UN-Habitat Global Country Activities Report: 2015 - Increasing Synergy For Greater National Ownership

UN-Habitat Global Activities Report 2015
INCREASING SYNERGY FOR GREATER NATIONAL OWNERSHIP
The UN-Habitat Global Activities Report is an historical progress report to

the Governing Council that takes into account developments in addressing
the project portfolio of the United Nations Human Settlement Programme
UN-HABITAT
UN-HABITAT GLOBAL
GLOBAL
(UN-Habitat) at the national, regional and global levels.
Over the years, the report – formerly known as the operational activity report
ACTIVITIES
ACTIVITIES REPORT
REPORT 2015 2015
– has been transmitted to the Governing Council on a biennial basis as an
information document that provides project portfolio trend analysis based on INCREASING
INCREASING SYNERGYSYNERGY
FOR FOR
project acquisition and expenditures.
The Programme’s work has been focused on promoting national urban policy
GREATERGREATER NATIONAL
NATIONAL OWNERSHIP
OWNERSHIP
reforms together with building institutional and human capacities, including
providing support to Governments in the implementation of national urban
plans. UN-Habitat activities and programmes at the global, regional and national
levels are crucial in increasing synergies for greater national ownership of the
various sustainable urban development tools and best practices being promoted
by the United Nations and Habitat Agenda partners around the world.
The report is available from www.unhabitat.org/gc25documents.
HS/028/15E
ISBN(Series): 978-92-1-133406-7
ISBN(Volume): 978-92-1-132652-9
UNITED NATIONS HUMAN SETTLEMENTS PROGRAMME

P.O.Box 30030,Nairobi 00100,Kenya;
Tel: +254-20-76263120; Fax: +254-20-76234266/7 (central office);
infohabitat@unhabitat.org www.unhabitat.org
UN-HABITAT GLOBAL
ACTIVITIES REPORT 2015
INCREASING SYNERGY FOR
GREATER NATIONAL OWNERSHIP
UN-HABITAT GLOBAL
ACTIVITIES REPORT 2015
INCREASING SYNERGY FOR
GREATER NATIONAL OWNERSHIP
Copyright © United Nations Human Settlements Programme 2015
All rights reserved

United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)
P. O. Box 30030, 00100 Nairobi GPO KENYA
Tel: 254-020-7623120 (Central Office)
www.unhabitat.org
HS/028/15E
ISBN(Series): 978-92-1-133406-7
ISBN(Volume): 978-92-1-132652-9
Disclaimer
The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion
whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or
of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers of boundaries.
Views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, the
United Nations, or its Member States.
Excerpts may be reproduced without authorization, on condition that the source is indicated.
Acknowledgement
Director: Alioune Badiane
Principal Authors: Abdallah Kassim, Amrita Jaidka, Alain Kanyinda, Ben Arimah, Jianguo Shen,
Raymond Otieno Otieno
Contributors: Ananda Weliwita, Andre Dzikus, Axumite Gebre-Egziabher,
Channe Oguzhan, David Evans, Dyfed Aubrey,
Elkin Velasquez, Gulelat Kebede, Jean duPlessis,
Joe Hooper, Katja Schaefer, Leila Valente Sirica,
Mutinta Munyati, Paula Pennanen, Paulius Kulikauskas,
Pireh Otieno, Raf Tuts, Remy Sietchiping, Yoshinobu Fukasawa
Design and Layout: Andrew Ondoo
Printing: UNON Publishing Services Section, Nairobi-ISO 14001-certified/cm
UN-HABITAT GLOBAL ACTIVITIES REPORT 2015

II INCREASING SYNERGY FOR GREATER NATIONAL OWNERSHIP
ACRONYMS
AND ABBREVIATIONS
ACP African, Caribbean and Pacific HVWSHE Human Values Based in Water, SIDA Swedish International Development
ADB African Development Bank Sanitation and Hygiene Education Cooperation Agency
ADB Asia Development Bank IASC Inter Agency Standing Committee STDM Social Tenure Domain Model
AFD Agence Française de IBRD/WB International Bank for SUDP Sustainable Urban Development
Développement Reconstruction and Programme
Development/World Bank SUSTRAN Promoting Sustainable Transport
AFD French Development Agency
IDPs Internally displaced persons Solutions for East African Cities
AMCHUD African Ministerial Conference on
Housing and Urban Development INU National Planning Institute UCLG United Cities and local Governments
ASUD Achieving Sustainable Urban IOM International Organization for ULN Urban Legal Network
Development Migration* UN United Nations
AusAID Australian Agency for International ISUDP Integrated Strategic Urban UNCT United Nations Country Team
Development Development Plan
UNDP United Nations Development
BMBF German Federal Ministry for ITDP Institute of Transport Development Programme*
Education and Research and Policy
UNEP United Nations Environment
CPI City Prosperity Index JICA Japan International Cooperation Programme*
Agency
DfID Department for International UNESCAP United Nations Economic and
Development KMP Kenya Municipal Programme Social Commission for Asia and
EAC East African Community MDGs Millennium Development Goals the Pacific
EC European Commission MTSIP Medium Term Strategic and UNESCO United Nations Educational,
Institutional Plan Scientific and Cultural
ENEL Foundation
NGOs Non-Governmental Organizations Organization*
EU European Union
NSDFU National Slum Dwellers Federation UNFPA United Nations Population Fund*
EU-UDG European Union Urban
OCHA Office for Coordination of UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund*
Development Group
Humanitarian Affairs UNMEER United Nations Mission for Ebola
FAO Food and Agriculture Organization
OECS Organization of Eastern Caribbean Emergency Response
of the United Nations
States UNOHCHR Office of the United Nations
FF The Ford Foundation
PAG Project Advisory Group High Commissioner for
FMDV Global Fund for Cities Development
Human Rights
PI Plan International
GDP Gross Domestic Product
UNOPS United Nations Office for
PILaR Participatory and Inclusive Land
GEC Gender Evaluation Criteria Project Services*
Readjustment
GEF Global Environment Facility UPPR Urban Partnerships for
RAMA Network of Metropolitan Areas
GEMI Global Expanded Monitoring Poverty Reduction
of the Americas
Initiative USAID United Sates Agency for
RP Rapid Planning
GiZ Deutsche Gesellschaft für International Development
RUSPS Rapid Urban Sector Profiling for
Internationale Zusammenarbeit WASH Water and Sanitation
Sustainability
GFCD Global Fund for Cities Development WB World Bank
SDC Swiss Agency for Development
GLTN Global Land Tool Network WHO World Health Organization*
and Cooperation
GWOPA Global Water Operators Partnership WUF World Urban Forum
SIDA Swedish International Development
Alliance
Cooperation Agency
HUWSUP Hargeisa Urban Water Supply
*United Nations Organizations and the trust funds
Upgrading Project
Foreword
Over the past two years, UN-Habitat

has engaged in developing global
norms and supporting innovative
models to assist national governments
and local authorities increasing their
knowledge on sustainable urbanization
as well as improving national and
local policies on housing and urban
development. This is meant to enhance
regional, national and local capacities
for the effective implementation of
pro-poor human settlements policies
much needed for poverty elevation in
line with the Habitat Agenda and the
Millennium Development Goals.
More concretely, the main focus of

UN-Habitat’s work at the global,
regional, national and local levels has
been on promoting policy reforms
as well as building institutional and
human capacities and supporting
Joan Clos the implementation of local and
Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director
United Nations Human Settlements Programme national plans of action for sustainable
(UN-Habitat) urbanization. In view of the current
rapid urbanization in much of the
developing world, the development of
efficient legislation and policies, the
promotion of adequate infrastructure
and basic services as well as effective

IV INCREASING SYNERGY FOR GREATER NATIONAL OWNERSHIP
UN-Habitat’s strategy to expand its earmarked
projects portfolio, has been sustained, from a level of
USD 136 million in 2012, to USD 171 million in 2013 –
representing a 25 per cent increase, and to
USD 172 million by November 2014.
urban planning and design are of strategy to expand its earmarked projects initiatives, including joint programming,
utmost importance for the creation of portfolio, has been sustained, from a and urges the United Nations
socially inclusive, resilient, economically level of USD 136 million in 2012, to USD development system to fully utilize such
prosperous and energy-efficient 171 million in 2013 – representing a 25 opportunities in the interest of enhancing
cities that maximize the benefits of per cent increase, and to USD 172 million aid efficiency and effectiveness.
agglomeration, minimize the demand by November 2014. These contributions
for urban mobility and transport, and have enabled UN-Habitat to provide This report is structured around six major
provide conditions necessary for urban strong support of more than USD 162 chapters, following an introduction
economic growth and job creation. million in 2014 alone to 16 countries in providing a global overview of
sub-Saharan Africa, 18 countries in Asia urbanisation and its transformative
As sustainable urban development and the Pacific, 9 countries in the Arab powers. The first five chapters, covering
remains one of the most pressing global States region, and 19 countries in Latin Africa, the Arab States, Asia and the
challenges of the twenty-first century, America and the Caribbean, in addition Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean,
national governments and their partners to regional programmes and normative as well as the European Union and
must consequently pay greater attention global initiatives. Eastern Europe, highlight key activities
and make joint efforts to build greener, implemented by the Agency over the
more harmonious, equitable, inclusive At the same time, the Agency has past two years. The sixth chapter seals
and environment-friendly cities. also continued its collaboration with with activities carried out by the thematic
multilateral and bilateral institutions by branches in collaboration with regional
The Global Activities Report 2015, progressively adopting the “ONE UN” offices in the five regions in which UN-
takes into account the progress made approach and “delivering as One”. In Habitat has been present.
in addressing UN-Habitat’s projects that connection, the Agency recognizes
portfolio with a view to increasing the United Nations Development It is my hope that this document, which
its impact and facilitating national Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and its serves mainly the purpose of information
ownership. An encouraging trend during results matrix as the collective, coherent sharing, will be easy to read in order to
the current reporting period is that the and integrated programming and disseminate results and call for more
earmarked portfolio has continued to monitoring framework for the operations collaboration with interested partners
grow, confirming rising demand for the of the United Nations development where appropriate and when possible.
Agency’s technical expertise. This upward system at the country level, bringing
trend, consistent with UN-Habitat’s increased opportunities for joint
PHOTO: View of downtown Astana, the capital of
Kazakhstan. © Shynar Jetpissova / World Bank
table of contents
ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS III CHAPTER 4: Latin America and the Caribbean 53
Foreword IV Introduction 53
Projects activities and outcomes in Latin America and the Caribbean 57
Introduction 1
Urbanization: Global Overview 1 CHAPTER 5: The European Union and Eastern Europe 67
Unemployment: the youth and social unrest 4 Russian Federation, Eastern Europe and Central Asia (CIS) 67
UN-Habitat Portfolio Overview 6 European Union and its neighbourhood 67

The Western Balkans 68
CHAPTER 1: Africa 11
The role of the analytical regional State of the Cities reports and
Projects activities and outcomes in Africa 13
using their findings in determining emergent issues 68
The State of the African Cities Report, 2014 20
CHAPTER 6: Selected activities by thematic branches 71
Background Urbanization Trends and Impact on the Arab Region 25
Urban Land, Legislation and Governance 71
CHAPTER 2: Arab States 25 Urban Planning and Design 74
Challenges in the Arab Region 40
Urban Economy 78
CHAPTER 3: Asia and the Pacific 43 Urban Basic Services 84
Introduction 43 Water and Sanitation 86
Projects activities and outcomes in Asia and the Pacific 47 Urban Housing and Slum Upgrading 90
Urban Risk Reduction and Rehabilitation 92
Conclusion 94
LIST OF ALL DONORS 2013-2014 95
VIII INCREASING SYNERGY FOR GREATER NATIONAL OWNERSHIP
Introduction
Urbanization: With more than half of humankind of world output in 2010. China’s
living in cities and the number of urban remarkable economic transformation
Global Overview residents growing by nearly 73 million for example is driven by urbanization
The urban age and the every year, it is clear that urban residents and industrialization; the top ten cities
transformative power of now have an “urban mind-set”. It is in China account for 20 per cent of the
urbanization estimated that urban areas account for country’s GDP.
70 per cent of the world’s gross domestic
PHOTO: Metrocable cars arriving at a station in Medellin, Colombia. Metrocable is the first gondola
It is remarkable that only one century product and has therefore generated Urban planning requires a shift from
ago, 20 per cent of the world’s economic growth and prosperity for viewing urbanization mainly as a
population resided in urban areas. In the many. However, when not properly problem, rather towards seeing it as a
lift system in the world dedicated to public transportation. © Jess Kraft / Shutterstock
least developed countries, this proportion designed and managed, cities quite powerful tool for development.
was just 5 per cent. The world has since often pay too high a price of negative
been rapidly urbanizing, for the first time externalities, such as congestion, To address the problem of sustainable
in history in 2008, urban population contamination and large inequalities. urbanization, a three-pronged approach
outnumbered the rural population. This is needed with respect to: (i) urban
milestone marked the advent of a new The transformative power of urbanization regulations, (ii) urban planning and (iii)
‘urban millennium’ and, by 2050, it is is even visible in Africa and Asia-Pacific. urban financial strategy. The coordinated
expected that two-thirds of the world In Africa, the urban population will be effect of efficient and implementable
population will be living in urban areas. growing 1.8 times faster than the global measures in each one of these three
urban population between 2015 and areas is crucial for moving from an
2020. This means that some cities will unsustainable to a more sustainable
double their population in 15 years, and urban future.
others even in a shorter period. All these
Urban areas account numbers underline a qualitative dynamic Current and Emerging Urban
for 70 per cent of unleashed by urbanization forces. Challenges
Some of the key current and new urban
the world’s gross In Asia, 2.1 billion people live in challenges that have emerged over the
domestic product. urban areas; the region is no longer a years are discussed in detail below.
development scourge as once feared.
Being 48 per cent urbanized, the region
has become a global powerhouse,
generating close to 30 per cent
Introduction 1
Figure 1: GlobalGLOBAL
Trends TRENDS IN URBANIZATION
in Urbanization ( 1 9Per
(1950-2050): 5 0 -centage
2 0 5 0 ) : PERC EN TA G E U RBA N
urban
100
90
80
World
70
More developed regions
Percentage urban (%)
60 Less developed regions

50 Africa
40 Asia
30 Europe
Latin America and the Caribbean

20
Northern America
10
Oceania
0
1950 2050 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045
Source: UN-Habitat 2013-2014
Climate change and billion to USD 156 billion. It is crucial to levels of employment and livelihood
resilience of cities recognize that cities must also be part of opportunities, lack of participation in
the solution to the problem of climate decision making and prejudice against
Sea-level rise, tropical cyclones and change. sexual preferences.1
storms, inland flooding and drought are
inflicting heavy losses that are particularly The increase of inequalities Slums continue to increase in most
acute among slum dwellers and the in cities developing countries, reinforcing other
poorest populations, particularly in the Differentials in access to opportunities, forms of inequality. For the majority of
coastal areas. Between 1994 and 2003 income, consumption, location, the world’s population, income disparities
the average annual number of disasters information and technology are now are bigger today than what they were a
reported stood at 307. This increased the norm, not the exception. Gender generation ago. With the exception of
to 373 between 2003 and 2012. At the inequalities persist in many countries most countries in the Latin America and
same time, the annual average number and contexts (lower rates of secondary
of countries affected rose from 104 to education, access to decent employment, 1 UNICEF and UN Women (2013)’Young People and
Inequalities,Online Discussions’ Global Thematic
118, while the average number of people political representation, and the gendered Consultation on Addressing Inequalities, New
killed rose from 53,678 to 106,597, nature of the HIV pandemic). Youth York; Also see UN-Habitat (2010) ‘State of Urban
Youth Report’, dealing extensively with the notion
and the reported economic damage inequalities manifest in discrimination of equity and proposes policies to attenuate lack of
rose from an annual average of USD 55 in access to education, differentiated a level playing field.

