On 8 October 2021 a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between WHO and UN-HABITAT, with the aim of furthering their shared goals and objectives and accelerating action to improve urban health. The MoU highlights collaborative work on specific technical themes as they relate to urban settings, including urban planning and health; NCD and injury prevention; environmental health; emergency preparedness and response; health and migration; environmental management of vector-borne diseases; safe and healthy housing; and safer and healthier diets. It calls for joint programming in areas such as policy development, data collection, research, capacity building and advocacy.
In recognition of the potential gains to be made through cooperation on global agenda such as the “triple billion” targets of WHO’s Thirteenth General Programme of Work 2019-2023, implementation of The New Urban Agenda and realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the MoU seeks to reap the rewards of a stronger emphasis on urban health in WHO and UN-HABITAT in recent years. Signed by the heads of WHO and UN-HABITAT, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Maimunah Mohd Sharif respectively, the MoU will facilitate engagement of colleagues from the two agencies, including at regional and country levels.
The COVID-19 pandemic has reminded society of the importance of urban environments for health. Urbanization, if managed properly, can support progress towards a healthier, greener, safer, more inclusive and resilient future. The MoU reflects this spirit.