Armed conflict, natural disasters and climate-related shocks have forced more than 123 million people worldwide to flee their homes, with over 60 per cent now living in cities. Urban areas have become central spaces of displacement and recovery, intensifying housing shortages and social inequalities. Displacement undermines social cohesion by deepening exclusion and weakening trust between communities and the state. For low-income households, the loss of housing often means losing their most important asset and social security, while vulnerable groups face heightened risks of marginalisation.
This session demonstrates how municipal social housing can function as a rights-based urban response to displacement, recovery and resilience. By ensuring equitable access to adequate and affordable homes, social housing enables social participation, supports the integration of displaced people and host communities and makes state capacity visible at the local level. It contributes directly to SDGs 10, 11 and 16 by reducing inequalities, promoting inclusive urban development, and strengthening accountable institutions through the protection of housing rights. As emphasised in the New Urban Agenda and Leipzig Charter, mixed neighbourhoods and integrated urban planning are central to effective municipal social housing. The session highlights the role of municipalities and their partnerships in delivering integrated housing solutions that link immediate recovery needs with long-term resilience.
The case of Ukraine shows how municipal social housing strategies can foster social cohesion despite severe institutional pressure caused by large-scale housing destruction and displacement resulting from dynamic situation, including of displacement. To strengthen municipal capacities, GIZ supports pilot cities through evidence-based housing needs assessments, the establishment of municipal housing companies, municipal and management partnerships, and operational housing models aligned with national reforms. These measures are embedded in a holistic, resilience-oriented urban development approach that integrates inclusion and accessibility, energy-efficient rehabilitation and the mobilisation of international financial instruments. Based on the Ukrainian experience, the session formulates practical recommendations for municipal social housing in post-war or post-disaster contexts, e.g. Syria, and demonstrates how social housing can serve as a cornerstone for inclusive, resilient and just urban recovery.