With reference to the role of UN-Habitat in the United Nations programme working towards a better urban future, which of the statements is/are correct? 1. UN-Habitat has been mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities to provide adequate shelter for all. 2. Its partners are either governments or local urban authorities only. 3. UN-Habitat contributes to the overall objective of the United Nations system to reduce poverty and to promote access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. Select the correct answer using the code given below;

The correct answer is B (1 and 3 only). UN-Habitat, headquartered in Nairobi, was set up under the UN General Assembly (resolution 3327 of 1974, later strengthened by the 1996 Istanbul Habitat Agenda). Its job is to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with adequate shelter for all. So Statement 1 is correct.

Statement 2 is wrong. Its partners are not limited to governments and local authorities. It works with civil society, NGOs, the private sector, academia, grassroots groups and other UN agencies. Watch for the word 'only' in such statements.

Statement 3 is correct. UN-Habitat's work is tied to the UN goal of reducing poverty and improving access to safe water and sanitation. Earlier this was linked to MDG 7. Since 2015 the framework has moved to the SDGs, mainly SDG 11 (sustainable cities) and SDG 6 (water and sanitation), so you should read the statement in that updated context.

Core concept: the mandate and partnership structure of UN agencies. For Mains, this links to urban governance, slum upgrading and the New Urban Agenda adopted at Habitat III in Quito, 2016.

Trap: Aspirants often reject Statement 3 because they think UN-Habitat handles only housing. Its portfolio is wider and includes the poverty and water-sanitation objectives.