Expression of Interest 29 th January 2019 GLOBAL OBSERVANCE OF THE ANNUAL WORLD HABITAT DAY 2019 1. Introduction UN-Habitat is the United Nations programme working towards a better urban future. Its mission is to promote socially and environmentally sustainable human settlements development and the achievement of adequate shelter for all. The United Nations has designated every first Monday of October as World Habitat Day (WHD). UN-Habitat is the coordinating agency in the United Nations system to organize the annual global observation of the World Habitat Day, together with the host city. UN-Habitat is inviting cities to express their interest in hosting the global observation of the 2019 World Habitat Day which will be held on 7 October. As an open public event, the WHD also aims at raising awareness and media coverage of the host city and theme of the WHD. The host for World Habitat Day is the selected city together with UN-Habitat. 2. Background World Habitat Day was established in 1985 by the United Nations General Assembly through Resolution 40/202, and was first celebrated in 1986. The purpose of World Habitat Day is to remind the world that we all have the power and the responsibility to reflect on the state of our cities and towns and to shape the future. Each year, World Habitat Day takes on a new theme to bring attention to UN-Habitat s mandate and vision to promote sustainable urban development policies that ensure a better quality of life for all in an urbanizing world. The World Habitat Day will focus on promoting all levels of governments and stakeholders to reflect on how to implement concrete initiatives which ensure adequate and affordable housing in the context of the implementation of the New Urban Agenda, as well as the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which includes the standalone urban goal SDG 11, to make cities and human settlements safe, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable. 3. Link to UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award A key aspect of World Habitat Day is to reward best practices through presentation of the UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award. The UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour award was launched in 1989 and is one of the most prestigious human settlements award in the world. It aims to acknowledge initiatives which have made outstanding contributions in the field of human settlements, provision of housing, highlighting the plight of people living in poverty or who have been displaced, developing and improving human settlements and the quality of urban life to leave no one behind echoing the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 with emphasis on Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. 1
Expression of Interest The winners are selected each year through a Call for Nomination executed by UN-Habitat with the selection of a maximum of five winning initiatives. The host is encouraged to use the occasion to recognize best practices in the country and to promote significant new urban policies, programmes, or initiatives etc. towards sustainable urbanization with submitting nominees from the region. The winners will receive a plaque engraved with the name of the winner and will be presented during the Global Observance of the World Habitat Day celebrations. 4. Concept The main objective of WHD is to raise the international awareness of urbanization trends, challenges and visions for sustainable urban development, to promote international cooperation and make contributions to the global efforts in building equitable, prosperous and sustainable cities and improving people s living environment and quality. World Habitat Day is an advocacy event for UN-Habitat and the host city/country. It is a public event to be held in an open space if security allows around the theme to raise awareness with as wide a range of partners. Further, all efforts should be undertaken to ensure that the public is involved through either some engagement initiatives, or social/traditional media including TV, internet, radio, and banners placed in designated places within the city. 5. Participation UN-Habitat shall take the lead in inviting and mobilizing the United Nations system, relevant international organizations, civil society and all other relevant stakeholders to observe the WCD, with the assistance and financial contributions from the host of the global observance and other partners. The host is encouraged to mobilize the Head of State of the Government to grace the occasion of the global observance of the WHD and to invite other high-level Dignitaries, Ministers, Mayors and other stakeholders of the region. For this purpose, the invitation letter could be signed jointly by UN-Habitat and the host city. 6. Financial contribution To host the Global Observation of the WHD in 2019 a cash contribution of USD 350,000 (three hundred fifty thousand) to UN-Habitat is required. The contribution will serve for the planning, mobilizing stakeholders, travel, outreach activities, website, social media, design, communication, editing, programme, operations support, reporting and evaluation. It will also support the travel of the UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour winners. Ultimately it will support the overall advocacy and communication of WHD in various regions of the world. The details on commitments, roles and responsibilities, will be outlined in a legal document which will be signed by all parties involved. Additionally, the host city is required to provide an in-kind contribution of: the venue with its facilities; exhibition space; services; security within the city, around and within the venue; interpretation from English to the local language or other languages of high-level speakers; operational and logistical needs with respective human resources and international travel and local costs for key delegates from least developed countries (for information see Annex 1). 7. Selection Process and Criteria The selection will be made by a Committee led by the External Relations Director. The selection process of the global host for World Habitat Day will be guided on the following basis: a. Demonstration of good practice in the overall theme and the sub-theme of World Habitat Day b. Geographical balance c. Demonstration of ability and commitment to meet the conditions outlined in number 6 above and provided in more detail in the attached World Habitat Day hosting guide 2
