Introducing the
Sustainable Human Settlements Foundation
The Sustainable Human Settlements Foundation (“the Foundation”) was founded in Jersey on 15 February 2021 and is registered with the Jersey Financial Services Commission with number FD403.
The purpose of the Foundation is to advance citizenship and community development including urban regeneration. Specifically, the Foundation is established to assist UN-Habitat.
Who is UN-Habitat?
UN-Habitat is part of the United Nations, and comprises a three-tier structure made up of the United Nations Habitat Assembly of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, its Executive Board and its Committee of Permanent Representatives, as brought into being by resolution A/RES/73/239 of the General Assembly of the United Nations and as the same may be modified over time.
Its vision is of “a better quality of life for all in an urbanizing world” – both bold and ambitious, but important. UN-Habitat works with partners to build inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and communities. UN-Habitat promotes urbanization as a positive transformative force for people and communities, reducing inequality, discrimination and poverty.
How does UN-Habitat do this?
UN-Habitat works in over 90 countries to promote transformative change in cities and human settlements through knowledge, policy advice, technical assistance and collaborative action.
UN-Habitat’s new strategic plan 2020-2023 adopts a more strategic and integrated approach to solving the challenges and opportunities of twenty-first century cities and other human settlements.
Their mission includes;
What are we about?
The Foundation has been established to provide a transparent structure in which to pool donations in an endowment that will be invested for the benefit of UN-Habitat to provide continued funding support for its unfunded programme to perpetuity.
In particular, the aim is to provide ongoing financial support to allow UN-Habitat to meet the objectives of its rolling Strategic Plan, which is currently focused in the areas of:
What are we seeking?
Our aim is to raise a minimum of USD 1 billion that will provide real sustainable funding support annually.
Our target donors?
Our target donors include corporates, governments and government agencies, foundations, family offices and ultra-high net worth individuals.
Why Jersey?
Jersey is a leading international financial centre, that complies with international initiatives in respect of anti-money laundering, financial crime and tax transparency.
Located in the English Channel, it is a Crown Dependency, independent and a part of the British Isles. It has a well- established judiciary and leading professional services industry.
Donor requirements
All Donors are required to complete the Foundation’s stringent compliance checks, particularly in respect of money laundering, financial crime and combating the financing of terrorism.
Specifically, Donors (or their authorised agents) must provide details of who they are, how they have generated their wealth, and where the funds to be donated come from.
Our guide attached hereto, sets out the requirements for each type of Donor.
Benefits for Donors
Donors may be able to claim favourable tax benefits in their home jurisdictions from donations made to the Foundation, or the Foundation’s associated charitable funding vechicles established in their jurisdiction.
What next?
All parties expressing an interest in donating to the Foundation, must complete the downloadable “Expression of Interest form”.
By doing so, the Foundation will write to you to set out the specific due diligence requirements that it will need to complete.
Downloads
