Sustainable Cities and Communities

Governments are reporting the highest levels of satisfaction with UN development support since reforms of the development system began nearly a decade ago. But continued progress will depend on sustained political engagement and more predictable financing.

Young leaders across the globe are solving environmental and human development challenges by improving how people interact with nature, valuing diverse ways of thinking and enabling more inclusive participation in shaping solutions.

Nestled in the Ring of Fire, Tonga is the world's second most at-risk country to natural hazards. Under the leadership of the Resident Coordinator, the UN is working with partners to chart a future for the island that is not only resilient, but also sustainable.

With an energy system facing longstanding challenges, the Philippines and the UN are working together both nationally and in local communities to implement clean energy solutions, improve efficiency, strengthen resilience and ensure an inclusive green transition.

With funding from the Joint SDG Fund and partners, a UN-supported programme leverages AI to help municipalities respond more effectively to everyday needs while supporting equitable, transparent and people-centered local governance in Guatemala.

After Cyclone Ditwah devastated parts of Sri Lanka, many communities were still able to access essential everyday documents thanks to support from OneRegistry, a UN Joint Programme working with the Government to digitise the civil registration system.

In the lush Bolivian Amazon, a UN programme promotes sustainable agricultural practices that improve productivity while conserving biodiversity. Small-scale producers working with the programme are translating their harvests into existing international value chains.

With support from the UN and partners, a new solar-powered borehole in Kenya's Wajir County is bringing clean water closer to home for over 9,200 people and thousands of livestock, easing daily hardship in the drought-prone region.

Hurricane Melissa upended lives and livelihoods when it struck Jamaica in late October. But coordination between the UN and partners is bridging gaps in goods and services, ensuring a resilient recovery that reflects the island's community spirit.

As climate change pressures natural resources and intensifies disaster hazards, Tajikistan is building on its longstanding water leadership by leveraging new AI technologies that sustainably manage water sources and enhance climate resilience.

UN agencies are coordinating with local and national authorities in Ukraine to combine emergency response with longer-term initiatives, ensuring that support reaches the most vulnerable amid continuous energy disruptions.

With financing from the Joint SDG Fund, a new UN programme is supporting local governments in Georgia to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals with new planning tools, partnerships across industries and systems for tracking results.

The UN and partners organized a public awareness week in Dili that prepared students for tsunamis through educational activities and a memorable song produced by local artists, ensuring an inclusive future where no one is left behind.

With most Comorians living within two kilometres of the coast, the UN and partners are supporting investments that will safeguard 140,000 residents by restoring, protecting and sustainably managing the natural resources that comprise the islands' natural defences.

As climate hazards increasingly impact national planning and daily life in Palau, the UN is working with the Government and civil society to build resilient shelters that support people, planet, prosperity and peace, ensuring that no one is left behind.