Expression of Interest 8. Activities Activities to be undertaken in the global observation shall be developed on the availability of human and financial resources from the voluntary contributions. UN-Habitat will provide on the website advocacy tools and kits to maximize the outreach activities for other participating cities around the world in order to have a common branding and messaging of the theme and sub-theme for the 2019 WHD. Planned activities in other cities will be uploaded on the designated website as information becomes available. A detailed plan on responsibilities of UN-Habitat and the host will be provided well in advance. 9. Timeframe The closing date for receiving the Expression of Interest is 26 March 2019. The table below outlines important milestones and dates. Milestones Date Call for Expression of Interest open 29 January 2019 Deadline for receiving Expressions of Interest 26 March 2019 Outcome of selection process is communicated to the cities 5 April 2019 Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with financial commitment 23 May 2019 Formal announcement of the 2019 WHD Global Observance host city with its theme (after signing of MoU) during the First UN-Habitat Assembly 27-31 May 2019 10. Expression of Interest to host the 2019 WHD Global Observance A city wishing to express its interest to officially host the Global Observance in 2019 of the WHD is required to send an official communication (on letter head and with signature) in English language, reflecting within the commitment of the cash contribution of 350,000 USD to UN-Habitat, addressed to the UN-Habitat External Relations Director, Ms. Christine.Musisi. The official communication is be transmitted within the deadline via the following email addresses: unhabitatwhd@un.org, copying Christine.Musisi@un.org. Kindly note that any submission for the call for Expression of Interest not in English language, or not on official letterhead and duly signed or is received after the deadline will not be considered. 3
Annex 1 Hosting the World Habitat Day 2019 1. Main responsibilities of UN-Habitat UN-Habitat will designate a coordinator who will be working with the local organizing team. The main responsibilities will be: 1.1 Advice and support to logistics - To give guidance to the host on the preparation of World Habitat Day (WHD); - To assist with invitations of international guests; - To support logistics relating to international guests from outside the Host country; - To handle online registration of international participants; - To agree on venue and setting up of the same according to requirements; - To maintain the database and disseminate the invitations; 1.2 Invitations - To invite high level representatives of the United Nations system; relevant international organizations; civil society; representative of Member States, Mayors and other relevant stakeholders; - To invite representatives of the diplomatic community in the host country. 1.3 Publicity - To prepare on-line information kits and branding tools, World Habitat Day concept note, Statements, design posters and banners, invitation letters, programme of the day; - To inform governments on theme and location of WHD by its Executive Director; - To advertise WHD, Global Celebration, events around the world through all its available means including targeted newsletters, social media and internet adverts; - To prepare and disseminate press releases, and bring the event to the attention of the international media; - To develop a dedicated WHD page on the UN-Habitat website in English; 2. Main responsibilities of the Host The local host for the global observance of the WHD shall provide services and cover all local costs related with the preparation and organization of the WHD. The main responsibilities will be: 2.1 Invitations - To identify the senior officials from the national and representatives of major local authorities, research institutions, universities and NGOs; - To identify ministers from the region; - To identify, invite and secure a Master of Ceremony for the day; - To identify representatives of the diplomatic community in the host country. 4
2.2 Publicity - To advertise the WHD in the country and region; - To sensitize the local and international media prior to the WHD (Radio, TV & News Papers); - To organize a press conference on the WHD day; - To produce programme for the day and other agreed publicity material 2.3 Logistics - To provide an adequate venue with services and equipment; - To provide interpretation from English to the local language or another language spoken by high level guest speakers; - To provide assistance for hotel reservations for international (and local) participants; - To provide assistance for issuing visa invitations for international participants; - To handle and assist arrivals of international guests at the airport (visa); - To provide protocol and transport for high level participants including for UN-Habitat Executive Director; - To provide local transport; - To handle on-site registration with issuance of branded badges; - To host a reception for all participants; - To provide other required services as communicated by UN-Habitat; - To host a special session for Scroll of Honour winners to report on their best practices. 2.4 Security - To provide security at the venue and for high level participants; 2.5 Other activities - To organize local celebration activities; - To organize exhibitions in and/or outside of the venue; - To organize technical site visits if there are specific requirements from delegates; - To set up street banners and other publicity means; - To organize cultural shows during and/or after the main session of the WHD. 2.6 Elements of Host City cash contribution and in-kind by UN-Habitat - Communication and awareness raising activities; - Outreach activities for Urban October, starting from World Habitat Day to World Cities Day; - Promotion of World Habitat Day through designated website (in English); - Translation of promotional documents into the 6 UN languages and if applicable into the host country language if this differs from the other languages; - Promotion through social media and advocacy campaign, videos, designed branded tools (t-shirts, caps, etc.) for outreach activities; 5
- Cover international travel and local costs for key delegates from least developed countries; - Mobilization of high-level attendance and UN Secretary-General (video message); - Advocacy and communication support for the WHD preparation and implementation; - Field trip and official missions; - Staff to support adequate and timely preparations and activities; - Oversee on-site registration and issuance of badges on the day; - Reporting of the World Habitat Day. The cash contribution to UN-Habitat supports the overall advocacy and communication of WHD in various regions of the world. The above will be outlined in the overall Host Country Agreement as an Annex, reflecting also in-kind contribution by UN-Habitat and the host. 6