2 INCREASING SYNERGY FOR GREATER NATIONAL OWNERSHIP
G L O B A L T R EN D S IN U R B A N I Z A T I ON ( 1 9 5 0 - 2 0 5 0 ) : U R B A N G R OW T H R A T E S
Figure 2: Global Trends in Urbanization (1950-2050): Urban Growth Rates
5
World
More developed regions

4
Urban Growth Rate (%)
Less developed regions
Africa
3
Asia
Europe
2
Northern America
1
Oceania
0
5
0
95
96
96
97
97
98
98
99
99
00
00
01
01
02
02
03
03
04
04
05
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
-2
-2
-2
-2
-2
-2
-2
-2
-2
-2
-2
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
95
00
05
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
the Caribbean region, income and wealth Emergence of new forms to location and place.5 However, in
inequalities have increased since the early of urban poverty, risk and addition to these ‘conventional’ forms
1980s, including the developed regions.2 marginalisation in developed of poverty, new forms of social exclusion
countries and marginalisation are emerging:
Income inequalities combined with other An increasing number of urban residents ‘infrastructure-poor’, immigrant poverty,
forms of inequalities in society reinforce in developed countries experience or young people at risk, vulnerable elderly,
the deprivation faced by many groups are at risk of poverty or social exclusion. among others.6
and individuals based on gender, age, In the European Union, 24 per cent of
ethnicity, location, disability and other the population falls in this category,
factors.3 Inequalities generate an urban one out of ten people live in severe
geography of concentrated disadvantage. material deprivation, and 17 per cent
live on less than 60 per cent of their
country’s average income.4 In many
other cities, the persistence of inter-
generational poverty and economic 5 Sharkey, P. (2013) ‘Stuck in Place: Urban
2 World Bank (2008) ‘World Development Indicators Neighbourhoods and the End of Progress’,
2008’, Washington, DC. ; OECD (2011) ‘Divided disadvantage is inextricably linked University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
We Stand: Why Inequalities Keep Rising’, OECD 6 López M.E. (2010) ‘Addressing new forms of
Publishing, Paris. 4 European Commission (2014) ‘Poverty and poverty and exclusion in Europe’, European
3 UN Open Working Group (2013) ‘Post-2015 social inclusion’, http://ec.europa.eu/social/main. Commission, World and European Sustainable
Development Agenda’, New York. jsp?catId=175 Cities, Insights from EU Research.
Introduction 3
Unemployment: the rates range between 5 and 30 per cent in Demographic changes in cities:
some countries as high as 50 per cent.9 aging populations and the
youth and social unrest Youth unemployment is on average 2-3 youth bulge
times higher than adult unemployment;10
Rising levels of unemployment remain a however, in some countries, particularly Globally, the number of people aged 60
major global challenge. In 1996, there in the Middle East, North Africa, South or over rose from 8 per cent in 1950,
were 161 million unemployed people Europe, and in parts of Central America to 10 per cent in 2000; it is estimated
worldwide.7 This increased to 202 and the Caribbean, it can be 5 to 6 times that it will reach 21 per cent by 2050. In
million in 2013.8 Global unemployment higher. 2013, the number of older persons in the
is particularly severe in finance, world was estimated at 841 million (12
construction, automobile, manufacturing, Youth unemployment causes prolonged per cent of the global population), and it
tourism, services and real estate. In most inactivity, e.g. “worklessness”, and is is expected to reach more than 2 billion
developed countries unemployment also associated with demoralization and in 2050. Projections show that this age
rates varied between 4.5 and 10 per depression. Youth unemployment served group will increasingly be concentrated
cent, although some countries had as a major catalyst for the “Arab Spring” in the developing regions.11 While high
rates as high as 18 per cent in 2013. In in North Africa and the Middle East, and population growth is still a concern in
developing countries the unemployment other countries that had recent social the least developed countries, in many
demonstrations.
7 ILO (2007) ‘Global employment trends brief’, 11 United Nations (2013) World Population Prospects:
January 2007,ILO,Geneva. 9 UN-Habitat (2012) ‘State of Arab Cities The 2012 Revision, Volume I: Comprehensive
8 ILO (2014) ‘Global Employment Trends 2014: The Report’,UN-Habitat,Nairobi. Tables, Department of Economic and Social Affairs,
Risk of a Jobless Recovery’,ILO,Geneva. 10 ILO (2014), op cit. Population Division, New York,
left: aerial panorama of Nairobi, Kenya.
© John Wollwerth/Shutterstock
Urban planning requires a shift from viewing

urbanization mainly as a problem, rather towards
seeing it as a powerful tool for development.
other parts of the world, countries domestic conflict15 in a context of poor Amplification of different
are grappling with slower population governance as witnessed in the unfolding types of crises
growth or even population decline.12 of the Arab Spring. The world has faced cascading crises
One of every two cities in Europe and of all types since 2008; soaring
the countries of the former Soviet Union Commodification of land unemployment, food shortages
experienced negative population growth and housing and attendant price rises, strains on
in the last 20 years. This proportion was Governments in some parts of the financial institutions, insecurity and
as high as 25 per cent in Japan, Australia world have played a major role in the political instability, among other crises.
and New Zealand and 20 per cent in commodification of land through land Participants in the recent protests and
North America. In developing countries, expropriation mechanism, land-use riots in various cities of the world (Cairo,
nearly 10 per cent of the cities have planning powers, informal and illegal Madrid, London, New York, Istanbul,
experienced shrinking populations.13 arrangements. City growth in many Stockholm, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo)
parts is dictated by real estate developers were demanding more equality and
Many countries experience youth and housing finance corporations. The inclusion.
bulge— a significant increase in the supply of subsidized public or social
proportion of persons aged 15 to 24. housing has been reduced in favour of
There are 1.19 billion people within the production of middle- and high-
this age bracket worldwide with 88 per income developments. The housing Global unemployment
cent in developing countries in 2014.14 crash in 2007/2008 was only the most is particularly severe
Youth bulge can represent a potential recent and most severe in a line of
opportunity to spur social and economic housing bubbles.16 Housing has become a
in finance, construction,
development if countries harness the speculative asset rather than a productive automobile, manufacturing,
power of age-structure transformation. one. tourism, services and
They can also increase the risk of real estate.
12 UNFPA, UNDESA, UN-Habitat and IMO (2013) 15 Urdal, H. (2004) ‘The Devil in the Demographics:
‘Populations Dynamics in the Post-2015 The Effect of Youth Bulges on Domestic Armed
Development Agenda, Report of the Global Conflicts, 1950-2000’, Social Development Papers,
Thematic Consultation on Population Dynamics’. Conflict Prevention and Reconstruction 14. World
13 UN-Habitat (2010) State of the World’s Cities Bank, Washington, DC
2008/2009: Harmonious Cities, Earthscan,London. 16 Daily Kos (2011) ‘De-commodifying Housing’,
14 United Nations, Department of Economic and 18 August, http://www.dailykos.com/
Social Affairs, Population Division (2013). ‘World story/2011/08/18/1008351/-De-commodifying-
Population Prospects: The 2012 Revision’, New Housing.
York
Introduction 5
UN-Habitat Portfolio Figure 3). Projects that are not limited
to any particular region comprised 20
Overview per cent of the organization’s project An analysis of the
UN-Habitat has its presence and its work portfolio. 2013-2014 period’s annual
organized along five geographic regions
and seven thematic areas. During the The overall spending on all projects
expenditures show an
2013-2014 biennium, projects in Asia in 2013-2014 was USD 336 million, increase in the budgets for
and the Pacific region took the largest representing a 24 per cent decrease four thematic areas and a
share UN-Habitat’s project portfolio at in expenditure when compared to the decline in budgets for three
40 per cent whilst projects in Europe and previous biennium. The most notable
the former Soviet Union States formed decline in spending was on projects in
areas in 2014 from the
the smallest share, at one per cent. Other two regions; Asia and the Pacific region previous year.
geographic regions such as Africa, the project where spending dropped by 44
Arab States, and Latin America and the per cent [USD 105 million] whilst Latin
Caribbean constituted 18 per cent, 13 America and the Caribbean it fell by 22
per cent, 8 per cent, respectively (see per cent [USD 8 million] (see Figure 4).
Figure 3: Geographic Distribution of UN-Habitat Projects in 2013-2014

GEOG RAP HIC DISTRIBUTION OF U N - H A B I T A T P R O J E CT S I N 2 0 1 3 - 2 0 1 4
1%
8%
LATIN AMERICA AND
EUROPE & FORMER
SOVIET UNION STATES
THE CARIBBEAN
13%
ARAB STATES
40%
ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
18%
AFRICA
20%
GLOBAL PROJECTS
[projects not limited to one
particular country or region]

Global Projects branch level. During the 2013-2014
In the geographic distribution of biennium, these projects accounted for
UN-Habitat’s portfolio, there are projects a fifth of UN-Habitat’s overall spending. Youth unemployment
that are not limited to one particular As shown in the thematic distribution is on average 2-3 times higher
country or region. These have been of global projects in Figure 5, a quarter than adult unemployment;
classified as global projects and should the expenditure was on projects relating
not be confused with to urban land and legislation and
however, in some countries,
UN-Habitat’s overall portfolio of projects. governance while projects relating to risk particularly in the Middle East,
A vast majority of these global projects reduction and rehabilitation comprised North Africa, South Europe,
is administratively managed at the only two per cent. and in parts of Central America
and the Caribbean, it can be
5 to 6 times higher.
Figure 4: Geographic Distribution of UN-Habitat Projects, 2011-2012 and 2013-2014

GE OGR A P H IC DIS T R I B UT I O N O F U N - H A B I T A T P R O J EC T S
300
250 239.6
200
USD (Millions)
150 134.6
100
66.8 60.2 59.7
57.8
45.6 44.6
50 35.0
27.0
4.5 3.7
-
Asia and the Pacific Global Projects Africa Arab States Latin America Europe & Former
[projects not limited and the Caribbean Soviet Union States
to one particular country
or region]
2011-2012 2013-2014
Introduction 7
Figure 5: Thematic Distribution of Global Projects*, 2013-2014
THEMATIC DISTRIBUTIO N O F GLO BA L PRO JEC TS*, 2013-2014
2%
Risk Reduction
25%
and Rehabilitation Urban Land,
Legislation and
4% Governance
Research and
Capacity Development
6%
Urban Economy
24%
Others
(This category is cross-cutting; it covers
management, external relations, advocacy
and all that do not fit within
the seven thematic areas)
12%
Housing and
Slum Upgrading
14%
Urban
13% Basic Services
Urban Planning
and Design
*Global Projects - projects not limited to one particular country or region
As compared to the previous period, (USD 3 million). Expenditure reductions from the previous year (see Figure 7). In
the organization’s spending on global were in projects relating to: urban basic 2014, spending in the housing and slum
projects during the 2013-2014 biennium services (USD 9 million); research and upgrading and urban land, legislation
increased in four thematic areas whilst capacity development (USD 3 million); and governance, increased by 44 per
reductions were seen in three areas. As and housing and slum upgrading (USD 1 cent (or USD 1.3 million) and 22 per cent
illustrated in (Figure 6), the increases million). (or 1.6 million), respectively. A notable
were in the following areas: urban decline was in research and capacity
planning and design (USD 8 million); An analysis of the 2013-2014 period’s development where the spending fell by
urban land, legislation and governance annual expenditures show an increase in 62 per cent (or USD 1.2 million) in 2014.
(USD 8 million); urban economy (USD 3 the budgets for four thematic areas and a
million); risk reduction and rehabilitation decline in budgets for three areas in 2014

BRE A KD O W N OF G L OB A L P R OJ E C T S * B Y T H E M E
Figure 6: breakdown of global Projects* by theme, 2011-2012 and 2013-2014
20 18.9
18 17.0
16.1
16
14
USD (Millions)
12
10 8.9 8.8 9.1 9.0

7.8 7.7
8 6.5
5.7
6
4.3
4 2.7
2 1.0 1.0
-
Urban Planning Urban Land, Urban Urban Risk Reduction Research Housing and Others
and Design Legislation and Economy Basic Services and Rehabilitation and Capacity Slum Upgrading
Governance Development

2011-2012 2013-2014
B R E A K D O WN O F G L O B A L P R O J ECTS* B Y TH EM E IN TH E 2013- 2014 B IENNIU M

Figure 7: breakdown of global Projects* by theme in the 2013 - 2014 biennium
10 9.3
8.6
9
7.7 7.5
8
USD (Millions)
6 5.5
4.8 4.6
5 4.3
4 3.4 3.2
3 2.2 2.1 2.0
2
0.7 0.7
1 0.3
-

2013 2014
Introduction 9
PHOTO: Luanda is both Angola’s chief seaport
and its administrative center.
© Anton_Ivanov / Shutterstock

Chapter One Regional Office for Africa
Africa
Africa is in the midst of simultaneously unfolding
major transitions in its demography, economy,
politics, technological development and
environments.
Note: The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on
this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by UN-Habitat.
Introduction Integration of the sustainable and building sustainable cities and

urbanization agenda as a priority urban settlements. Equally, the Africa
African urbanization is entering a critical area in the final outcome document Ministerial Conferences on Housing and
phase at which the growth momentum of the United Nations Conference on Urban Development were used to build
presents an opportunity for accelerating Sustainable Development (Rio+20) consensus on how to effectively respond
national development towards Conference, “The future we want”, to the challenges of rapid urbanization.
sustainable urban future. African cities was a major achievement and a Through their standing platform of
are exhibiting increasing productivity, manifestation of the effectiveness of the African Ministerial Conference
innovation, and infrastructural UN-Habitat’s awareness raising platforms on Housing and Urban Development
investment. and strategies. This document commits (AMCHUD), African Ministers have
Governments to a broad framework for exchanged experiences, jointly explored
UN-Habitat through the Regional office sustainable development over the next possibilities for action and, in the last
has continued to provide urban planning decades and articulates substantive areas seven years, and also adopted strategies
to guide this urban growth that is almost of importance to the UN-Habitat’s future for guiding and steering the Continent’s
doubling in the next two decades. There work, including: (i) the need for a holistic urban development agenda.
is also need to improve liveability and approach to urban development and
increase productivity of the city through human settlements, and (ii) promotion
expanding access to basic services. of an integrated approach to planning
Chapter one: Regional Office for Africa 11

In 2014, AMCHUD was institutionalized Land Management in post conflict capacities to ensure that basic services
under the African Union Standing countries, energy sector and urban youth and environmental infrastructure
Technical Committee responsible for livelihoods. become accessible and affordable to all.
Public Service, Local Government, Urban UN-Habitat has made good progress
Development and Decentralization. In order to benefit adequately from towards achievement of sustainable
The institutionalization will promote urbanisation, Regional level interventions urban development in the Africa region
sustainable urbanization at the highest by national and local governments utilizing the seven sub-programmes in
political level in Africa. UN-Habitat has have to guide the urbanization process the UN-Habitat strategic plan 2014-2018
held high level meetings with the UN and support the related economic as an entry point. The African Ministers
Special Envoy of the Secretary General growth. Across the region, UN-Habitat Conference on Housing and Urban
for the Great Lakes Region (O/SESG- has worked with countries in Africa to Development (AMCHUD), Achieving
GL). Subsequent meetings have led to prepare National Urban Policies in order Sustainable Urban Development (ASUD),
expectations of UN-Habitat partnering to reassert the role of cities and towns in Participatory Slum Upgrading Programme
with the office of the Envoy in the national development. (PSUP) and Habitat III projects have
implementation of the programme provided impetus to the region’s effort
based on UN-Habitat’s previous UN-Habitat has provided support to achieve sustainable urbanisation for
experience in the region in regard to to strengthen countries’ planning poverty eradication.
D I S T RI BU T I O projects
Figure 8: distribution of on-going N O F O N - G OIin
NGafrica,
PROJECTS 2013
IN AFRICA, 2013-2014
- 2014
Somalia 25,776,315
Regional 9,419,752
Democratic Republic of Congo 5,202,642
Liberia 4,973,141
South Sudan 4,117,794
Madagascar 1,968,511
Kenya 1,776,293
Rwanda 1,679,830
Nigeria 1,380,691
Tanzania 1,036,326
Burkina Faso 567,981
Mozambique 531,435
Zambia 277,909
Ghana 256,331
Uganda 250,281
Zimbabwe 181,076
Cameroon 74,780
Ethiopia 52,284
Cape Verde 49,396
Malawi 43,793
Senegal 33,276
Gabon 22,551
Namibia 19,270
Angola 5,163
0 10,000,000 20,000,000 30,000,000
Source: UN-Habitat 2013-2014 USD ($)

During the period under review, countries from three sources: the United Nations,
have set up National Habitat committees. In Puntland and Somaliland, through the European Union and the government
The National Habitat Committees in the three projects funded by the of Japan (see Figure 11).
region have been collaborating with Government of Japan, UN-Habitat
UN-Habitat to oversee and guide country provides security of land tenure
level preparations for Habitat III. and 1,310 permanent houses,
Projects activities and
basic social infrastructure and skills outcomes in Africa
In terms of project expenditure, as training for long-term and most
shown in (Figure 8) in the largest share vulnerable IDPs. Burundi
of spending was in Somalia [43 per cent] A Partnership between UN-Habitat and
and in projects that cut across African the Office of the Special Envoy of the
countries [16 per cent]. Conspicuously, Secretary General for the Great Lakes
three thematic areas constitute more region to support the International
than two-thirds of the project spending in Conference on the Great Lakes region
Africa: urban basic services [29 per cent], and 2014) indicates that expenditure on (ICGLR) secretariat to organize a high
urban land, legislation and governance two of these dominant thematic areas level consultation on land and property
[23 per cent] and risk reduction and (i.e. urban basic services and urban land, issues in displacement context for
rehabilitation [18 per cent] (see Figure legislation and governance) doubled in durable solutions and support the Peace
9). A breakdown of the spending in each 2014 (see Figure 10). Nearly two-thirds of Security and Cooperation Framework
of the year of the biennium (from 2013 the financing for projects in Africa came (PSC-F).
T H EM A T I C D I S TRI BUTI ON OF P ORTFOL I O I N AFRI CA, 2 0 1 3 - 2 0 1 4

Figure 9: thematic distribution of portfolio in africa, 2013 - 2014
2%
Research and
29%
Urban
Basic Services
8%
Urban Economy
10%
Housing and
Slum Upgrading
10%
Urban Planning 23%
and Design Urban Land,
Legislation and
Governance
18%
Risk Reduction
and Rehabilitation

