The second co-chair of the Group is the Ambassador of Zimbabwe – Albert Chimbindi. Previously, this function was organized by the ambassadors of Slovakia and Botswana.

Szczerski deputy chairman of the UN-Habitat Friends Group

As we read in the communiqué of the Polish delegation to the UN, the Group brings together several dozen UN member states and “focusing on urban development issues” and “providing an important platform for the exchange of good practices and experiences in this field”. This forum supports the mandate of the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat) based in Nairobi. UN-Habitat, or the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, is a United Nations agency established in 1978 to deal with urbanization and human settlements, with a particular emphasis on the promotion of sustainable development in urban areas.

– Poland has very specific achievements in the field of sustainable urbanization, therefore it is a natural step for us to lead the UN group working on this issue. As part of the group work, we aim to support the exchange of good practices, helping to reduce development disparities in different regions of the world. A well-functioning city contributes to improving the quality of life and development of the whole society. This is important because currently more than half of the world’s population lives in cities, by 2050 it will be 70 percent. – said the embassy quoted in the communiqué Christopher Szczerski.

The press release also emphasizes that “chairing the UN-Habitat Friends Group is not Poland’s first activity on this subject – in June last year, in Katowice, the 11th session of the World Urban Forum 11, the largest and most important event under the auspices of the United Nations which dedicated to the creation and implementation of urban policies in the world.

Also read:

Amb. @KSczerski Become a co-chair of the Group of Friends of @UNHABITAT together with Amb. from Zimbabwe, Albert Chimbindi 🇿🇼.

Poland 🇵🇱 is honored and ready to contribute further to the discussion on sustainable urbanization! pic.twitter.com/6yryPmkYdZ

— Poland at the UN (@PLinUN) January 18, 2023

PAP/umo