The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) plans to open a programme or project office in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, in the near future, Erfan Ali, UN-Habitat Regional Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said at a conference held within the framework of WUF13, APA reports.
According to him, the organization’s activities currently cover 25 countries, including Eastern Europe, Southern Europe, the Western Balkans, Türkiye, Russia, the Caucasus and Central Asia. The regional office is located in Istanbul. Country programmes are currently operating in Kyiv, Moscow, Kosovo and Baku.
Erfan Ali noted that the region is facing rapid urbanization and the effects of climate change. Recalling the devastating earthquake that occurred in Türkiye two years ago, he stressed that the countries of the region are vulnerable to natural disaster risks.
According to the UN-Habitat representative, the organization prioritizes strengthening urban governance, cooperation with local governments, affordable housing policy, climate action and the development of sustainable infrastructure in its activities.
It was reported that urban housing profiles are currently being prepared in Moldova, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, and work is underway on housing policy strategies. At the same time, UN-Habitat is cooperating with the government and the European Commission to improve housing legislation in Ukraine.