T HE MATIC BRE AKDOWN O F PO RTF O L I O I N A F RI CA , 2013-2014
Figure 10: thematic breakdown of portfolio in africa, 2013 - 2014
14
11.9
12
10 9.3
USD (Millions)
6 5.4 5.4
4.9
4.5
3.9
4 3.4
2.9
2.2 2.4
2.0
2
0.7 0.7
-
Urban Planning Urban Land, Urban Urban Risk Reduction Research Housing and
2013 2014
Democratic Republic local land governance and administration Ethiopia

of the Congo processes. Gathered evidence will Since 2011, UN-Habitat is implementing
A Programme Support to Land Governance be used to strengthen gender the Sustainable Transport (SUSTRAN)
for Peace, Stability and Reconstruction in DR responsiveness in the implementation project in Addis Ababa, funded through
Congo Post Conflict is being implemented of land reforms. Also UN-Habitat with the Global Environmental Facility (GEF),
and funded by the Department for the technical support of GLTN and which concerns the design of the Bus
International Development (DfID). The ROAF supported a joint initiative at the Rapid Transit (BRT) system for the city, the
aim of the programme is to address provincial level (UN-Habitat, UNDP, and assessment of the transport demand and
Land disputes which are fuelling security FAO) on land tenure security integrated the promotion of non-motorized mobility
concerns. approach linking land dispute resolution, solutions. In connection to the SUSTRAN,
community participatory mapping, food a public space project in Addis Ababa
UN-Habitat also continued to support security and economic recovery. After with Swedish funding is being developed.
the Land Governance Assessment the pilot phase, this integrated approach
Framework exercise in cooperation with will be replicated in other provinces in In accordance to the needs expressed
the World Bank and the National Ministry DRC. GLTN tools, such as Social Tenure by the Ethiopian government in 2013,
of Land Affairs. The mediation initiatives Domain Model (STDM) and participatory training was organized for mayors of
and alternative land dispute resolution enumeration are expected to be cities from Oromia Region using existing
methodology were institutionalized into incorporated into the approach. UN-Habitat training materials, learning

Figure 11: contributors to the portfolio in africa, 2013 - 2014 (in Millions)
CO NT R I B UT O R S T O T H E P ORT F OL I O I N AF RI C A, 2 0 1 3 -2 0 1 4 ( i n M i l l i o n s)
UN 19.488,533
European Union 11,653,124
Japan 9,086,538
Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) 2,872,189
African Development Bank 2,618,189
USAID 2,532,050
Italy 1,842,642
Sweden 1,451,888
Nigeria 1,428,001
Department for International Development (DFID) 880,669
Denmark 697,883
The Palestinian Ministry of Public Works and Housing 671,753
IBRD/World Bank 638,136
Booyoung 637,410
OPEC fund for International Development 630,196
Rwanda 616,020
Ondo State Government 392,891
Spain 356,030
Norway 285,536
Togo 267,812
The Grand Korean Leisure Company 134,015
Kunshan Housing and Urban Rural Development Bureau 102,348
BASF AG 94,971
Cameroon 74,780
Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) 67,751
FAO - Liaison Office - NY 66,968
Ethiopa 52,284
Cape Verde 47,303
Angola 5,163
Thailand 885
0 5,000,000 10,000,000 15,000,000 20,000,000
USD ($)

modules and methodologies with the aim Regional and District stakeholders have capacity of key actors for participatory
of enhancing the capacity of mayors and also been mobilised and made aware urban planning and management; c)
city managers of Ethiopian cities. of the potential solutions to mitigate Mainstreamed poverty reduction and
the effects of recurrent floods on the human rights based approaches; d)
Ghana livelihood of the communities. A national Strengthened Kenya urban network;
The joint UN programme is designed to steering committee has been set up that e) Sustainable waste management
influence policy on disaster resilience, brings together all the WATSAN actors system developed; f) Improved revenue
Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) at national, regional and district levels to mobilization.
systems in the country. UN-Habitat in facilitate joint decisions on the project.
close collaboration with WHO, UNICEF, Kiambu County for example, has mapped
UNDP and National partners developed A slum upgrading and prevention its properties and facilities. The baseline
a water and sanitation programme strategy has been finalized and awaiting data compiled with UN-Habitat technical
targeting 265 disaster prone communities validation. Principles of the participatory support were linked to information on
in 21 Districts of Northern Ghana and slum upgrading programme were land values, which are rapidly rising as a
secured funding from DFATD (Canada) incorporated in the strategy. result of Kiambu’s proximity to the city
in June 2014. A joint Programme of Nairobi. Initial analyses show that the
Operational Manual has been developed Kenya county has an undeveloped portfolio
to better coordinate actions on the Since 2013, the implementation of of valuable assets, presenting various
ground, enhance mutual understanding the Support of the Sustainable Urban scenarios for mobilizing additional
of the programme implementation Development Sector in Kenya is ongoing, revenue from existing sources.
issues, and to facilitate implementation and it has achieve the following; a)
of resilient WASH solutions in the disaster Improved coordination within the ethiopia
prone communities. urban sector in Kenya; b) Improved
UN-Habitat is implementing
the Sustainable Transport
(SUSTRAN) project in Addis
Ababa, funded through the Global
Environmental Facility (GEF),
which concerns the design of the
bus rapid transit (BRT) system
for the city, the assessment of
the transport demand and the
promotion of non-motorized
mobility solutions.
LEFT: Aerial view on the suburbs of Hwange

in Zimbabwe. © UN-Habitat

TOP: Aerial view of the city of Dakar, Senegal, Of the target population, 27 per cent The activities are firmly anchored in
showing the densely packed buildings and a are women who are aware of their the Government of Nampula, the
highway. © Shutterstock land rights and prefer to use alternative city and district of Nampula and the
dispute resolution methods to resolve Mozambique’s Office for Economic
Liberia land disputes. During the year under Areas with Accelerated Development
One of the main programmes review, out of 256 cases reported, 34 (GAZEDA), the authority managing the
implemented was on strengthening were resolved, compared to 148 cases, special economic zone of Nacala, and
capacity of the Land Commission with 17 resolved, in 2013. institutionalization ensured through
and related institutions to address agreements.
priority land issues in Liberia. The Land Mozambique
Commission, through the “Support to UN-Habitat’s engagement in Through collaboration between the
the establishment of a land disputes Mozambique has led to increased regional office and the branch of
prevention and resolution system in capacity of partnership between local the urban economy, Local Economic
Liberia” programme, improved capacities and national governments and other Development (LED) projects has
and awareness on land law, land rights Habitat Agenda partners. been proposed by UN-Habitat and
and land alternative dispute resolution is now fully owned by the provincial
mechanisms among urban and rural The results achieved in Nacala and Government of Nampula, which is
landholders, including women. Nampula will be used to feed the now developing a strategy to support
national urban policy or programme for all municipalities. Nampula and Nacala
Mozambique. cities have integrated employment

generation strategies, in cooperation LEFt: Praia City, Santiago Island, Cabo Verde.
with International Labour Organization © Francisco Livramento
(ILO) and the One-UN youth employment
programme.
Technical assistance was provided to 40
Urban mobility practices have been entities in the sub-region, now able to
disseminated as a result of the Nacala/ reproduce methodologies initiated by
Nampula experience, Maputo and UN-Habitat in 2002 and now common
Habitat III. The street-led slum upgrading practice in the 3 countries. More than
experience of Muhala has been 30 schools were rehabilitated and built
documented and will soon be replicated with improved practices, community
in at least one additional City. In Beira, radios, community centre, health posts
the multifunctional biogas centre in and houses. Support was given to flood
Munhava is almost completed and is affected populations in Chokwe, with
meant to be replicated in other slum 70,000 beneficiaries as catchment
areas. population.
All practices developed were captured

Mozambique
and approved by the national
Governments in Mozambique, Malawi,
More than and Madagascar. An innovative
have included Urban Risk Reduction methodology for urban resilience training
30 schools and Resilience modules in different

undergraduate and master’s programmes
was produced and 11 Cities were trained
and benefited from risk mapping and
were rehabilitated and built (e.g. architecture, engineering, physical planning.
environmental studies) through the
with improved practices, DIMSUR programme. In addition, Nigeria
community radios, community the shelter cluster is now effectively Following the launch of the global Good
centre, health posts coordinated to include sustainable Urban Campaign in Abuja in April, 2001,
reconstruction and rehabilitation UN Habitat Programme Support Office
and houses. practices and resources. (HAPSO) has been providing technical,
managerial and logistics support in the
The programme operated in implementation of programmes and
Mozambique, Malawi and Madagascar projects of the campaign development
and focused on two main issues: and management, as well as advocacy
Mozambique has piloted social housing transforming pilot practices on Disaster at the three tiers of government in the
financing scheme based on UN-Habitat Resilient Basic Services and Architecture country, enabling citizens to have a
advice and tests for low income into policies and practices as well as to greater role in the articulation of priority
population in partnership with the Fundo pioneer Urban Resilience assistance in issues affecting them and contributing
de Fomento de Habitacao. Mozambique cities of the three countries. Among to the design and management of
is one of the countries benefiting from others, the following important results their cities through Rapid Urban Sector
the establishment of the Technical were achieved: Profiling for Sustainability (RUSPS).
Centre for Disaster Risk Reduction and Hence, with the success of the
Climate Change Adaptation for Southern intervention, from residents of only three
Africa (DIMSUR). At least 2 faculties cities of Anambra State who participated

for the first time in formulating Structure
Plans, many more residents in a growing
number of cities have subsequently been
able to participate in the planning of
four cities in Nasarawa State (2010) and
nine cities in the State of Osun (2014),
with Ondo, Kogi and Zamfara State
now negotiating Technical Assistance
to facilitate the implementation of the
preparatory planning process in their
cities. To address the slum challenge in
Nigerian cities, an estimated 70 per cent
of Nigeria’s urban population have been
offered a platform to articulate their
priority issues through the convening of
the first ever National Housing and Slum
Summit, which drew representatives from
all key stakeholder groups from cities
across the country.
Rwanda
Since 2013, Implementation of TOP: From Housing Project in Bosaso.
the “Achieving Sustainable Urban © UN-Habitat
Development” (ASUD) which is being
promoted by the UN-Habitat has
supported Rwanda’s ambition to Somalia In Puntland, Bosaso city, UN-Habitat aims
become a middle-income country by In Somaliland, Hargeisa city, UN-Habitat to decongest the port area in Bossaso/
2020. Through the ASUD programme, is implementing presently the most Puntland through road construction,
UN-Habitat is strongly supporting the important infrastructure project in this improving port efficiency and creating
Government’s efforts by providing region: EU and Somaliland Development related livelihoods and increased space
technical support to the formulation Fund (SDF) funded Hargeisa Urban Water for economic activities around the port.
of a National Urbanisation Policy, the Supply Upgrading Project (HUWSUP).
definition of a Spatial Development Hargeisa has grown from less than In Puntland and Somaliland, through
Framework, and the improvement of 180,000 in the 1970s, when the existing three projects funded by the Government
local urban plans at the level of the six water supply system was built, to as of Japan, UN-Habitat provides security
secondary cities which were strategically much as 1,000,000 today, increasing of land tenure and 1,310 permanent
selected. Other UN-Habitat initiatives the demand for water more than 5-fold houses, basic social infrastructure and
include the Participatory Slum Upgrading within approximately 40 years. Hargeisa’s skills training for long-term and most
Programme (PSUP), the Rapid Planning population will continue to grow, and vulnerable IDPs.
(RP) Project supported by the German could reach 1.35 million by 2020. This
Federal Ministry for Education and large-scale engineering and construction
Research, the Participatory and Inclusive project represents the first part of the
Land Readjustment (PILaR) initiative. complete expansion and rehabilitation
of Hargeisa’s water infrastructure and
supply.

South Sudan Equatorial State) and Alel Chok boma, was the review and improvement of the
UN-Habitat is active in South Sudan for 7 Jur River County (Western Bahr El Ghazal slum upgrading documents for Zambia
years with 2 ongoing projects valued at State). Some of the expected outcomes to move into the implementation phase
approximately USD 4 million. UN-Habitat include: improved living conditions, (phase 3) of the Participatory Slum
is working in close cooperation with the reduced health risks and increased access Upgrading Programme.
Ministry of Land, Housing and Physical to basic water supply. UN-Habitat has
Planning. An MoU as signed between been engaged in South Sudan since The role of the analytical regional State of
UN-Habitat and the Ministry in March 2006. the Cities reports and using their findings
2012, outlines the parties’ intentions in determining emergent issues.
to develop, share and transfer capacity Tanzania
development tools, methods and best Support to productive employment and
practices; to train professionals in the decent work for youth, particularly in The State of the African
fields of sustainable human settlements renewable energy. Support to water and Cities Report, 2014
development and urban management; sanitation in secondary cities around Lake
to support the formulation of National Victoria. The State of the African Cities 2014:
Urban Policy for South Sudan; and to Re-imagining sustainable urbanisation was
promote exchange of experiences and Uganda the third report on Africa cities following
institutional capacity building. Support to the implementation of the similar publications in 2008 and 2010.
Land Policy 2014 and implementation of This 2014 report takes insights developed
Through a Japan funded Project (2013 the National Urban Policy and strategy. in the 2008 and 2010 reports further.
– 2014), which provided support
for integration of returnees after Review and support for the Emergent issues
independence of this new country, 600 implementation of the Slum Upgrading The report has determined the following
basic housing units are available in the Strategy and action plan through urgent issues in the sub region, which
settlements in Durupi, Nesitu (Juba, profiling, project development and are now guiding the design of country
Central Equatorial State), Naivasha, Alel upgrading. Focus on reducing youth activities by UN-Habitat:
Chok (Wau, Western Bahr El Ghazal unemployment by facilitating better
State) and Rumtit (Northern Bahr El access to quality education and Africa is in the midst of simultaneously
Ghazal State). Basic roads were improved vocational training. Support for water unfolding major transitions in its
in the Durupi settlement and access to and sanitation in 6 Secondary Towns of demography, economy, politics,
clean water supply improved in all five Buwama, Kayabwe, Bukakata, Lambu, technological development and
settlements as a result of the successful Ntungamo and Mayuge as well as environments. Demographic trends the
completion of the ‘Housing and infrastructure development. Africa region are proceeding on a steep
Livelihood Support for Returnees’ project upward trend that is challenging the
completed in 2014. Zambia provision of socially just, sustainable
The UN-Habitat Activities in Zambia and well-serviced living and working
The Government of Japan has allocated include support to the Ministry of conditions for its rapidly expanding
USD 2.4 million in 2015 for the Local Government in the on-going urban populations. This trend is
12-months project “Flood Protection, implementation of the National now exacerbated by increasing risks
Water and Sanitation and Livelihoods Urbanisation Policy Road Map. In and vulnerability is associated with
for Returnees and IDPs in South collaboration with UNDP, it supported proceeding climate and environmental
Sudan”, through which UN-Habitat the Lusaka City Council in developing change for not just the largest population
is supporting a population of 17,160 the Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy concentrations but for all African
internally displaced and returnee families and conduct demonstration activities settlements.
in Katigiri boma, Juba County (Central in selected settlements. Also supported

TOP: View of Kigali, Rwanda.
© Arianna Francioni/UN-Habitat
The ubiquitous urban poverty and urban Over the past decades, Africa has The 2014 State of African Cities report
slum proliferation so characteristic of experienced a shift in the incidence and concludes that prevailing development
large African cities is likely to become nature of insecurity, conflict and violence. concepts applied to Africa’s rapidly
even more widespread and become Inter-state conflict has significantly expanding urban areas seem incapable of
replicated in the secondary cities. The declined, but urban insecurity and attaining the post-independence visions
new towns and satellite cities now violence have notably increased. The of human development and prosperity
being established to relieve population latter may have deeply negative impacts for all, which seems to indicate that
pressures on Africa’s largest urban on the international investment flows Africa’s approaches to urbanism and
concentrations will also add further to required for the sustained economic major rethinking. Applying in Africa the
urban slum proliferation because these growth that could produce the much urban development practices developed
new towns almost exclusively cater for needed urban-based employment for the very different circumstances in the
the residential needs of higher-income generation for Africa’s young population advanced economies during the 1960s to
groups. It is a near certainty that these cohorts. 80s, is proving increasingly impractical.
new towns will soon be surrounded by
the informal accommodations of the
low-income labour needed to service
these cities.

TOP: Maputo, Mozambique.
© Svetlana Arapova / Shutterstock
That is moreover the case since rapidly Urbanisation, industrialisation, sustained Impact of the report
changing global conditions, especially economic growth and broad-based The report was well received and
those associated with environmental human development feed on each launched at the high-level segment of
and climate change, looming resources other and, under the correct guidance, the 2014 African Ministerial Conference
scarcity and the dire need to move can become mutually reinforcing. For on Housing and Urban Development
towards greener and more sustainable the latter to happen, Africa will need (AMCHUD. Thousands of electronic
development options, now weigh heavy to profoundly re-imaging what exactly copies of the report have meanwhile
on all nations, including those in Africa. constitutes the road to sustainable urban been downloaded and UN-Habitat has
Since Africa’s population is still well transitions. embarked on identifying the modalities
below the 50 per cent urban threshold, that can help African nations raise the
there is a window of opportunity for funds for renewed approaches to urban
major reconceptualization of new development.
approaches to African urbanism.

