Abu dhabi: Thirty-six percent of UN member states have already submitted their Voluntary National Reports, Edlam Abera, Head of the Knowledge and Innovation Branch of the UN-Habitat, said at the event titled 'Our Joint Efforts for the Next 10 Years on the New Urban Agenda (NUA)' held within the framework of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), APA reports. According to him, the New Urban Agenda will be implemented until 2036.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Edlam Abera highlighted that although 10 years may seem like a long period, it is not, as time has moved quickly from 2016 to 2026. He briefly explained that UN-Habitat has been actively engaged in evaluating progress over the last decade. This evaluation has involved collaboration with numerous stakeholders and decision-makers worldwide, employing several methods to assess the progress. One of the primary means of assessment is through the Voluntary National Reports submitted by member states.

Abera noted the positive development of increased report submissions from member states. He pointed out that 70 member states have submitted national reports, dedicating time and resources to the process, which signifies their commitment to the New Urban Agenda and its implementation over the next decade. This figure represents 36% of UN member countries and marks an improvement from the reporting period four years ago. Abera expressed satisfaction with this increase, considering it an extremely positive development in the ongoing efforts toward the New Urban Agenda.