Moscow and UN‑Habitat Strengthen Partnership in Sustainable Development

On April 27, a working meeting between representatives of the Government of Moscow and a delegation from the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN‑Habitat) took place at the Moscow Government’s Situational Center. The event marked the beginning of a new phase of cooperation in sustainable urban development.

The UN‑Habitat delegation was led by Erfan Ali, Director of the Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, who assumed this position in December 2025. This visit was his first official trip to Moscow.

During the talks, participants discussed Moscow’s achievements in sustainable development and current urban projects. The focus was on:

• renovation programs;
• integrated territorial development initiatives;
• the implementation of digital solutions in education, healthcare, and urban safety.

Sergey Cheremin, Minister of the Government of Moscow and Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations, emphasized the capital’s intention to expand international cooperation and share experience within the UN‑Habitat framework: “Moscow maintains active interaction with major international organizations, institutions, and other UN bodies.”

The main outcome of the meeting was the signing of an agreement between the Moscow Government and UN‑Habitat to develop a Voluntary Local Review of the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This document will allow the city to assess its progress across all 17 areas of the 2030 Agenda.

The Department for External Economic and International Relations of Moscow will continue its systematic work to strengthen partnership with UN bodies, with the goal of integrating international sustainable development standards in a megacity context.