PHOTO: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
© Shutterstock

PHOTO: Amman, Jordan
© Shutterstock

Chapter Two Arab States
Arab States
The urban population in Arab countries grew by
more than four times from 1970 to 2010 and will
more than double again from 2010 to 2050.
Background Urbanization Social inequality in many Arab countries on the development of national
is most apparent in urban areas, both strategies and ambitious projects by
Trends and Impact on within and between cities. The traditional paying greater attention to secondary
the Arab Region gender bias has been normative in both agglomerations and improving conditions
urban and rural settings, and is the most in urban areas. A key challenge has
Urban demographics critical challenge to gender equality. been the disconnection of national
High urbanization rates in the Arab Arab countries face an enormous youth socio-economic, sectorial and financial
region have been driven by various bulge challenge, with 60 per cent of planning cycles and targets with
factors. Despite natural population the population below the age of 25. spatial planning efforts addressing
growth, socio-economic transformation Employment opportunities for youth are urban management and basic urban
and imbalanced economic development limited, besides exclusion from decision- service requirements. Cities often lack
have stimulated not only rural-urban making processes. management and technical capacities
population movements, but also and human resources needed to
increased international labour migration Land and Urban Planning adequately guide their development and
nationally and across the Arab region. In order to dwell on the economic plan for urban expansion.
advantage of cities, most governments
in the Arab region have embarked
C H A P T E R t w o : A r a b S tat e s 25
TOP : Ezbet El Haggana, Egypt.
© UN-Habitat
Environment and Urbanization

Particularly Arab countries with high
levels of agricultural production Largely, Arab countries embrace among
The lack of enforcement of representing the economic base have the scarcest water resources per capita
building codes and disaster been very concerned about unplanned in the world. Groundwater reserves,
urban expansions on valuable agricultural aquifers and fossil water supplies are
resilient construction
land. Only recently some Arab countries being depleted at alarming rates. Sea
methods contributes to have recognized inclusive and integrated level rise could be devastating to many of
disaster risk, and insufficient approaches to urban development the region’s densely populated low-lying
institutional capacity hinders planning as drivers for economic coastal cities.
development and enhanced productivity
emergency preparedness of cities. Many countries in the Arab The lack of enforcement of building
and response. region have commenced the preparation codes and disaster resilient construction
of Strategic Urban Development Plans methods contributes to disaster risk, and
as a broader development vision for insufficient institutional capacity hinders
human settlements, prepared with emergency preparedness and response.
wide stakeholder consultations aiming
to address local area development
requirements.

Urban Governance Economic performance of Arab states In the Arab States, Iraq had the largest
and Legislation varies, ranging from exceptional to share of project expenditure in 2013-
Limited coordination between the modest or poor economic performance. 2014, at 30 per cent. It was followed by
different ministries and institutions Recent events in Arab states underscore Palestine and Lebanon at 19 per cent and
across the Arab region concerning urban the need to re-examine existing systems 18 per cent, respectively (see Figure 12).
development, between central and of governance to achieve a more
local levels of governance and between equitable distribution of the benefits of Nearly half of the budget spending
local government units, result in the economic development. on projects in this region related to
lack of comprehensive and transparent risk reduction and rehabilitation, and
governance frameworks. The high economic dependency about a fifth of the projects were in
on natural resources, particularly the area of urban planning and design
Central technical agencies and hydrocarbons, causes vulnerability to (Figure 13). A breakdown of the 2013-
ministries set national, regional and economic shocks and fluctuations in 2014 expenditure by year indicate
local urban policies while the power of international prices, with profound that spending in all the thematic areas
municipal authorities is restricted to the repercussions on growth, employment increased, with the exception of urban
implementation of local plans. Municipal and economic stability, and on the planning and design. Notably, budgetary
governments often lack the trained environment. Moreover, Arab countries allocation for projects relating to risk
personnel to plan and manage urban are highly dependent on imported food reduction and rehabilitation increased
growth and do not have the power to supply and global food chains. Regional nearly four times in 2014 (see Figure 14).
set local taxes and fees. The financial trade and economic complementarity is
dependence of municipalities on the underdeveloped and regional physical Egypt
central government introduces a political and policy infrastructures remain Strategic National Development
dimension in central-local relations that uncoordinated. Cultural heritage Support Project
partly erodes the benefits of participatory initiatives seek to promote the cultural
local governance. identity of cities and places in the Arab In addition to providing decentralization
region. support for national, regional and local
Urban Economy level planning, the project has been
Increasingly, Arab leaders acknowledge Housing and Basic Services supporting the development of the first
the economic advantage of cities and Most Arab countries have made Housing Profile and National Housing
wish to harness this potential within significant progress in developing Strategy in Egypt; both forming a strong
national systems of cities. These initiatives to increase the supply of fact-based foundation for decision
include systems of interdependent affordable housing through targeted makers to develop effective housing
urban agglomerations; economic programmes. The significant shortage of policies and programmes.
strategies generate spatial networks of affordable housing in most countries of
growth nodes linked by development the Arab region resulted in continuous Strategic Urban Plans for Small
corridors leading to the emergence of informal growth, especially on the urban Cities in Egypt
metropolitan urban regions. In recent periphery Programmes involving large Following several expert discussions
years, many Arab countries have placed scale social housing and relocation and technical consultations, the project
an emphasis on secondary cities. In order projects. has introduced a revised and more
to alleviate pressure on the primary comprehensive planning methodology for
agglomerations, all Arab governments In order to keep up with ever increasing Strategic Development Plans in secondary
recognize the importance of the city as a urbanization rates, governments in most cities, addressing both urban planning
laboratory for innovation, a magnet for Arab countries face the challenge of and implementation measures based on
investment and a source of job creation. providing increased access to and provide lessons learnt from previous practices.
for sufficient urban basic services and
infrastructure. Strategic Development Plan
DISTRIBU TION OF ON- GOING P R O JE CT S I N A R A B S T A T E S , 2 0 1 3 -2 0 1 4
Figure 12: Distribution of on-going projects in Arab States, 2013-2014 (in millions)
Iraq 13,512,015
Palestine 8,390,815
Lebanon 7,853,904
Sudan 4,709,365
Egypt 3,813,290
Saudi Arabia 2,693,708
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya 1,299,651
Syrian Arab Republic 1,016,172
Kuwait 881,580
Jordan 302,447
Morocco 186,067
0 5,000,000 10,000,000 15,000,000

USD ($)
for Greater Cairo Region Achieving Sustainable Urban

Development (ASUD) Project:
Supported by UNDP and UN-Habitat, the City Extension
Iraq had the largest share
project has provided technical assistance
of project expenditure in to national and local stakeholders in New City Development – Al Alamain
2013-2014, at 30 per cent. launching a bottom-up Community City: Based on lessons learnt from
It was followed by Palestine Mobilization Strategy as well as a Socio- the planning process, implementation
Economic Impact Assessment for the and management of New Urban
and Lebanon at 19 per cent Strategic Urban Development Vision for Communities (NUC) in Egypt, the
and 18 per cent Greater Cairo Region. Government of Egypt has introduced the
4th Generation of NUCs in the country
piloted in the case of the New Alamain
City.

TH EMA TIC D ISTRIBUTI ON OF PORTFOLI O I N ARAB STATES, 2013-2014
Figure 13: Thematic Distribution of Portfolio in Arab States, 2013-2014
6%
Research and
9%
Urban Land,
6%
Legislation and Urban
Governance 5% Basic Services
Housing and
Slum Upgrading
4%
Others
2%
Urban Economy
21%
Urban Planning
and Design
47%
Risk Reduction
and Rehabilitation

T H EM A T I C B R E A K D O WN OF P ORTFOL I O I N ARAB STATE S, 2 0 1 3 - 2 0 1 4
Figure 14: Thematic Distribution of Portfolio in Arab States, 2013-2014
18
16.1
16
14
12
USD (Millions)
10
6
4.7
4.2 4.1
4 3.0 2.7
2.3
1.4
2 0.8 0.6 0.8 0.9 0.9
0.0 0.4 0.0
-
2013 2014
Figure 15: Contributors to the portfolio in Arab States, 2013-2014 (in Millions)
C O N T R I B U T O R S T O T H E P ORTFOL I O I N ARAB STARE S, 2 0 1 3 - 2 0 1 4
UN 14,126,625
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) 6,293,130
Saudi Arabia 3,944,778
Belgium 3,406,739
Egypt 2,850,697
United States 1,716,667
Japan 1,415,946
Libya 1,299,651
Norway 1,162,130
USAID 1,062,244
France 1,031,203
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) 967,774
Kuwait 881,580
Iraq 624,939
VNG International 524,250
Spain 491,780
Agence Francaise de Development 166,576
Denmark 129,861
Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) 124,852
Jordan 109,058
The Ford Foundation 93,215
Plan International 21,628
Morocco 19,491
Bahrain 16,647
0 5,000,000 10,000,000 15,000,000
USD ($)

Land readjustment was piloted in a The creation of a public space accessible Affected by Displacement, Affordable
6 ha urban expansion area in Banha, by women will increase the dwelling in Housing Strategies for Kurdistan Region
by identifying different scenarios for these areas and consequently reduce the and Baghdad Strategic Perspective on
engagement of key stakeholders in harassment opportunities. Informal Settlements/ IDP Sites.
planning expansion areas and ensuring
the maintenance of the public realm and With high mobility during daytime, UN-Habitat is engaged in humanitarian
public services. the Women Safety Audit identified the support to Syrian refugees and Iraqi
surrounding areas of highest harassment IDPs through two main programmes,
For the first time in the Egyptian urban rates at night. Urban Shelter and Water, Sanitation
history, the project has introduced land and Hygiene (WASH) support of Syrian
readjustment as a tool that enables cities The project has created a safe place for Refugees and Hosting communities and
to significantly increase the supply of women and girls turning a school yard durable Shelter support for IDPs in Iraq.
serviced land at the urban fringe through into a playground. Considering the recent unprecedented
orderly and negotiated processes of land IDPs caseload, UN-Habitat, jointly with
acquisition. Safer Cities and Because I Am a Girl other resident UN agencies, extended the
- Urban Programme in GCR scope of the UNCT in Iraq programme
Participatory Review of Egyptian UN-Habitat while actively engaging local to involve other UN agencies and
Planning and related urban communities, their civil society partners the World Bank. UN-Habitat Iraq has
Development Legislation to support and respective authorities, communities also been largely engaged on early
sustainable urban Development took active steps towards enhancing recovery efforts and particularly on IDPs
The project has analysed the current public spaces and making them safer for stabilization through shelter support and
land regularization practices at the city all residents, especially girls and women. reconstruction efforts. At the regional
and national level in order to encourage level UN-Habitat contributed together
planned urban expansions and improve Integrative Neighbourhood with other UN agencies to support the
the capacities of local authorities to Development in refugee hosting Syrian internally displaced people and
design and implement legal reforms. Area – Faisal, Cairo the Syrian refugees in the neighbouring
The project developed and supported countries including Iraq.
Human Security through Inclusive the establishment of two youth centres
Socio-Economic Development in that encourage the collaboration and Safer City Programme
Upper Egypt community life among the Egyptian The project successfully encourages
By ensuring inclusiveness and host and Syrian refugee communities. the sustainable urbanization model
participation from all segments of Through awareness raising at central and and related processes as (1) the free,
communities, the joint UN project local levels, the upgrading of urban areas active and meaningful participation of
addresses sustainable pathways to local through effective cooperation has been the beneficiaries; (2) application of a
economic development for impoverished documented. rights-based model that ensures the
communities that are currently accountability of duty-bearers (national,
undergoing conflict. Iraq regional and local government) and
Since 2003, the focus of UN-Habitat’s the claims of rights-holders; (3) the
Public Space and the Right technical assistance has been on housing address of root causes that violate the
to the City and sustainable urban development principles of non-discrimination and
The project also created and built the issues. Substantial efforts have been equality, participation and inclusion, and
capacity of a community committee exerted to produce national and local accountability and the rule of law; (4)
to manage and maintain the public development policies as: Iraq National the incorporation of strategies for the
space; it is composed of school staff and Housing Policy, Iraq National Strategy - political and economic empowerment
community members. Long-Term Shelter Solutions for People of people, especially prioritize the
need of the most vulnerable and most a country and as a government, in the implementation of its Urban Sector
marginalized. developing a growth-orientated and Strengthening Project and Housing Sector
rules-based private sector economic Strengthening Projects in Iraq.
Working in close coordination with reality to enhance the living standards
civil society on the ground, the project of the population as well as laying the Strengthening Urban and
promotes, at the local level, a different groundwork for future economic stability. Regional Planning in KRG
approach to security and safety was The project aims to improve system for
undertaken. An overall upstream private sector urban and regional planning, establishing
development strategy was designed in urban planning units in Erbil Governorate
In order to develop a more holistic co-operation with the Government of and within Ministry of Municipalities and
approach to community security, the Iraq, based upon wide-ranging primary Tourism, and improve the capacity of
project looks at strengthening the data production exercises, to anchor a staff so that they can perform planning
relationship between civil society, citizens, long-term policy vision. duties.
local authorities, Regional government
and the security sector officials through UN-Habitat is thoroughly familiar After the request of the Ministry of
the creation of coordination platforms with city planning processes and land Planning to strengthen the capacity of
as well as the implementation of trust allocation and titling systems through the Urban Planners within the Ministry
building and crime prevention activities.
The project seeks to protect human rights
and enhance the rule of law in Kurdistan
Region.
Iraq Public Sector Modernisation

Programme
The role of UN-Habitat in the ongoing
joint UN IPSM Phase II programme is to
support the Ministry of Municipalities and
Public Works and the Governorates of
Najaf and Duhok in Decentralized water
management.
Private Sector Development

Project for Iraq
It has also provided training to
management staff from construction
and development companies and basic
construction skills training to unemployed
youth and is now implementing a
capacity building project involving the
Ministry of Municipalities and Public
Works and the Ministry of Planning and
Development Co-operation.
The aim of this Programme and TOP: Water tanks for domestic use a community initiative in Aleppo, Syria.
approach was to assist Iraq, both as © UN-Habitat

and the Erbil Governorate, UN-Habitat in communities under strain. The In coordination with MMA, HUDC,
and the Ministry of Planning are proposed solutions include a range of Ministry of Interior (MoI) and other
developing a joint project under the affordable shelter support options, basic relevant partners, UN-Habitat has
Kurdistan Development Vision 2020. improvements of incomplete houses mobilized resources for the Jordan
being rented to allow basic appropriate Affordable Housing Programme.
Establishing a Building shelter and provision of supplementary UN-Habitat has been supporting the
Control Regime for KRG support. UNCT in Jordan to realign the United
UN-Habitat has vast experiences in Nations Development Assistance
building codes and urban legislation In Sulaymania 36 houses were upgraded Framework (UNDAF 2013-2017) to the
globally in terms of approach and and the procurement of materials for Jordanian National Resilience Plan (2014
methodology, and the Iraq Programme paving an internal street, creating water – 2016), ensuring that the UN’s support
Office build on this experience to channel, connections of households addresses emerging national priorities as
support the region of Kurdistan in Iraq to with main water supply and grey a result of the impact of the Syria crisis.
establish building control regime. water disposal, and a water tanker for
Bardaqaraman municipality. Jordan Affordable Housing
Building codes in the Kurdistan Region of Project Phase I
Iraq have not been addressed adequately, Arab Secretariat Office of In response to the Syria crisis, UN-Habitat
UN-Habitat received a direct request National Habitat Committees has started the implementation of Phase
from the Government of the Region The Arab Ministerial Council of I of the Jordan Affordable Housing
for technical assistance to support the Construction and Housing of the Programme leading to the delivery of
Ministry of Planning in preparing a League of Arab States has approved the 30,000 affordable housing units. In
project document on Building Control establishment of the National Habitat partnership with the Jordan Engineering
for KR-I. Committee Secretariat in Baghdad to Association, UN-Habitat is formulating
support Arab countries to establish their a National Design Competition inviting
Improving the Housing National Habitat Committees. architectural firms and individuals across
Delivery System in Erbil – Phase II Jordan to provide their most innovative
The project equipped the governorate Jordan ideas for a range of housing unit
with necessary capacities, plans and UN-Habitat provided support to the prototypes designed for smaller-sized
equipment for facilitating and expanding Jordan Response Platform for the Syria houses for future expansion.
housing partnerships, energy efficient Crisis (JRPSC) in developing the Jordan
housing and slum upgrading. Resilience Plan (JRP) for 2015, being a Mainstreaming Biodiversity
key member in both the Shelter and Conservation in Tourism Sector
The project deliberated from an Municipal task forces that are led by Development in Jordan
extensive and in-depth participatory the Secretary General of the Housing UN-Habitat has provided technical
process of situation assessment and and Urban Development Corporation and managerial support to the
housing strategy development led by the (HUDC) and the Ministry of Municipal implementation of the UNDP run
governorate. Affairs (MMA) respectively. The JRP is Mainstreaming Biodiversity into Tourism
a comprehensive humanitarian and Planning Project, focusing on the land
Shelter and Infrastructure resilience-building annual plan (2015), use component.
Support for Non-Camp Refugees representing a coherent national
The purpose of this project is to provide programme consolidating national and
adequate shelter needs for the most international efforts to address the
vulnerable, establish practices that impact of the Syria refugee crisis on
can be replicated and also to support Jordan.
the provision of basic WASH services
TOP : Aleppo, Syria.
© UN-Habitat
Conference on municipal Kuwait National Consultations on housing

Second International Humanitarian and urban development
credit rating
Pledging Conference for Syria
In December 2014, UN-Habitat organized A 3-day meeting attended by
the 1st Conference on Municipal Credit On 15 January 2014, the 2nd representatives from key national
Rating in Jordan, in order to share Humanitarian Pledging Conference ministries in the housing and urban
the final results of the interactive for Syria was hosted for the 2nd time development sector as well as local
credit ratings of five municipalities in in Kuwait. In total, the donors pledge authorities in Kuwait discussed the
Jordan and to hand over the credit reached USD 2.4 billion in response to Sustainable Urban Development
rating certificates to mayors of the five the call of H.H the Amir, in comparison Strategy for Kuwait. A particular issue of
municipalities that participated in the to 2013’s conference which donors discussion was the housing shortage in
project: Maadaba, Gharb Irbid, Al Mazar pledged USD 1.5 billion only to support Kuwait.
Al Shamali, Al Shawbak, and Al Feheys. 6.5 million people who are internally
displaced and more than USD 4.1 million
refugees in host countries.

