 October 2008.
Please be informed that from 22 July 2008, the Office will be located at ul. Krucza 38/42, 00-512 Warsaw - Poland. Phone: (+48 22) 661 97 23, Fax: (+48 22) 661 97 24. Current email address remains valid. We apologize for any inconvenience caused.
In partnership with the China Real Estate Chamber of Commerce (CRECC) and the All China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC), UN-HABITAT is inviting the business community to submit best practices, technologies and business models that contribute to improving urban living through corporate responsible practices.
At the disposal of all those, who are interested in sustainable urban development we offer books and brochures, both in English and Polish, concerning the topic. Please consult the attached list which is regularly updated.
On 1st May 2008, Krzysztof Mularczyk has started his work as Director of the UN-HABITAT Warsaw Office. He replaced Marek Bryx, who left the Programme after more than two years of work.
A protocol to the Agreement between the Government of Poland and UN-HABITAT, signed on 17 April by the Polish Minister of Infrastructure Cezary Grabarczyk and Executive Director Anna Tibaijuka further clarifies conditions of the Polish support for the Programme’s Office in Warsaw.
During her open lecture "The Challenge of Urbanisation and the Role of UN-HABITAT" delivered on 18 April at the Warsaw School of Economics, UN-HABITAT Executive Director Anna K. Tibaijuka stressed the role of urbanisation as one of three mega-trends shaping our world’s societies and our daily lives.
The Executive Director of UN-HABITAT, Ms. Anna Tibaijuka, has commended the Government of Poland for its support to the organization. Ms. Tibaijuka made the commendation on 24 January while receiving the credentials from the new Polish Permanent Representative to UN-HABITAT, Ms. Anna M. Grupiska.
The Dubai International Award for Best Practices was established in 1995 under the directives of the late Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum during a United Nations International Conference. The biennial award, which recognizes best practices that have a positive impact on improving the living environment, reflects the policy and commitment of Dubai Government and the United Arab Emirates towards sustainable development of human settlements and protection of the environment on the basis of mutual international cooperation.
During the first conference of a cycle „Social aspects of construction and architecture” organised on 17 December 2007 under the patronage of UN-HABITAT Warsaw Office, participants debated on an issue of handicapped people in urban environment.
On 7 December, a representative of the UN-HABITAT Warsaw Office took part in a seminar “Together with UN for human rights” organised jointly by institutions representing UN System in Poland and Collegium Civitas – a private university acting under the auspices of the Polish Academy of Science.
UN-HABITAT’s Executive Director Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka told the United Nations Climate Change Conference on 12 December, it was no coincidence that climate change had emerged at the forefront of international debate at the same time, and virtually at the same pace, as the world becomes urbanised.
On 22 November 2007, “Tomorrow's Crises Today. The humanitarian impact of urbanisation” - the new publication by OCHA/IRIN, in collaboration with UN-HABITAT appeared. By describing situation of 10 cities from around the world and their poor inhabitants, the authors concentrate on urgent needs of urban population.
A PDF version of the book (in English) available on IRIN website, a link below.
At the European Commission’s 2nd European Development Days conference in Lisbon 7-9 November 2007, UN-HABITAT’s Executive Director, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, warned a meeting of European leaders and experts last week that they had to get to grips with the link between cities and climate change.
On 4 October 2007, an official visit by UN-HABITAT Deputy Executive Director Inga Bjrk-Klevby in the Central Library of Geography and Environmental Protection at the Institute of Geography
and Spatial Organization of the Polish Academy of Sciences inaugurated a cooperation between the Library and UN-HABITAT Warsaw Office.
On 24 October 2007, on the occasion of the UN Day, institutions representing the UN System in Poland, including UN-HABITAT Warsaw Office organised a conference entitled: “Poland in the UN-UN in Poland”. The event constituted an occasion to get acquainted with UN activities both in the world and in Poland, especially in the context of social development, eradication of poverty and social exclusion.
4 October, 2007, at the opening of the 102nd academic year at the Warsaw School of Economics, Marek Bryx - Director of the Office delivered an inaugural lecture “For the right to shelter all”. For the first time since 1989, an inaugural lecture at the School was devoted to the housing issues. In his talk, M.Bryx spent some time to describe UN-HABITAT’s activities around the world in the context of rapid urbanisation.
Senior Polish officials pledged on World Habitat Day to do all they can to make the country’s cities safer and more inclusive for all their citizens. “The quality of life in our cities depends to the great extent on the level of security. We are very much interested in learning how spatial planning may improve security of city inhabitants,” Poland’s Minister of Construction, Mr. Mirosaw Barszcz, said in a speech marking World Habitat Day.
Poster competition for students organised by the Office on the occasion of the World Habitat Day 2007 finished.
We are at the dawn of a new urban era. Half of humanity now live in towns and cities. It is estimated that by 2030, two-thirds of the world’s people will be urban dwellers.
The world’s poor are the worst affected by urban crime and violence, insecurity of tenure and forced eviction, and natural and human-made disasters, regardless of their geographical location, finds a new UN report launched today.
Please find attached a programme of a conference organised by our Office as a part of the Polish celebrations of World Habitat Day 2007.
The conference devoted to security in towns and human settlements will be organised on 3rd October, 2007 (Wednesday) in Warsaw. It will take place in the “C” building of the Warsaw School of Economics at 128, Aleje Niepodlegoci street. The entrance is free after registration. Deadline for registration 26th September, 2007 (Wednesday), however for organisational reasons, participants will be registered on the "first come first served" basis.
