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South Africa and UN-Habitat will launch a new country office in the City of Tshwane, Gauteng, on Friday, August 14, 2026. Executive Director of UN-Habitat, Anacláudia Rossbach, will join South African Minister of Human Settlements, Thembi Simelane, for the launch during her first official visit to South Africa.
The launch marks a new chapter in the partnership between South Africa and UN-Habitat, strengthening cooperation on adequate housing, human settlements and sustainable urban development.
It comes at a time of rapid urban change in South Africa, with the country drawing on extensive experience and expertise in housing, human settlements and urban development while continuing to address challenges including spatial inequality, access to land and basic services, informal settlements and the growing impacts of climate change. South Africa’s experience and innovation position it to share valuable lessons and solutions across Africa and globally, including through greater cooperation across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
A new chapter in the South Africa–UN-Habitat partnership
Approved by Cabinet in March 2024, the establishment of the country office and country programme is said to be a milestone in the joint cooperation framework between the Government of South Africa and UN-Habitat, supporting national priorities including spatial transformation, urban development, housing and sustainable human settlements.
Aligned with the National Development Plan 2030 and the 2024–2029 Medium-Term Development Plan, the office will support South Africa in advancing its priorities on spatial transformation, human settlements and local government through strategic guidance, technical assistance and partnerships. It will also support implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 11, the New Urban Agenda and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
“Ultimately, this office is about partnership and delivery. It is about bringing the United Nations closer to where urban transformation actually happens – in cities and communities,” Ms. Rossbach said in an interview ahead of the visit.
The launch comes as countries around the world seek to address growing pressures on housing and human settlements. Up to 3.4 billion people are affected by housing inadequacy globally, including more than 1.1 billion people who live in informal settlements and slums.
The partnership will combine UN-Habitat’s global experience with South Africa’s expertise, adapting solutions to the country’s context and priorities.
The UN-Habitat country office will work closely with the UN Country Team, building on the existing UN presence and capacities in the country and contributing to a coordinated UN approach. The work will align with the recently adopted UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, ensuring that UN-Habitat’s expertise on adequate housing, the transformation of informal settlements, sustainable urban development and climate resilience contributes to the UN system’s broader support for sustainable development. During her visit, Ms. Rossbach will meet with the UN Resident Coordinator and members of the United Nations Country Team.
Strengthening the regional urban agenda
Ahead of the launch, the Executive Director of UN-Habitat will engage with local authorities through a project visit in eThekwini. Local and regional governments play a key role in delivering adequate and affordable housing and transforming informal settlements and slums.
While the country office will support South Africa, it will also present an opportunity to strengthen knowledge exchange and cooperation across the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region. UN-Habitat already works in Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
South Africa’s experience in addressing informal settlements, spatial inequality and sustainable urban development is set to offer valuable knowledge and lessons for other countries facing similar urbanization challenges.
Placing women at the centre of housing and human settlements
Following the launch, Minister Simelane and the Executive Director of UN-Habitat will also take part in a women’s month engagement reaffirming their shared commitment to gender-responsive human settlements, equitable access to housing and land, and the economic empowerment of women.
This engagement will highlight the importance of secure housing and tenure to women’s dignity, safety and economic empowerment, and the need for women to have a meaningful voice in decisions on housing, public space, transport, safety and access to basic services.