Regional Workshop on the role Towards Sustainable Solutions for City Resilience Profiling
of ‘Urban Observatories’ in the Improved Living Conditions of Programme (CRPP)
Post-2015 Development Agenda Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon
Since 2014, UN-Habitat in partnership
In line with the Post 2015 Development The Programme aims to improve access with World Vision, has worked with the
Agenda and the proposed Sustainable to basic urban services in Palestinian Municipality of Beirut on initiating the
Development Goal 11 on “Making Cities gatherings through targeting both use of the City Resilience Profiling tool
and Human Settlements inclusive, safe, the physical environment as well as to enhance the municipalities’ awareness
resilient and sustainable”, the governance mechanisms among and role in monitoring and addressing
UN-Habitat in collaboration with the stakeholders in these areas. Of the urban resilience.
Arab Urban Development Institute 80,000 Palestinian refugees displaced
Organization (AUDI) co-organised an from Syria into Lebanon, an estimated Publications and Assessments
Arab regional workshop on the role of 30,000 in addition to some 5,000 The Reforming Urban Planning System
‘Urban Observatories’ in monitoring Syrian refugees are living in Palestinian Report (2014) assesses key urban
the implementation of the Sustainable gatherings. planning institutions in Lebanon. The
Development Goals. Housing, Land and Property Issues in
Lebanon Report (2014) review the impact
UN-Habitat World Cities Day at lebanon
of the Syrian crisis in four specific areas
Yarmouk Eco-Friendly Park i.e. shelter options, housing, land and
On 20 and 21 November 2014, the Of the 80,000 Palestinian property rights, housing and property
World Cities celebrations were held markets, and land-use to inform
at Yarmouk Park in Kuwait city, in refugees displaced from humanitarian and government entities.
close collaboration with Ooredoo Syria into Lebanon, an
Telecommunications. The event Libya
highlighted the importance of sustainable
estimated 30,000 in Institutional Development and
urbanization, the improvement of city life addition to some 5,000 Capacity Building of the Urban
by involving local residents. Planning Agency
Syrian refugees are living The government of Libya, through its
Lebanon in Palestinian gatherings. Ministry of Housing and Utilities and
Enhancing the Role of Unions Urban Planning Agency (UPA) agreed to
of Municipalities to Respond to expand the programme on “Institutional
Refugees’ & Host Communities’ Development and Capacity Building of the
Needs Urban Planning Agency” until 2016 aiming
Within the emergency response context, to revive the spatial planning process in
Improving Living Conditions in
UN-Habitat supported RTOs to respond Libya.
Palestinian Gatherings in Lebanon
to the emergency through rehabilitation
of houses, identification of vacant Under this project, Shelter and WASH UN-Habitat Libya Office, in collaboration
houses for refugees, implementing initiatives were implemented in 30 with the UPA, has been exploring most
various community support projects, Palestinian gatherings in the areas of suitable urban planning approaches
concerning sewage network upgrading, Beirut, North, Bekaa, Saida and Tyr under the current transitional period
water, garbage collection, etc. Through benefiting residents, Palestinian refugees in Libya through this “Institutional
this project, UN-Habitat established the from Lebanon and Syria, Syrian refugees Development and Capacity Building of
Regional Technical Offices (RTOs) in and Lebanese. UN-Habitat through the Urban Planning Agency” programme.
various Unions of Municipalities (UoMs) the Peace Building Fund worked with UN-Habitat has been providing technical
including the UoM of Sahel El Zahrani, municipalities to address informal areas support to the UPA of Libya on urban
Iqlim El Kharoub Chemali, Tyr, Chqif, and and include them in the wider urban planning and spatial information
Ghareb El Aala Chahar. planning efforts. system, as well as on their institutional
capacity development for decades. The Activities at international level to facilitate the immediate improvement
“Institutional Development and Capacity In 2013, UN-Habitat Morocco of living conditions and easing of
Building of the Urban Planning Agency” participated in the International displacement pressures. Resolution
programme was initially developed to Colloquium on Urban Agriculture 23/2 (April 2011) called on the Agency
support the National Spatial Planning (Casablanca), the International to “further focus its operations on
and introduce Geographical Information Conference on Cultural Heritage, Tool planning, land and housing issues in
System (GIS) to the UPA. for Local Development and Democracy view of improving housing and human
(Tunisia) and the United Cities and Local settlement conditions of Palestinians.
Emergency Housing Policy and Government’s World Summit of Regional
Technical Advice to the Ministry and Local Leaders (Rabat). Prince Nayef Bin Abdul-Aziz Project
of Housing and Utilities for Reconstruction of Gaza
After the 2011 uprisings in Libya, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia UN-Habitat constructed 80 units for non-
UN-Habitat has been tasked to support refugee families through the Palestinian
the Ministry of Housing and Utilities Housing Council programme. The
in the preparation of an Emergency improve evidence- beneficiaries have completed training and
Housing Policy and provide technical support for income generation activities
advice to the Ministry in the field of
based policy analysis such as running a mini markets. A total
housing reconstruction. and government of 95 women and their dependents
moved into their newly constructed
Morocco
responses achieved by
housing units in October 2014.
Support to the Cities without seventeen Saudi cities,
Slums Programme Construction of Technical,
as measured by the Vocational and Entrepreneurship
The programme focuses on three areas:
i) support and technical support to Al City Prosperity Index Training Centre for Underprivileged
Omrane programs to improve the living Women
conditions, socio-economic integration The Centre for Women has been
and urban poverty reduction, by constructed and equipped. Various
supporting the definition of a strategic courses have been commissioned and run
framework ii) new town, enhancing In 2014, UN-Habitat Morocco from the Centre, after the participatory
the attractiveness and socio-economic participated in the 5th Plenary Session of rapid appraisal workshop on training
integration, by supporting the dialogue the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and needs. The management arrangement
and cooperation framework among Local Assembly (ARLEM) (Tangier) and the is being concluded with Hebron
partners and promoting local governance 5th African Ministerial Council on Housing Municipality.
and iii) development of HAO’s and and Urban Development (AMCHUD)
Ministry’s international programs. (Ndjamena). Palestinian National Spatial Plan
Support to the Ministry of Planning on
The activities developed are the support Palestine preparation of a development vision
to the production and dissemination UN-Habitat presence in the occupied for independent Palestine within the
of publications, networking and Palestinian territory is governed by 1967 boundaries. Various sector papers
participation of national decision-makers resolutions adopted in Governing have been prepared, including work on
into international conferences to promote Council. In its resolution 19/18 of 9 May mobility, freight and external transport
city policy process in Morocco. 2003 the Governing Council established links as inputs to the exercise, staff
the Special Human Settlements recruited for the Planning Office and
Programme for the Palestinian People regular technical advice provided to the
(SHSPPP). The objective of the SHSPPP is National Spatial Planning Team.

National Urbanisation Policy and Urban Planning Support for urban expansion in a well-informed
Palestinian Cities Report Palestinian Communities in East manner; iii) support coordination among
Jerusalem
Expert committees and working groups Ministries and partners engaged in the
were established to direct the work. The results of this programme include urban sector; iv) enhance institutional
Participatory seminars were held to freezing of 44 house demolitions technical capacity to plan and manage
discuss and agree on the focus and orders and preparation of three guiding urbanization in a sustained manner;
issues. The drafting of both reports is concept notes. A total of 2100 dunums v) engage and integrate the needs
ongoing. in six communities in East Jerusalem are of all residents, in particular those of
currently being planned. women and youth in the formulation
National Housing Policy and implementation of urban plans;
The Housing Policy was prepared to Rehabilitation of Dar Al Consul into and vi) enhance public awareness
address priority issues such as access Residential and Civic Complex about prosperous cities and sustainable
to land, access to basic infrastructure, The project aims to improve the living urbanization.
affordable building standards and conditions of Palestinian families in the
materials, effective construction Old City of Jerusalem and enhancing The UN-Habitat office in the United
and access to finance. Preparation the Palestinian cultural and civic identity Nations building in Riyadh was set and
of a Housing Sector Profile through through achieving new sustainable model equipped in June 2014 and the MoU
consolidated mapping of the sector and of residential and urban environment finalized with UNDP for the common
the development of an inclusive and pro- development, establishing a new services and ready for signature.
poor policy framework. economically viable model of eco-
friendly development. The design work Sudan
Planning Support to Palestinian is underway and rehabilitation activities UN-Habitat has been engaged in a
Communities in Area C Programme have started. series of housing and urban initiatives in
The project aims at strengthening the Sudan. Moreover, UN-Habitat supported
resilience of Palestinian Communities in Urgent Housing Rehabilitation for the development of pro-poor policies,
Area C to facilitate basic infrastructure, Poor and Marginalised Families in strategic urban and regional planning
service upgrading and local development East Jerusalem and rural-urban linkages as well as
by scaling up planning activities, The programme has included immediate environmentally friendly construction
improvement planning methodologies, maintenance and support for livelihood technologies to mitigate deforestation to
building local capacity and strengthening improvement aiming to improve living increase access to housing, basic services
monitoring and advocacy. conditions for low-income families and and infrastructure.
disabled people who live in deteriorating
The project aims at strengthening the housing. The programme has reached Institutional Capacity Development
resilience of Palestinian Communities in 109 families and 654 beneficiaries. in Darfur on Urban and Regional
Area C to facilitate basic infrastructure, Planning and Land Management
service upgrading and local development Kingdom of Saudi Arabia These sessions involved: (i) participatory
by scaling up planning activities, The Future Saudi Cities Programme planning approach applying both
improvement planning methodologies, The programme contributes to the urban and regional planning concepts;
building local capacity and strengthening achievement of sustainable urbanization and (ii) facilitating land demarcation,
monitoring and advocacy. Land use and in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is registration and allocation operations,
investments Plans for 100 communities expected to: i) improve evidence-based as well as the implementation of land
have been prepared. Place for making policy analysis and government responses conflict management mechanisms; and
‘local urban design’ plans has been achieved by seventeen Saudi cities, as (iii) providing support to the MPUDs’
prepared with communities in 30 villages. measured by the City Prosperity Index; housing reconstruction and infrastructure
ii)mitigate urban sprawl and address development effort in terms of
planning, design and identification of one of the traditional migration routes in Syria
proper technical solutions. A capacity Southern Darfur. The two communities
development programme was delivered are benefiting from demarcation of the
to the three Ministry of Planning and 115 km routes, establishment of new The profiles assess urban
Urban Development (MPUDs) focusing water projects, and income generating functionality, highlight
on urban and regional planning and land activities for young unemployed men and
“hotspots” where
management. women along the route.
vulnerability is acute, and
Participatory and Gender-Balanced Emergency Flood Response in include more detailed
Urban and Regional Planning, Khartoum States for Vulnerable
Land Management, environmental Communities analysis of housing, water
friendly Construction and This strengthens government and
supply, sanitation, road
Sustainable Livelihood in community capacities to conduct networks, electricity,
Blue Nile State emergency construction of public health and education, food
This project is contributing to the facilities and the necessary infrastructure
security, mobility.
application and the realization of a through adaptation and implementation
number of human rights articulated of resilient to floods urban planning
under Paris Declaration, including people and building techniques. Some of the
of the Blue Nile have the right to a expected results are to develop the
standard of living for their health and required institutional and managerial
well-being, and other human rights also capacity of the state and locality City Profiling
include access to employment, basic government institutions regarding urban UN-Habitat has produced four City
services and land, housing and property planning, land management and public Profiles for Aleppo, Homs, Dara’a and
rights. services delivery through a “learning by Lattakia. The profiles assess urban
doing” process. functionality, highlight “hotspots” where
The project provides guidance to the vulnerability is acute, and include more
local government and local leaders for Syria detailed analysis of housing, water
supporting decision making on where Major displacement from and to urban supply, sanitation, road networks,
to invest and carry out reconstruction centres have occurred putting 12.2 electricity, health and education, food
activities. million people in a vulnerable situation security, mobility.
and in urgent need for humanitarian
Peace Building through Natural assistance; 7.6 million of those in need Urban Information Management
Resource and Land Management are internally displaced (OCHA, 2014). System
and Livelihoods in South Darfur Basic infrastructure and social services UN-Habitat has established two GIS
The project promotes community level have been severely affected by damage units in the municipalities of Lattakia
trust, confidence and peace building and lost capacity. UN-Habitat’s Syria and Ma’raba and conducted training
throughout the Southern State of programme focuses on emergency for a total of 9 staff members who
Darfur. Hereby, the project contributes shelter and housing, water, sanitation will operate the system from their
to the peace building along the selected and hygiene (WASH), solid waste municipalities. A wider training was
migration route through a realistic management, and urban information also conducted for 65 municipal staff
participatory approach to address the management, including City Profiles and on urban information management
competition over natural resources Neighbourhood Profiles. during emergencies. A web-based urban
being one of the main root causes of information system has been developed
the conflict, particularly land and water and implemented.
between farmers and pastoralists along

Shelter Support Slum upgrading project in UN-Habitat contributed to the local
UN-Habitat used the City Profile process
Erbil - Kurania Einkawa Iraq development planning process by
to conduct more detailed neighbourhood In 2009, UN-Habitat engaged in introducing spatial analysis of the districts
level shelter assessments in Al Tal and assisting the Kurdistan Regional and an implementation plan prioritized
Ashrafyet Sahnaya in Rural Damascus as Government (KRG) with the design around available financial resources.
well as in Salah ad Din neighbourhood and implementation of an ‘Improving LADP has demonstrated how strong
of Aleppo. In Aleppo, UN-Habitat piloted the Housing Delivery System Project in local and participatory planning and
an IDP host family shelter support Erbil’. This initiative built upon Iraq’s engagement could make a difference.
programme including minor repairs, National Slum Upgrading Strategy (2005) Despite the strong centralized tendencies
rent support, and provision of simple and upon Phase II of UN-HABITAT’s in Iraq and some scepticism, the LADP
household equipment. ‘Strengthening the Capacity of the has been met with “enthusiastic
Housing Sector in Iraq’ project. Key to support” from Iraqi stakeholders.
Community Level Infrastructure and its initiative within the KRG has been
Basic Services Projects a pilot project to upgrade an informal “Cities without Slums” Programme
Two pilot community-based infrastructure settlement in Erbil – Kurani Ainkawa. -Morocco
and services project were implemented The Kingdom of Morocco has
benefitting 8,000 IDPs and host Community organization and civil society experienced a huge success in slum
community members. The projects at the local or neighbourhood level is reduction and improvement programmes.
implemented included construction of a weakly developed in Iraq. Based on this In a concept already being replicated
storage tank to improve access to safe challenge an intermediary structure was in Egypt and Tunisia, the Moroccan
drinking water. established for the neighbourhood – programme was widely considered
the Housing Facilitation Unit (HFU). It the best of its kind in Africa. The
Urban Water Supply and Sanitation successfully addressed the problem of Government had set a target in 2004 of
In late 2014, UN-Habitat initiated mobilizing collective action, brokering humanely clearing the slums in 85 cities
collaboration with UNICEF to develop a solution between residents, landlords by the year 2012. In the past decade, the
more detailed data and maps on the and government authorities The project Government has improved or eliminated
status of urban water supply and improved Governorate’s capacity to 45.8 per cent of the country’s slums.
sanitation systems in Homs and Aleppo. implement the Erbil Housing Strategy, The innovative aspects of Cities without
The information will be used to support demonstrated innovative approaches to Slums are drawn from the development
response prioritization and contingency energy efficient housing in slums. of the institutional capacities of
planning. Morocco, in particular in terms of urban
Local Area Development governance.
Solid Waste Management Programme in Erbil- Iraq
In late 2014, UN-Habitat initiated a The Local Area Development Programme Stabilized Soil Blocks (SSBs)
programme to improve solid waste is a multidimensional and integrated in Darfur - Sudan
management in Homs, Aleppo and approach combining more participatory Due to prolonged conflict in Darfur,
Rural Damascus. Inventories of solid local development processes, stimulation around 2.3 million people have been
waste management infrastructure will of local economic development displaced. The formation of IDP camps
be developed and community-based and the improvement of social and and migration to urban areas creates
solid waste management projects physical infrastructure. The Local Area enormous environmental threat.
implemented. Development Plans (LADP) started in
2007 as a joint effort of seven United
Nations agencies and the Iraq Ministry of
Planning and Development Cooperation.
Box 2: RTOs model established in Unions of Municipalities - Lebanon
Following the UN-Habitat’s well- received initiative of establishing and funding of three Regional Technical Offices (RTOs) at the level of Unions of
Municipalities (UoMs), in response to address the July 2006 Israeli war on Lebanon, UN-Habitat replicated the model and currently supports two RTOs in
Chouf and Saida district. The RTO model provides an example of the importance of working in a strategic manner to enhance capacities at the municipal
level to respond to emergencies, in addition to planning and community development.
UN-Habitat initiated its Darfur

programme in 2007 responding to
one of the main recommendations of
the 2006 report by the Darfur Joint
Needs Assessment Team. UN-Habitat
has identified Stabilised Soil Block
(SSB) technology as the one that can
potentially provide an alternative building
material for the re-construction challenge
facing the returning population in Darfur.
The SSB cost effectiveness has been
proved by comparing BoQ of fired bricks
construction with the SSB alternative
showing that no cost increase and even
it can be reduced a 30% through the
adoption of the latter. The UN-Habitat
programme included community
involvement in building model homes,
school and clinics using the stabilized soil
blocks. Training of trainers has also been
used to disseminate skills in the major
cities, towns, and villages in Darfur.
Planning Support to Palestinian

BOTTOM: Manshiet Nasser, Egypt
© UN-Habitat
Challenges in the
Communities in Area C, West Bank Arab Region
- Palestine The UN-Habitat’s programme focuses on
Over 60 per cent of the West Bank is capacitating Palestinian institutions on Political and economic instability in some
considered “Area C”, an area that Israeli spatial planning and housing through countries in the Arab region causes major
government retains control (security and policy strategies and capital investment human migration and displacement
civil). An estimated 150,000 Palestinians projects. It aims at supporting the induced by conflict and climate change.
live in Area C, most vulnerable Palestinian formulation of a National Spatial Plan
communities inhabit this area. Lack of (NSP) for the State of Palestine by
adequate planning has been a major providing a holistic guide to planning
driver of vulnerability of the people in efforts in Area C.
Area C.