As a part of preparations for the Polish celebration of World Habitat Day 2007, on August 25th and September 4th, the Office together with a few of its WHD2007 partners: Fundacja WaWa, PlanetWaWa and District Hall Warszawa rdmiecie organized audit walks for women in the center of Warsaw. A group of 16 participants, accompanied by observers from Warsaw municipality, the Polish police and the media analysed a part of Warsaw central district.
We are inviting all interested parties, including representatives of central government, local authorities, civic society, private sector, as well as NGOs, media and academic circles to participate in the Polish celebrations of the World Habitat Day. They will take place in Warsaw on Wednesday 3rd October, 2007. Among the main guests of the event you will find the President of Warsaw, Hanna Gronkiewicz - Waltz and the Deputy Executive Director of UN-HABITAT, Ambassador Inga Bjrk-Klevby.
UN-HABITAT Warsaw Office has an honour to announce a poster competition for the occasion of World Habitat Day 2007, celebrated this year under the theme: A safe city is a just city (Miasto bezpieczne to miasto sprawiedliwe). Eligible participants are university students (m/f), under 35 years old. Main prize: 1000 PLN (subject to a possible increase).
The United Nations has designated the first Monday in October every year as World Habitat Day to reflect on the state of human settlements and the basic right to adequate shelter for all. It is also intended to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat.
Representatives of countries from Eastern, Southern and Central Europe gathered in the Extraordinary Meeting of the UN-HABITAT Warsaw Office Advisory Council in Bucharest (Romania), and continued discussion on possible support of UN-HABITAT to the housing and urban management sector in the region and means to strengthen collaboration between the respective countries and the UN-HABITAT Warsaw Office.
On 22 June 2007 in Bucharest, an Extraordinary Meeting of the UN-HABITAT Warsaw Office Advisory Council will take place. It is organized by the UN-HABITAT Warsaw Office, together with the Romanian Ministry of Development, Public Works and Housing.
It is only through collective effort that the Millennium Development Goals can be achieved for the sake of human wellbeing, livelihood, sustainable development and global peace and stability, UN-HABITAT Executive Director Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka has said.
On Friday 11th May, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, Under-Secretary -General and Executive Director of UN-Habitat addressed the Fifteenth Session of the Commission for Sustainable Development (CSD-15) at UN Headquarters in New York on the intersection of human settlements with the current CSD themes of energy for sustainable development; industrial development; air pollution/atmosphere; and climate change.
The twenty-first session of the Governing Council of UN-HABITAT last week approved a resolution proposed by the Government Kenya giving the agency with new policy instruments to fight urban poverty.
20th April 2007 on the occassion of the closing ceremony of the 21st Session of the Governing Council of UN-HABITAT Mrs. Anna Kajumulo Tibaijuka, Executive Director of the Programme made an official statement, in which she referred to the main outcomes of the session.
20th April 2007, the Governing Council of UN-HABITAT passed a landmark resolution providing new guidelines aimed at strengthening local authorities around the world.
Members of the UN-HABITAT Governing Council on Friday 20th April 2007 reaffirmed fresh support for the agency at the close of its twenty-first session after passing 10 resolutions aimed at taking the battle against urban poverty closer to slum dwellers than ever before.
17th April 2007, during the second day of the 21st Governing Council of UN-HABITAT in Nairobi, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Poland to the Programme, Ambassador Wojciech A. Jasinski made an official statement, in which he referred to the UN-HABITAT Warsaw Office.
The 21st Session of the Governing Council of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, (UN-HABITAT) will be held from 16 to 20 April 2007 at the UN-HABITAT headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. The session focused on the main theme of Sustainable Urbanization: local action for urban poverty reduction with an emphasis on finance and planning.
22nd March 2007 on the occassion of the World Water Day UN-HABITAT’s Executive Director, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, raised the alarm over the one billion people, many of them in urban areas, who do not have access to safe water. She appealed for urgent action to improve provision for water to the urban poor.
UN-HABITAT’s work in the transition economies of Central, Eastern and Southern European States, took a boost on 25-26 February, 2007 at the First meeting of the Advisory Council of the UN-HABITAT Warsaw Office, the agency’s newest regional centre.
27 February, 2007 Mme Anna K. Tibaijuka – Executive Director of UN-HABITAT, who stayed in Warsaw on the occasion of UN-HABITAT Warsaw Office Advisory Council meeting completed a day before, visited premises of the Office and met its staff.
On 25-26 February 2007 in Warsaw, first meeting of the UN-HABITAT Warsaw Office Advisory Council will take place. It is organized jointly by the UN-HABITAT Warsaw Office and the Ministry of Construction of the Republic of Poland.
In January 2007, the latest 2006/7 edition of "State of the World’s Cities" - a renowned report by UN-HABITAT appeared. As a leading subject of the Report, relation between the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and urban sustainability has been chosen.
On 22 January 2007 in Warsaw, representatives of the Office took part in the first meeting belonging to the series of meetings on “Good Business: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Really Pays Off”, dedicated to some practical solutions related to the socially responsible business.
On 18-19 January 2007, Marek Bryx – Director of the Office, participated in an annual retreat of the Regional and Technical Cooperation Division (RTCD). The meeting took place at the UN-HABITAT headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.
The head of UN-HABITAT's new Warsaw office has paid courtesy calls on ambassadors of more than 15 countries of central, eastern and southern Europe.
As part of its expansion programmes so as to effectively address human settlements concerns globally, UN-HABITAT on Monday officially opened a new office in Warsaw to serve central, eastern and southern Europe.
Ms. Inga Bjrk-Klevby, Deputy Executive Director of UN-HABITAT unveiled five priority areas that the agency will focus on in its regional activities in Europe.
