Keynote paper to conference in Belgrade organised by the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure of the Republic of Serbia, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and United Nations Human Settlements Programme to support the UNDA programme 'Strengthening National Capacities for Sustainable Housing' in selected countries with economies in transition including Armenia, Republic of Moldova, Serbia and Tajikistan. Working together the partners have assembled international panel of expertise to assist the programme and to undertake specialist missions to the host countries. This paper looks at best practice in city design with case studies elected from around the UNECE region of the UN. The objective of the missions to assist national governments in the formulation and implementation of relevant policies and by developing the National Action Plans (NAPs) for Sustainable Housing, Urban Development and Land Management.