PHOTO: Khartoum, Sudan.
© Al Pidgen/Shutterstock
PHOTO: Auckland’s CBD after dusk during a storm,
hence the wet roads and dramatic sky.
© Shutterstock

Chapter Three Asia and the Pacific
Asia and the Pacific

The vast spread of the Asia-Pacific region
features high, middle and low-income
economies, as well as a wealth of diverse
societies and cultures.
Introduction The vast spread of the Asia-Pacific region

features high, middle and low-income
In close collaboration
The Asia Pacific is the most populous economies, as well as a wealth of
with diverse stakeholders,
region and a home to the world’s largest diverse societies and cultures. In 2014,
population of urban slum dwellers. It the overall level and annual growth 620 youths have been trained
also boasts of being a host to seventeen rate of urbanization (47.7 per cent and on advanced construction skills
megacities (cities exceeding 10 million 2.3 per cent) were close to the global (masonry and carpentry) and
inhabitants) and the projections are that averages (53.6 per cent and 2.0 per cent, 14,800 homeowners trained on
by 2030, the region will have increased respectively). basic construction skills while 633
its megacities to twenty-two. The region of community members, including
is host to highly urbanized countries such However, despite the urbanization 300 women, have been provided
as Australia, New Zealand and Japan addressing some of the needs of the with leadership training.
and others much less urbanized such as region’s very poorest, inequalities and
Nepal, Papua New Guinea and Sri Lanka. limited access to infrastructure and
services remain serious challenge that
needs to be addressed.
C H A P T E R three : A s i a a n d t h e Pa c i f i c 43
Figure 16: DistributionD ISTRIBUTIO N O F O N-GO
of on-going ING PROJECTS
projects I N ASI
in Asia and A AND
theTHE PACI FI C, 2013-2014
Pacific, 2013-2014 (in millions)
Afghanistan 51,925,074
Sri Lanka 28,890,760
Myanmar 17,000,189
Bangladesh 13,390,248
Pakistan 7,214,642
Nepal 4,301,515
Regional 3,753,262
Philippines 2,822,361
Iran 940,579
Mongolia 739,056
Vietnam 677,681
Timor-Leste 558,646
Korea, Republic of 532,701
China 384,727
Laos 357,143
Cambodia 323,618
Samoa 290,644
Papua New Guinea 280,025
Indonesia 114,466
India 55,221
Japan 47,034
0 10,000,000 20,000,000 30,000,000 40,000,000 50,000,000 60,000,000
USD ($)
In the 2013-2014 biennium, as In these countries, and the region as a and slum upgrading increased threefold,
illustrated in Figure 16, nearly two- whole, three thematic areas constitute from USD 9.1 million in 2013 to USD
thirds of UN-Habitat project expenditure nearly 90 per cent of project spending: 29.2 million 2014. Also, there was a
in the region was in three countries: risk reduction and rehabilitation, housing significant increase in disbursements to
Afghanistan (39 per cent), Sri Lanka and slum upgrading and urban basic projects in the areas of risk reduction and
(21 per cent), and Myanmar (13 per services (Figure 17). An analysis of the rehabilitation (see Figure 18).
cent). yearly spending in the biennium shows
that the budget allocation for housing

T HE M AT I C DI S T R I B U T IO N O F PO RTFO LIO IN A SIA A N D TH E PA CIFIC, 2013-2014
Figure 17: Thematic Distribution of Portfolio in Asia and the Pacific, 2013-2014
0.1%
Urban Economy
1.3% 37.2%
Urban Land, Legislation
Risk Reduction
and Governance
and Rehabilitation
1.5%
Research and
1.8%
Others
6.9%
Urban Planning
and Design 28.4%
Housing and
Slum Upgrading
22.7%
Urban
Basic Services
T H E MA T IC D IS T RI BUT IO N OF P OR T F OL I O I N A S I A A ND T H E P A C I F I C , 2 0 1 3 - 2 0 1 4
Figure 18: Thematic Breakdown of Portfolio in Asia and the Pacific, 2013-2014
35
30 29.0 29.2
25
USD (Millions)
21.1
20 18.0
15
12.5
10 9.1
5.6
5 3.6
1.3 1.5 1.1 1.4
0.5 0.0 0.1 0.6
-
2013 2014
D I S T R I B U T I O N O F O N - G O ING P R O J E C TS I N A SI A A ND TH E P A C I F I C , 2 0 1 3 - 2 0 1 4
Figure 19: Contributors to the portfolio in Asia and the Pacific, 2013-2014 (in Millions)
Japan 35,822,701
UN 26,284,270
MRRD Afghanistan 10,131,956
JICA 9,852,765
USAID 7,304,347
AusAID 5,134,610
India 3,669,321
Afghanistan 2,376,722
Norway 1,270,413
Spain 1,047,455
Canadian International Developement Agency (CIDA) 952,510
Iran 940,579
Coca Cola 715,978
China Environmental Protection Foundation (CEPF) 659,330
South Korea 532,701
Netherlands 512,086
Action Aid 476,737
Malteser International 323,618
Global Green Growth Institute 253,000
Sweden 209,815
204,694

Mongol Diving LLC 121,834
BASF AG 98,098
Asian Development Bank (ADB) 97,197
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Government of Australia 60,494
FHK 55,856
Lao 44,550
Ulaanbaatar City Government 27,144
Sri Lanka 17,064
OIC 8,211
Construction Bureau of Jiangyin City 6,755
0 5,000,000 10,000,000 15,000,000 20,000,000 25,000,000 30,000,000 35,000,000 40,000,000
USD ($)

Projects activities and km of footpaths and 234 km of drains A new edition of “The State of China’
were constructed by the community Cities 2014/2015” was published in
outcomes in Asia and development committees with support association with the China Science
from UN-Habitat. During the final year, Centre of International Eurasian Academy
the Pacific UPPR undertook a study in 12 towns of Sciences, China Association of Mayors
to measure short-term outcomes for and Urban Planning Society of China. In
Bangladesh households that had benefited from an academic partnership, the translation
In August 2014, the “Urban Partnerships latrines. Almost all households using the of the UN-Habitat’s guide “Urban
for Poverty Reduction” (UPPR) formally latrine believed that the latrine had made Planning for City Leaders” into Chinese
came to a successful end in Bangladesh, a positive contribution to their quality of language was initiated. This Guide will
after 6 years of urban poverty life. be published by the Central University for
alleviation with 2,588 communities Finance and Economics in China in 2015.
in 24 municipalities. This DfID funded China
programme focused on access to services UN-Habitat, in cooperation with Kunshan UN-Habitat, in cooperation with
and improved livelihoods. In 2014, Municipality and Tongji University, Guangzhou Urban Planning Institute,
UN-Habitat expanded its technical organized 3 workshops for 36 senior provided its visions and recommendations
support to the Ministry of Local urban development professionals from six for the revision of the Master Plan for
Government and UNDP to engage 24 cities in four Western African countries: Wuzhou 2030. Proposals made by the
City Corporations and Municipalities Cotonou (Benin), Treichville (Cote UN-Habitat expert group and accepted
and some 5,330 community groups d’Ivoire), Bamako and Sikasso (Mali) by the Municipality of Wuzhou such as
in urban informal settlements. During and Dakar and Saint Louis (Senegal)). the control industrial expansion in the
the implementation of this project, The participants were exposed to local north and encourage industrial extension
63,669 improved latrines, 9,815 water practices for the development of urban in the south, where the city can provide
points (tube wells and reservoirs), 909 policies and projects. much more sufficient land.
UN-Habitat and its partners are

developing an “eco-civilization indicator
system” to monitor the eco-city and
low carbon development of the Chinese
cities. Guiyang will be the pilot city to use
the indicator system.
Indonesia
In 2014, UN-Habitat and the Government
of Indonesia transitioned from a
conventional relationship of technical
cooperation supported by traditional
donors to a relationship of strategic
collaboration, with the preparation for
Habitat III and the formulation of a New
Urban Agenda as a launching pad.
LEFT: Building blocks for a brighter tomorrow-

constructing preschools in conflict affected
villages, Sri Lanka. © UN-Habitat
TOP : Traffic jam in Beijing’s Central In 2014, UN-Habitat completed the Cities Myanmar
Business District, China. Alliance funded project “Making Urban UN-Habitat supports the Government
© Hung Chung Chih /Shutterstock Investment Planning Work; building of Myanmar to enhance knowledge
on the Indonesian CDS experience”. and skills to introduce and re-engineer
The CDS approach – consultative and land administration systems which are
In January 2014, UN-Habitat completed citywide – was proposed to complement outdated and inefficient. It has also
the European Union funded project the budgeting exercises of the Ministry of trained local government and land
on Post-Conflict Assistance to West- Public Works and Public Housing. registration department staff to work on
Timorese Women and Indigenous the new platform of land registration.
Communities that had absorbed large A new MOU was signed, with Indonesia
numbers of ex-combatants. Over 3 to support Habitat III preparations UN-Habitat has as well been supporting
years, UN-Habitat provided training and UN-Habitat to support capacity affected communities with a
to 621 government officials, of which building of young Indonesian urban comprehensive recovery concept and
240 were female. At the end of the officials and professionals. On World has also initiated urban management
programme, UN-Habitat supported the Habitat Day 2014, the Ministry of Public and governance programme. UN-Habitat
National Development Planning Ministry Works launched its own City Changer is conducting a number of researches
(BAPPENAS) to absorb strategic advice on campaign. In November 2014, the to supplement the ongoing policy
indigenous land tenure management and Ministry convened a first EGM on the work with the Urban Resource and
on the accelerated basic service provision Asia Pacific Preparations for Habitat III, Development Institute.
for the next 5-year’ national development with selected Least Developed Countries
plan of Indonesia, especially with regard for the preparation of National Reports.
to development in the poorest Eastern
parts of the country.

Sri Lanka Land and local governance: that promote participatory planning,
UN-Habitat used ongoing projects focusing on the reduction of poverty and
for exploring new approaches for inclusiveness.
Essential community
government-led and community-driven
Infrastructure facilities have
slum upgrading initiatives to improve Working closely with the Government
been constructed through community livelihood in informal of Sri Lanka, development partners and
a participatory process in settlements. WASH interventions were communities, UN-Habitat’s post–conflict
approximately 250 villages in the conducted in Karachi to tackle problems programme is assisting communities
Northern and Eastern Provinces, of solid and liquid waste, promote to construct over 31,000 homes while
including 54 community centres, behavioural change and to reduce the providing essential small-scale community
39 preschools, 36 common incidence of polio in the urban slum infrastructure facilities to over 250
wells as well as 240 Rainwater communities. Humanitarian assistance villages. At the end of December 2014,
Harvesting Systems (RWH) and through shelter support and provision of 23,000 permanent houses and toilets
9 school toilets and hand wash WASH were provided to selected IDPs of for returnees were completed through
KP and FATA. a homeowner driven process in conflict
facilities.
affected districts in the Northern and
Basic services: The establishment of Eastern Province. The construction of
an Integrated Resource Recovery Centre 8,500 houses is on-going and will be
in Islamabad with UN-ESCAP in 2014 completed in 2015.
improved the capacity of local authorities
UN-Habitat has been actively supporting to deliver basic services in Pakistan. Other Essential community Infrastructure
the Government of Myanmar to service delivery interventions include a facilities have been constructed through
implement the Hyogo Framework for joint programme with UNICEF to improve a participatory process in approximately
Action and to create resilient cities access to potable water and improved 250 villages in the Northern and Eastern
through the implementation of the sanitation in polio high risk areas, with Provinces, supporting post conflict
Myanmar Action Plan for Disaster funding from the Coca Cola Foundation. recovery and reconstruction efforts of
Risk Reduction (DRR). UN-Habitat’s the country, including 54 community
involvement in climate change actions Disaster risk reduction: centres, 39 preschools, 36 common wells
through the Myanmar Climate Change UN-Habitat is the convener on as well as 240 Rainwater Harvesting
Alliance programme will strengthen Disaster Risk Management under the Systems (RWH) and 9 school toilets and
capacity in the government, private One UN Programme II 2013-2017, hand wash facilities. In order to improve
sector and civil society actors and to in collaboration with the National accessibility in rural villages, 156 km of
assist the government in the preparation and Provincial Disaster Management internal roads and 6 km of storm water
of a national strategy for climate change. Authorities. UN-Habitat undertook a drainage has been rehabilitated.
multi-hazard assessment of selected
Pakistan government buildings throughout During the past 4 years, UN-Habitat
During 2014, UN-Habitat started the Pakistan. has supported eight disaster-prone
facilitation of Pakistan’s participation cities (Balangoda, Ratnapura, Kalmunai,
in the Habitat III preparation and the Sri Lanka Akkaraipattu, Batticaloa, Mannar,
National Report drafting with funding UN-Habitat has assisted to develop Vavuniya and Mullaitivu) with Disaster
from OXFAM GB through the Pakistan human settlement policies in Sri Lanka Risk Reduction Planning and capacity
Government’s Climate Change Division since 1978. The agency has supported building for Local Authorities and
and the National Habitat Steering the nation to benefit from global trends communities. Concluded in December
Committee. ranging from the City Master Planning 2014, this programme developed disaster
in the 1980’s to advocating approaches risk reduction and preparedness plans.
Funding for this programme has been
Box 3: Creating a road map for the Myanmar Urban Future
provided by the Government of Australia
(DFAT).
The Urban Research and Development programme made the city leaders understand
Institute, established in 2012 with the that the urban planning is an emerging need In close collaboration with diverse
partnership of UN-Habitat, the Government for Myanmar cities if their cities were to be stakeholders, 620 youths have been
of Myanmar and Government of Norway, has competitive and efficient in the region.
trained on advanced construction
gradually developed as the hub of all urban UN-Habitat was recognized as the key skills (masonry and carpentry) and
initiatives ranging from training municipal partner to formulate a National Urban
staff on city development strategies 14,800 homeowners trained on
Policy and National Housing Policy at the
in formulating documents of strategic basic construction skills while 633 of
Government’s National Conference on
importance such as Myanmar National urban and housing policies which
community members, including 300
Building Code. UN-Habitat expertise shall be provided for women, have been provided with
At the city level, engagement through the development of a road map for better leadership training.
training events, support for resilient city urban future for Myanmar.
planning, and facilitation to link to urban
networks such as 100 resilient cities
RIGHT : Panorama of Delhi

Jama Masjid Mosque minaret.
© Nowak Lukasz/ Shutterstock
LEFT : Aerial of Dhaka, the Capital of Bangladesh.

