UN-Habitat and its Public Space Mandate: From Programme to Network

José Chong; Diego Vivas; Katriya Bulutoglu

doi:10.32891/jps.v11i1.1910

Cover image: The Soupes de Belleville, a solidarity project during the pandemic, Belleville, April 2021. Photo by Adèle Madeux

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Published: Jun 29, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32891/jps.v11i1.1910

Keywords:

UN-Habitat public space Global Public Space Programme Global Public Space Network sustainable urban development

José Chong

UN-Habitat

Diego Vivas

UN-Habitat

Katriya Bulutoglu

UN-Habitat

Abstract

Over the past fifteen years, public space has gained increasing prominence within global urban policy discussions, particularly in relation to climate adaptation, urban liveability, and sustainable development goals. Despite growing recognition of its importance, cities continue to face increasing pressures from rapid urbanisation, land scarcity, and unequal access to quality public spaces. This paper gives a panorama of the evolution of the global public space agenda, with a particular focus on UN-Habitat’s role in advancing policy frameworks, measurement systems, and operational programmes. It highlights the consolidation of SDG indicator 11.7.1 as a Tier I metric and explores persistent regional disparities in access to open public space. The analysis further traces the development of the Global Public Space Programme (GPSP) and its transition towards a more decentralised Global Public Space Network (GPSN). Finally, the paper discusses emerging priorities in legislation, governance, and financing as critical pillars for ensuring the long-term accessibility, inclusiveness, and resilience of public spaces.

How to Cite

Chong, J., Vivas, D. and Bulutoglu, K. (2026) “UN-Habitat and its Public Space Mandate: From Programme to Network”, The Journal of Public Space, 11(1), pp. 247–252. doi: 10.32891/jps.v11i1.1910.

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 1 (2026): Rethinking Public Space Evaluation

Section

Viewpoints

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Author Biographies

José Chong, UN-Habitat

José Chong coordinates the Public Space and Urban Regeneration Team in the Planning and Economy Section of UN-Habitat. He advances inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities by promoting social, economic, and environmental transformation. Working with governments, UN agencies, and development partners, he addresses spatial inequalities, reduces poverty, and supports public spaces that are inclusive, connected, environmentally sustainable, and safe- contributing to vibrant neighborhoods, stronger social cohesion, local economic growth, and improved quality of life, especially for vulnerable groups.
At UN-Habitat, he recently served as Global Lead of the Global Public Space Programme and led Flagship Programme 1: Inclusive Communities, Thriving Cities, with a strong focus on urban regeneration. Through these initiatives, he supported multi-country programmes that positioned public space and urban regeneration as drivers of social inclusion, local economic development, climate action, and urban resilience, influencing national policies and citywide investment strategies.
With over 25 years of experience, he brings a multidisciplinary background spanning private sector work, non-profit project implementation, and policy development across government levels. He has also lectured on Architecture, Urban Design, Human Settlements, and Bioclimatic Urbanism.
He is a licensed architect from Ricardo Palma University (Peru) and holds postgraduate degrees in sustainable architecture, renewable energies, international cooperation, and emergency architecture from institutions in Spain and Germany.

Diego Vivas, UN-Habitat

Architect from the Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru (PUCP). He holds program specializations in Public Policy and Participatory Governance from the School of Government and Public Policy (EGPP–PUCP), and in Governability and Public Innovation from EGPP–PUCP and the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF). He is an Urban Planning Consultant at the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), Planning and Finance Section (PFS), since 2023.

Katriya Bulutoglu, UN-Habitat

Katriya Bulutoglu is a Public Space and Public Policy Expert at the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), where she works on global initiatives related to public space, urban resilience, housing and inclusive urban development. Her work focuses on developing policy guidance, research and capacity-building tools that support local governments and communities to create more equitable, sustainable and people-centred cities.
Prior to joining UN-Habitat, Katriya worked in local government at the Greater London Authority where she supported elected officials on policy and campaigns related to housing, biodiversity and environmental sustainability. Katriya holds a strong interest in the intersection of public space, social inclusion and urban governance, with particular focus on how participatory approaches can strengthen resilience and improve quality of life in cities.

References

United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) (2011) Report of the Governing Council of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme at its twenty-third session (11–15 April 2011): Resolution 23/4 – Sustainable urban development through access to quality urban public spaces. A/66/8. Nairobi: UN-Habitat.

United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) (2023) SDG 11 Synthesis Report: Rescuing SDG 11 for a resilient urban planet. Nairobi: UN-Habitat.

United Nations (n.d.) Sustainable Development Goal Indicators: Metadata repository. Available at: https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/metadata/ (Accessed: 10 June 2026).

United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) (n.d.) SDG Indicator 11.7.1: Open Public Spaces – Global Monitoring Dashboard. Available at: https://unhabitat.org/ (Accessed: 10 June 2026).

United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) (2025a) Annual Report 2024: Adequate Housing for All. Nairobi: UN-Habitat.

United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) (2025b) Global Public Space Programme: Annual Report 2024. Nairobi: UN-Habitat.

United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) (2025c) Legislation, Governance and Finance of Public Spaces. Nairobi: UN-Habitat.

The Journal of Public Space