Multilateral Aid Review summary - United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT)

UN–HABITAT is the UN programme for human settlements.  It aims to help the urban poor by transforming cities into safer, healthier, greener places with better opportunities where everyone can live in dignity.

	comment
Contribution to UK development objectives	Weak
	+	UN-HABITAT is the only agency focused specifically on improving human settlements.  Its activities support MDG 7, especially sustainable development, water and sanitation and improving the lives of slum dwellers.
	_	There is little evidence to suggest UN-HABITAT has been critical in delivering against HMG development priorities due to the small scale and limited scope of its operations.
	_	Many of the issues it works on are covered by other organisations (e.g. UNDP, UNICEF).
	+	UN-HABITAT has policy/ operational guidance in place and is developing a monitoring framework to measure its effectiveness in fragile states.
	+	UN-HABITAT is doing some important work on promoting gender equality and has good policies and structures in place.
	_	It is difficult to determine the impact of its gender work at a global level.
Organisational strengths	Unsatisfactory
	_	There is no evidence that UN-HABITAT is controlling administrative costs or focusing on where it can add the greatest value.
	_	UN-HABITAT’s strategic plan is weak; it has remained resistant to embedding results-based management and evaluation.
	+	UN-HABITAT puts an emphasis on community-based initiatives; has a strong focus on the most marginalised and has a good reputation with project partners.
	_	Institutional performance has been a major concern of donors and is judged to be weak.
	+	UN-HABITAT’s governing board allows partner countries to participate fully in decision-making.
	_	UN-HABITAT does not operate under a presumption of disclosure.  It provides some information on projects to the governing body, but does not publish full details on project performance.
	_	Like other UN institutions UN-HABITAT is weak on transparency but stronger on accountability to partner governments
Capacity for positive change	Uncertain
	_	While some reform efforts are underway the organisation’s track record on improvements is not strong.