© Dmitry Chulov / Shutterstock

PHOTO: Havana, Cuba.
© KKulikov/Shutterstock
Chapter Four Latin America and the Caribbean

Latin America and the Caribbean will be nearly
87 per cent urban in 2050, by which time the annual
average pace of growth in the urban population is
expected to slow down to 0.3 per cent.
Introduction The region continues to record the non-traditional funds from national, sub
highest disparity of incomes in the national and local governments who
The Latin America and the Caribbean world and this is also true for cities as request and fund technical advice on
(LAC) is the most urbanized region in demonstrated by recent UN-Habitat UN-Habitat expertise.
the world, with a rate of around 80 per reports. The Latin America and the
cent. The region has reached a stable Caribbean region are mostly composed The culture of informed decision making,
urban growing pattern; however, this of Middle income Countries (MIC) and planning and monitoring are spreading
pattern was basically created during the have only one Least Developed Country over the region. For this reason there is a
rapid urbanization period (1960-2000) (LDC), Haiti. There are willingness and great interest for methodologies like the
when new urban dwellers were hosted interest to employ good technical City Prosperity Index (CPI), which is now
by poorly planned cities. The result cooperation services. For this reason, being implemented in several cities. City
is a number of negative externalities the Regional Office for Latin America or sector Profiles are also being requested
(inefficiency in land use, urban sprawl, and the Caribbean has received in the and have been developed in Colombia,
congestion, etc.). last four years a high per centage of Cuba, El Salvador, and Mexico and in
C H A P T E R four : Lat i n A me r i ca a n d t h e C a r i bbea n 53

DI S T R I B UT I O Nof
Figure 20: Distribution O Fon-going
O N -G O I N G PR O JE C T S I NinL ALatin
projects TI N A MAmerica
E R I CA A ND and
TH E CA R I BCaribbean,
the B E A N, 2013- 2014
2013-2014 (in millions)
Haiti 9,753,180
Colombia 5,430,814
Brazil 5,290,804
Regional 2,564,805
Mexico 1,091,973
El Salvador 924,900
Cuba 746,624
Ecuador 698,230
Venezuela 234,650
Guatemala 215,062
Costa Rica 143,539
St Lucia 42,411
0 5,000,000 10,000,000
USD ($)
Eastern Caribbean Countries. However, one led by traditional donors to a

other thematic challenges in the region very competitive to one where the More than three years
include urban security, urban equality actual expertise is what partners are after the earthquake, camps
and resiliency. The Regional Office has looking for.
remain a major issue in Port-
prioritized the mainstreaming of gender
and youth in all programmes in order to • Administrative and financial au-Prince Metropolitan Area.
contribute to a more just society. framework supporting traditional According to the CCCM
cooperation models are proving not cluster, 55,371 households
Lessons learned to fit for purpose in the new Latin are still living in 312 camps
• The Technical cooperation America and the Caribbean middle
environment in Latin America and income technical-cooperation-
the Caribbean has evolved from business-environment.

Figure 21: Thematic TDistribution of Portfolio in Latin America and the Caribbean, 2013-2014
H E M A T I C D I S T R I B U T I O N OF POR T FOL IO IN L A T IN A M E R ICA A ND T H E CA R IB B E A N, 2 0 1 3 -2 0 1 4
2%
Others 31%
Risk Reduction
4% and Rehabilitation
Urban
Basic Services
7%
Research and
8%
Urban Economy
9% 27%
Housing and
Urban Land, Legislation
Slum Upgrading
and Governance
12%
Urban Planning
and Design
T H E M A TI C B R E A K D O W N O F P O RT F O L I O I N L A T I N A M E RI C A A N D T H E C A RI BBE A N , 2 0 1 3 - 2 0 1 4
Figure 22: Thematic Breakdown of Portfolio in Latin America and the Caribbean, 2013-2014
7
6.3
6
5
USD (Millions)
4.0
4
3.4
3
2.2 2.1
2
1.1 1.2 1.2 1.1 1.3
0.9 0.9
1 0.6
0.3 0.3 0.3
-
2013 2014

Figure 23: Contributors to the portfolio in Latin America and the Caribbean, 2013-2014 (in Millions)
C O NTRIB U T O R S T O T H E P O R T F O L IO I N L A T I N A M E RI C A A N D T H E C A RI BBE A N ,2 0 1 3 - 2 0 1 4
UN 11,404,327
Instituto Pereira Passos/Prefeitura da Cidade do Rio de Janeiro 4,328,515
Spain 2,849,793
AusAID 790,537
COSUDE 746,624
BASF AG 746,301
ISVIMED 738,240
Prefeitura da Cidade do Rio de Janeiro (PCRJ) 596,668
S.D.D.E 545,473
Zapopan 358,002
Mexico 356,386
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies 342,716
GUADALAJARA 340,217
CEPA 336,279
Fundacao Euclides da CUNHA (FEC) 323,361
Brazil 229,084
Corporacion Andina de Fomento (CAF) 176,885
ICBF 142,907
Bahrain 42,411
Cajame 35,406
Corporacion Volver a la Gente 11,707
0 5,000,000 10,000,000 15,000,000
USD ($)
• Dedicated attention shall be paid to • Tailored strategies and projects city prosperity initiative, etc.) can
new development partners, i.e. cities shall be developed by the agency in result in relevant but new responses
and governments of the region, order to develop evidence to show to countries and cities own social
including the private sector. the way the new expertise (urban and economic priorities.
development integrated approach,

• Special emphasis shall be done production of high quality data on these the implementation of action by 12
towards the only LDC country in the territories. As a result, the following Municipal Secretariats
region. should be noted:
• Knowledge Management improved
In terms of the UN-Habitat projects • Guidelines for Management of UPP. through the development of
in the region, three-quarters of the participatory methodologies for data
organization’s portfolio in the LAC are • Local projects prepared with collection.
in three countries: Haiti, 36 per cent; community organisations in the
Colombia, 20 per cent; and Brazil, 19 pacified communities. • Identification of 213 NGOs
per cent (see Figure 20). As shown working in pacified Favelas and the
in Figure 21, over half of the project • Support the activities of several establishment of 49 partnerships for
expenditure in the 2013-2014 biennium organizations in the territories: inter- joint action in these Favelas.
is in two thematic areas: risk reduction location, articulation, and support to
and rehabilitation (31 per cent) and
urban land, legislation and governance
(27 per cent). Notably, spending in
projects relating risk reduction and
rehabilitation significantly decreased
(from USD 6.3 million in 2013 to USD
2.1 million in 2014) whilst an increase of
USD 1.1 million was observed in projects
encompassing urban planning and design
(see Figure 22).
Projects activities and

outcomes in Latin
America and the
Caribbean
Brazil
Social Reintegration of
30 Pacified Favelas
The development of this initiative is
needed to complement the actions of
public security with the promotion of
local development, enabling the physical
and social integration of these slum areas
to the formal city. UPP Social focuses
on improving urban governance and
public management, and to create the
conditions necessary for an integrated TOP : San Pedro la Laguna, Guatemala.
© Milosz_M / Shutterstock
public intervention through the

TOP : A view of sunny Bogota center with the Santamaria bullring and the Andes mountains in the background.
© De Jongh Photography / Shutterstock
Metropolitan Governance metropolitan governance. The outcomes in the country. It was for this reason that
in the State Of São Paulo – include: (i) facilitation by UN-Habitat UN-Habitat was requested to offer input
Facilitating The Formulation And of the implementation of the Macro- for the elaboration of these documents
Implementation of São Paulo metropolitan Action Plan (PAM), through focusing on territorial planning processes
Macro Metropolis Action Plan and the elaboration of a governance strategy and urban management to articulate
its Portfolio Projects for PAM portfolio projects and by urban policies with the full development
The accelerated process of urbanization ensuring the implementation capacity of of the municipalities affected by
and the increasing importance of the key involved actors. metropolitan dynamics. It is expected in
metropolitan regions in Brazil have mid-2015 to increase awareness around
recently brought to light the debate Urban Planning and Territorial metropolitan and regional management
around metropolitan governance and Management in Metropolitan and governance shall be achieved among
planning in the country. The overall Regions - Inputs for the Elaboration national and sub-national institutions
objective of this initiative is to support of the Brazilian Policy on through the consolidation and advocacy
EMPLASA in the implementation of São Metropolitan Governance of the proposals for the a) National Legal
Paulo Macro-Metropolis Action Plan In 2013, the Brazilian Ministry of Cities Framework on Metropolitan Governance
through the development of a model of wanted to elaborate the National Legal and for the b) methodology of Integrated
metropolitan governance. The overall Framework for Metropolitan Governance Urban Development Plan (PDUI).
objective of this initiative was to support and the Integrated Urban Development
EMPLASA in the implementation of São Plan in order to establish common
Paulo Macro-Metropolis Action Plan legal definitions and guidelines for
through the development of a model of metropolitan and regional development

Monitoring the MDGs at the enhances local capacities for poverty and the Metropolitan Area of Valle de
Municipal Level in the States of eradication and sustainable development Aburrá have agreed on working together
Rio de Janeiro and Maranhão and
by contributing to the improvement for the promotion of local capacities
Strengthening Local Capacities on
of municipal territorial knowledge and for sustainable urban planning in the
Public Policies (Fec and Fsadu)
know-how for urban management. It context of the Land Management Plans
In 2006, Petrobras announced the made it possible for Petrobras to measure revision. It is expected to strengthen the
installation of the COMPERJ (Complexo the impacts of its industrial activities on integration of the metropolitan area
Petroquímico do Rio de Janeiro) in the surrounding territories. on land use issues through the design
the Municipality of Itaborai, in the and implementation of management
Eastern region of the State of Rio de Colombia tools, the articulation of regional
Janeiro. According to the Environmental Support and Assistance of the land use guidelines to local level and
Impact Study conducted in 2008, enhancement of the Major’s the promotion of opportunities for
the economic and social impacts of Office of Medellin in the knowledge exchange and research.
the industrial operation will directly Municipal Development Plan of
reach 11 municipalities of the region. ‘Construyamos unidos un hogar
Consequently, those 11 municipalities para la vida Let’s Build a Home for
have decided to institutionalize Life The free-market ideology
their cooperation to cope with the Over the past years Medellin has gone has promoted, and will
forthcoming development challenges through a successful urban and social continue to generate, new
through the creation of CONLESTE (the transformation process in which it urbanization modalities,
Inter-municipal Consortium for the now recognizes its achievements and spatial patterns and
Development of the Eastern Fluminense understands itself to be a laboratory for configurations that may
Region). creative public policies and strategies. have an impact on how
Nevertheless, the city continues to face
‘urban areas’ are defined
This project aimed at monitoring significant challenges such as inequality,
and managed.
the impacts of the construction inadequate urbanization processes in
and operation by Petrobras of the mountain areas, and the lack of land
petrochemical complex COMPERJ (State that can be urbanized for low-income
of Rio de Janeiro) and the Refinery housing. The project aims to support the
Premium I (State of Maranhao) in the development of strategic interventions
Technical support to the
municipalities concerned with these (through technical assistance, policy
formulation of the National Policy
private industrial investments. Based advice and project development), that
for the System of Cities and to the
on the Millennium Development Goals will support the consolidation of ongoing
strengthening of the Association of
(MDGs) declined to local targets and institutional reforms aiming at improving
Colombian Capital Cities
indicators and UN-Habitat Urban the management of the habitat in the
Observatory indicators, the monitoring city in a more comprehensive manner. The project that sought to provide the
also aims at providing input and strategy to solve the problem, is framed
instruments for municipalities in the Urban Planning and Land within the UN-Habitat Executive Director’s
design of public policies, programmes Management in the Metropolitan strategic programme “Achieving
and provision of infrastructure in line Area of Aburra Valley Sustainable Urban Development-ASUD”,
with the rapidly evolving reality. It Some of the problems that the seeking to provide the necessary support
builds a Geo-referenced database with Metropolitan Area is facing are the weak to the formulation of a national urban
social, economic and environmental articulation between the municipal scale strategy for Colombia, through the
information on the regions impacted by of urban planning and the regional design of public policies aiming to
COMPERJ and Premium I. The project and metropolitan scales. UN-Habitat consolidate the System of Cities and

Piloting an Inclusive and
strengthen the Association of Colombian include increased capacity of Medellin
Participatory Land Readjustment
Capital Cities (ASOCAPITALES). and stakeholders to undertake PILaR for
(PILaR) in Colombia for Sustainable
city extension/densification.
Urban Development at Scale
The overall objective of ASUD
programmes in Colombia is to strengthen This project is designed as the UN- • Improved global knowledge on land
national and local governments as well Habitat’s global pilot to demonstrate readjustment for city extension/
as relevant stakeholder’s capacities for how to undertake a participatory and densification for developing
improving urban planning and urban inclusive land readjustment initiative in a countries with PILaR (PILaR
policies leading to sustainable urban developing country through the example systematization).
development. This should contribute to of Medellin. A pilot site within Medellin
Improved national focus on sustainable will be selected and a participatory • Initiated discussions by Medellin and
urbanization policies through a public process will be undertaken with all other relevant levels of government
system of consolidated Colombian cities local stakeholders to design a compact, in Colombia for improved land-
policy. connected and inclusive neighbourhood. use planning for city extension/
This should strengthen policy framework densification in pilot site in Medellin.
Capacity building in the City of by Medellin and other relevant levels of
Santa Marta for sustainable urban government in Colombia with enabling • Adoption of policy instruments and
development policies and plans to undertake land land-use plan for improved land
Particularly, the objective of the project readjustment in a participatory and readjustment for city extension /
in Santa Marta is to articulate strategies inclusive manner for city extension/ densification in pilot site.
for sustainable urban development, densification in pilot site. The results will
supporting the management of the city
based on a UN-Habitat´s global campaign
“I´m a city changer”. New instruments
and models were developed for the
Municipality of Santa Marta (Formulation
of the Master Plan and the upgrading
of the Land Use Plan), the capability
of implementing them was strengthen
through the following thematic pillars:
i) Sustainable City expansion, ii)
Development of the seaport, iii) Recovery
of the Rio Manzanares; iv) Connectivity
though the development of the railroad
and the airport´s remodelling; and v) City
integration based on social and territorial
cohesion. As a result, the city of Santa
Marta has developed a new urban
planning and management models and
tools, which enhanced its institutional
capacities and local governance, and the
citizens of Santa Marta now participate
actively in the process as change agents.
TOP : Historical part of Quito, capital of Ecuador as seen from Panecillo statue at dusk.
© Ammit Jack/Shutterstock

• Initiation of implementation of new urban strategies for prevention and camps in consultation with the CCCM
inclusive and sustainable policies mitigation of urban crime. Decision Cluster. The project also proposes to
and plans by Medellin and other makers are now able to receive accurate formalize 2 or 3 selected camps through
relevant levels of government in and reliable information regarding urban urban integration with the surrounding
pilot site. crime and the connection with economic neighbourhood and through housing
competitiveness. support, job creation, rental subsidies,
Potentiate Popular Economy of the access to basic services such as road,
Agglomeration Areas in Bogotá Urban Poverty Reduction in Mexico water and sanitation networks, or a
and the Knowledge Management The project focuses on strengthening combination of these options. The
of the Urban and Regional UN-Habitat and SEDESOL knowledge, ultimate goal of the project is to pave the
Economy visibility and network in order to develop way for ending internal displacement of
Informality, segregation and exclusion the portfolio of activities in the country. the camp populations through technical
are important challenges faced by the Together with SEDESOL, UN-Habitat assistance at the governmental and local
City of Bogota, to the extent that the achieved reviewing the Local Urban authorities level in terms of evidence
population’s economic activities are Observatories, National Network index, based decision making regarding
unevenly distributed in the territory. The roster in order to update and consolidate scenarios for camp exit strategies.
project seeks to discourage the main national comparison tools. UN-Habitat
causes for informality by promoting also promoted and participated in the Support Programme for the
economies of scale, and improvement of elaboration of the Urban Development neighbourhoods reconstruction
the productive chains benefiting small Agencies and Local Urban Observatories and planning and the returns
and medium business in the city. A report Methodological Guideline publication, Programme to support the
using the critical mass of information and which contributes to strengthen local reconstruction of housing and
indexes shows in a more comprehensive authorities’ capacities towards local neighbourhoods in Haiti
way, the current State of the cities of planning procedures. Awareness and The earthquake that occurred on 12
Colombia and thus contributing to the political support towards the Habitat January 2010 had tragic consequences
strategic positioning of the urban agenda Agenda was raised through public events for the housing sector with over 250,000
of the Colombia supporting project of such as the World Habitat Day, as well houses destroyed or damaged. The
structuring of the national urban strategy through institutional participation in UN EU funded programme of institutional
providing baselines in terms of urban Inter-Agency meetings and groups. support was developed to strengthen
prosperity. the Government of Haiti and assist
Haiti agency capacity to support recovery,
Mexico From Camps Transformation to reconstruction and rehabilitation of
Assessment of the impact Urban Revitalization (CATUR earthquake affected housing and
of crime on urban economic project) - Port-au-Prince, Haiti neighbourhoods. The results show that
competitiveness, a pilot case in More than three years after the national housing, settlement and urban
Zapopan Municipality earthquake, camps remain a major issue development policy launched and the
Crime and violence rates have increased in Port-au-Prince Metropolitan Area. national communication strategy for safer
through past years in Mexico and According to the CCCM cluster, 55,371 and better housing construction devised.
have affected most of the country. households are still living in 312 camps Public information products for safer and
Furthermore, this phenomenon has [1]. Camp committees and private better housing, (video, print, radio) have
had a negative impact on cities´ ability initiatives are investing in the provision of been produced, while the monitoring and
to achieve their development goals. basic services such as community schools, analysis of key reconstruction progress
The UN-Habitat’s project aimed to free clinics and shops. The project aims to and issues underway.
contribute to urban safety through strengthen analysis and decision making
the improvement of local authorities’ with a view to ending displacement
capacities to formulate and implement based on a case-by-case survey of specific

