A year ago, in March 2020, many cities and communities went into lockdown. The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, working hand-in-hand with the wider UN family, took action by providing immediate support in 17 countries with a focus on the most vulnerable communities. This may seem to be an inauspicious way to start the first year of the implementation of the UN-Habitat Strategic Plan 2020-2023 but twelve months on, we realize that our strategic focus is more relevant than ever.

Building on the Secretary-General's policy statement, the report aims to bring national and local governments together to ensure that policy is followed by practice. Cities and Pandemics: Towards a More Just, Green and Healthy Future provides the basis for the much needed locallevel action in spatial planning, poverty and inequality, the economy, and governance.

+INFO: UN-HABITAT

\IMAGE: UN-HABITAT