Reconstruction with a view to inconsistent with the Action Plan for programme for ATL and CRC staff is
sustainable improvement of the Recovery and Development of Haiti. being carried out.
housing and living conditions of
In a reasonable time, capacities were
the population affected by the 12
strongly strengthened at IHSI in terms The Ministry of Planning and External
January 2010 earthquake in the
of personnel and equipment. The IHSI Cooperation department in town and
Southeast
was also provided with technical and country planning and regional and
The earthquake has caused serious methodological tools (data collection, local development has progressively
damages in the South East Department GIS, etc.) and intensive training and been involved in the coordination and
where more than 21,000 houses accompaniment. The premises, damaged monitoring of the production of regional
were damaged or destroyed. Families by the earthquake, were renovated and local plans, and the participatory
have started low-cost improvements for satisfactory working conditions. processes deployed with them. The
to repair their homes. In both urban The Methodology for the Census was support of UNDP and UN-Habitat
and rural contexts, we observed major developed and tested (tools, methods has allowed for the strengthening of
reconstruction issues such as the lack of collection, mapping); it will support its capacities and leadership to carry
of skilled labour and poor quality the exercise of national census foreseen out similar schemes in the future. A
construction materials. The project for 2014. The inventory of buildings is participatory process has been carried
has been developed as a response to completed in 2,505 SDE and the census out for in each of the five regions for the
the priorities defined by the Interim is completed in 587 SDE. formulation of the plans.
Commission for the Reconstruction
of Haiti. Thus, it is important to train Further, the SILQ platform has been Cuba
construction professionals in earthquake conceived, its functions developed and Support to transformations of
- and hurricane-resilient building tested, and is on-line since January the Housing Sector in Cuba
strategies, with techniques that are 2014. CNIGS staff is being trained to The project’s general objective is to
financially and technically accessible assure SILQ management. Information contribute to the transformation of the
to local populations. This has led to a from component 1 is already available Cuban housing sector with cognitive,
compact masonry training of trainers in the database while data from other technological, normative and financial
for 12 engineers and 2 masons, and stakeholders is being gathered. The support. The main intervention strategy
construction of a didactic building, as personnel of the Local Technical Agencies is to secure this important objective
well as the vernacular construction (ATL – 60 staff in line with priority based on the concept of Popular
training or trainers for 20 engineers or municipal jobs) for ten municipalities Education (Practice-Theory-Transformed
technicians, 2 masons and 2 carpenters and the Monitoring, Evaluation and Practice). Conducted case studies of
– construction of one model house. Communication Unit at the Ministry of the Historical Centre, Palma Soriano
A better and safer construction public Interior and Local Government (MICT – 3 and Holguin, drafts of the chapters of
awareness campaign for 87 artisans or staff) are on post since the beginning of the profile were developed, as well as
technicians can be added up to the good 2013. The Eleven Community Resource the public consultation to analyse the
results of this activity. Centres are already in place with a total chapters of the profile. The survey of
of 38 staff. Information and sensitisation the population incorporated their results
Programme to support the events were organised with the new to the various chapters of the profile.
reconstruction of housing and Mayors appointed by the Government The Housing Sector Profile was finished
neighbourhoods in Haiti for exhaustive comprehension of the in September 2014. Cuban authorities
This Joint Programme involving four municipal project planning concept approved the housing profile, which was
(4) UN Agencies proposes concrete and definition of the roadmaps for shared in November 2014. In addition,
measures to limit the effects of an respective ATL and CRC. Equipment 30 dwellings have been acquired, to
uncoordinated answer to the January has been provided to the Municipalities benefit 30 families affected by Sandy
2010 earthquake, which could be and the Ministry. An on-the-job training Hurricane. Centres of local production

of materials of construction equipment and implementation tools approved in Participation and Metropolitan
and tools were strengthened. The Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis and St Lucia
Governance – the case of the
State of São Paulo
technical capacities and citizens on issues based on the OECS Land Policy guidelines
of safe and healthy housing were also and adapted to national conditions. During the year of 2014, UN-Habitat
strengthened. The urban restoration The land records were improved. The developed a project with the State of
/ environmental areas where housing Social Tenure Domain Model (STDM) is São Paulo in the scope of the Macro-
guaranteed the integration of the a pro-poor tool for land administration metropolitan region. Considered as a
inhabitants to their environment were to record persons to land relations along whole, the region is an asset where 83
carried out, while the territorial and the continuum of land rights. It was also per cent of the state GDP (30 per cent
urban plan of two municipalities with witnessed an enhanced understanding of the national GDP) is produced; 16
participatory approach through popular of sustainable land management, per cent of the national population live;
consultation was developed. development and implementation of and where 14 per cent of the territory
a communication strategy; and the is composed of area with protected
Eastern Caribbean States enhanced understanding of the role of environmental assets.
Supporting to Eastern Caribbean sustainable land management in regard
States to Improve Land Policies to climate change and climate variability
and Management for economic resilience by all key
UN-Habitat, in collaboration with stakeholders.
National and Regional partners
(Organization of Eastern Caribbean
Box 4: Rio de Janeiro: From Coercion to Trust – UPP Social Programme
States (OECS), University of West
Indies, National Land Agencies and
Land Stakeholders), supported OECS Drug trafficking is the source of much of the organized violence of Rio de Janeiro, the second
and National governments to develop largest city in Brazil. The inhabitants of these communities have been exposed to a high degree
foundations for sustainable land of insecurity and violence, excluded from the benefits provided by the city and state services.
In 2008, the sheer level of violence and criminality made resolving this problem a government
management reflecting the Region’s
priority and, in December of that year, the Government of the State of Rio de Janeiro began the
aspirations for equity, efficiency
deployment so-called Police Pacification Units (UPP) to recapture these territories. In January
and sustainability. This entailed the 2011, the municipality of Rio de Janeiro took a second step in this direction: the introduction of
development of OECS Land Policy UPP Social in 72 already pacified areas. By May 2012, peace had been achieved in 87 Favelas
guidelines highlighting the crucial spread over the city, benefiting about 300,000 people with freedom of movement and regular
importance of land management to the access to services. These units, which have a high degree of social acceptance, have helped build
achievement of economic development, a safer city. Culture has been important and very successful tool for the inclusion of youth. Arts,
poverty reduction, social stability and culinary, dance and music have motivated participation of the community in activities promoted
the protection of environmentally by the municipality and other partners, generating social and economic inclusion. “We appear
sensitive areas; in addition supported dancing, but is very fast. They like the little step [so called passinho, a local dance]. In the
beginning [when he won the Passinho Dance Competition], I went to very cool and chic places,
to develop National Land Policies in
São Paulo, Olinda ... met several artists. The phone kept ringing and I was living from it, of
Grenada, St Kitts & Nevis and St Lucia
presentations. But I had in my head that this was going to finish one day and finally got a job.
in line with the guidelines and adapted That is when it really decreased. But if I have the opportunity of living from the dance I’ll take
to local conditions. The coordination the opportunity “ (Jackson Carvalho, 20 years, champion of the “Batalha competition in 2011”,
capacities were enhanced for regional participating in the 2013 competition and explaining the opportunities he got over 2011,
and national institutions to develop particularly his participation in a television soap opera in 2013.
effective land policies through inclusive
and extensive consultative processes. Source: http://uppsocial.org/2013/03/esta-dada-a-largada-para-a-batalha-do-passinho-2013/
(in Portuguese)
National Land Policies were also
developed with National Land Policies

In 2011, an initial assessment with the federal government and 4 El Salvador
revealed that São Paulo’s metropolitan thematic meetings. Thirdly, UN-Habitat Mainstreaming gender, human
development suffered from unarticulated built propositions of macro-metropolitan rights and youth in UN-Habitat
investments. Thereby, facing the governance model, based on the existing interventions
challenge of urban sustainable legislation and the feedbacks from the The Joint Programme on Urban and
development the State of São Paulo participatory process; as a matter of fact Productive Settlements in El Salvador
created a Metropolitan Development some actors were maps consequently to (F092) has indirectly produced results
Secretariat with the objective to structure the meetings. at the policy level (please see details
a Macro-metropolitan Plan of Action in MTSIP Report on El Salvador).UN-
towards the objective of the 2040 (PAM The instrumental organization of Habitat’s components were closely
2013-2040). In 2012, based on this meetings allowed a first step towards related to housing, infrastructure and
assessment, together with the São Paulo the culture of multi-level governance regularization of land and security of
Company of Metropolitan Planning SA and participatory methodologies among tenure but also supported participatory
(Emplasa). Selected sectorial projects State institutions. The first successful activities aiming at community
were articulated at the scale of the accomplishment is the dissemination and development and the connection to
macro-metropolis and oriented towards exposure of PAM 2013-2040 to all the productivity. A field visit to review the
three axis of intervention: 1. Connectivity mapped actors and beyond. implementation of the mainstreaming
and economic competitiveness; of gender, human rights and youth
2.Territorial cohesion and inclusive The proposed governance model was organized in 2013, aiming at
urbanization, and 3. Metropolitan structures an overall efficient documenting the results and positive
governance. coordination of technical and political changes in the lives of the target groups.
institutions with the decision-making
By 2013, Emplas a strategic document bodies. At both macro-metropolitan Brazil
with a portfolio of projects different and regional levels, the PAM 2013- Monitoring the MDGs at the municipal
scenarios and a desired future was 2040 will adapt to conjectural changes level in the states of Rio de Janeiro and
produced. Yet, the portfolio of projects since stakeholders’ participation are Maranhão (Brazil) and strengthening
had to find new strategies of financing, efficiently coordinated at the level of a local capacities of public policies. This
open the methodology to participatory Management Committee. At the macro- project aims at monitoring the effects
processes and articulate itself with metropolitan scale, the PAM Working of the construction and operation by
institutionalized sub-regional authorities, Group plays a decisive technical role Petrobras of the petrochemical complex
172 municipalities, the federal in coordinating inter-sectorial projects COMPERJ (State of Rio de Janeiro)
government, civil society and the private at the macro-metropolitan scale, while and the Refinery Premium I (State of
sector. special regional chambers discuss Maranhão) in the municipalities impacted
local development issues. Overall, the by these initiatives.
In October 2013, UN-Habitat firmed a methodology promises to influence the
Contribution Agreement with EMPLASA design, implementation and monitoring The MDGs showed great potential for the
to provide a threefold technical practices of new projects at the regional construction of productive coalitions and
cooperation in order to structure the and national level beyond 2040. partnerships between local governments,
metropolitan governance axiom. The civil society organizations and the private
first output consisted in the mapping of sector.
total of 266 macro-metropolitan actors
that would be influenced by the project
portfolio. Secondly, throughout 2014,
UN-Habitat organised and moderated
6 regional consultations, a meeting

TOP : Panoramic view of Lima city, Peru.
© Christian Vinces/Shutterstock
The municipalities that adopt the MDGs Adopting a management strategy UN-Habitat/ROLAC has provided
and establish local targets and indicators oriented towards concrete results, technical cooperation to the Consortium
for the development of their plans, which can be measured; having local including the institutional design of the
policies and programs have the following policies in line with developmental consortium itself and the development of
advantages: strategies adopted by State and Federal proposals that guarantees the principle of
governments, what allows the allocation the right to the city for all. On December
Potential for attracting the local of financial resources of Federal and State 2012, the fifteen Mayors sent an official
community to the dialogue, considering governments in their territories; aligning letter to UN-Habitat and Petrobrás
the nature of the MDGs message; public policies around common goals. recognizing the importance of the project
and asking for the continuity.
Defined targets and indicators for An inter-municipal consortium, such
increasing the supply and to improve as the CONLESTE, which aggregates
the quality of public services; facilitating 15 municipalities, enhances the
the monitoring and evaluation of public improvement of the conditions for
policies and measuring their results using sustainable development in the
consolidated indicators; participating municipalities.

PHOTO : Aerial view of Moscow city.
© Pavel Burchenko / Shutterstock

Chapter Five The European Union andEastern Europe
The European Union and

Eastern Europe
The capitals of the Visegráds countries are doing
comparatively well, the outlook for many other
cities and towns is rather gloomy and regional
disparities in well-being are on the rise.
UN-Habitat has so far treated Eastern In another dimension, 6 countries remain period this work has been focussed on
Europe as defined by the informal UN members, associate members or the de determining priorities for co-operation
regional grouping, represented in the facto participants of the Commonwealth and to supporting the preparation of the
voting blocs comprised of at least 23 of Independent States, which includes, national reports to Habitat III – which
countries17. As of 2013, 11 among these in addition the 5 countries of Central will be the main source for sourcing the
countries have joined the EU. Asia: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, priorities.
3 are Candidate countries to the EU. Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
6 are covered by EU “Neighbourhood
Policy” as “Eastern Neighbourhood”. European Union and
Russian Federation, its neighbourhood
Eastern Europe and
Since November 2013, UN-Habitat has
Central Asia (CIS) been actively engaging with the EU
The work of UN-Habitat in the sub region Member States through participating
is supported by the annual contribution in the work of the informal EU Urban
17 Albania; Armenia; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Bosnia and
of the Russian Federation (USD Development Group. The group convenes
Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Croatia; Czech Republic;
Estonia; Georgia; Hungary; Latvia; Lithuania; FY 400,000) which is used for financing under each successive Presidency of the
Republic of Macedonia; Moldova; Montenegro; the activities managed by the Habitat European Union.
Poland; Romania; Russian Federation; Serbia;
Slovakia; Slovenia; Ukraine.
Programme office in Moscow. In this
CHAPTER five: The European Union and Eastern Europe 67

UN-Habitat informs the UDG on the work
relating to the New Urban Agenda and
preparations to Habitat III. Participation in
the work of UDG provides direct contacts
with the Ministries in charge of Urban
Development.
The Western Balkans

The flagship project in this sub region
remained Municipal Spatial Planning
Support Programme in Kosovo18. It has
entered into its final phase, during which,
among other work the Spatial Planning
Toolbox is being finalised. During the
reporting period, UN-Habitat actively
discussed country activities with the
UNCT in Bosnia and Hercegovina.
The role of the analytical

regional State of the Cities
reports and using their
findings in determining TOP : Busy street Rruga Justiniani near The Roman Catholic Cathedral
emergent issues of Blessed Mother Teresa in Pristina, Kosovo. © OPIS Zagreb / Shutterstock
State of the European Cities

in Transition 2013 report
agricultural potentials of much • The desire to rapidly pass through
Emergent issues
of the rural areas currently being the transitional phase has led, at
The report has determined the following abandoned, what interventions times, to short-term governance
urgent issues in the sub region, which (and by whom) can reverse the interventions insufficiently based
are now guiding the design of country rural depopulation? What role on reliable, forward-looking
activities by UN-Habitat: can international land outsourcing policy, legislative and regulatory
play in generating investments in foundations. Among others, this has
• Demographic trends in the declining agricultural areas in terms led to misalignments of regional,
transitional region indicate two of restarting production, investment national and local policies and
important phenomena that are in road and agro commerce strategies for urban development.
somewhat related: depopulation infrastructures? How can adequate Which (and whose) interventions
of rural areas and smaller cities provisions be made for the rapid would be most suitable to effect
and b) strong tendencies towards ageing populations in the transitional early policy alignment for increased
demographic ageing. Given the region and how are such investments coherence among urban strategies
to be financed by current and future at all levels and how can holistic,
18 Kosovo designation is used as defined by the UNSC generations? single, integrated and cross-sectorial
Resolution 1244. policies be generated in the short-

term to create desirable regional and Opportunities to rapidly enhance the • The free-market ideology has
national urban hierarchies in support urban environmental record in transition promoted, and will continue
of functional city clustering and countries, especially in key areas like: to generate, new urbanization
networking for national and regional modalities, spatial patterns and
integration? • Urban brown field rehabilitation to configurations that may have an
rapidly make valuable urban land impact on how ‘urban areas’ are
• In many transitional countries, available for development, defined and managed. Conceiving
governance decentralization sub-urbanization processes as
processes remain less than optimal. • Energy-efficiency upgrading of resulting in the declining sizes of the
Decentralization either occurred to existing housing stocks to reduce ‘city proper’ may theoretically be a
rapidly for local authorities to learn demand for urban energy, correct interpretation, but appears
and adjust, or because centralization. to ignore that the concept of ‘urban
• Rapid boosting of municipal services area’ is changing with increasing real
Options are available to improve urban extension, rehabilitation and more and virtual mobility of citizen who
governance and to: efficient management. spread over larger territorial areas for
residential or commercial purposes
• Make decentralization efforts • Rapid and wholesale housing while maintaining intricate linking
more effectively; b. Increase fiscal privatization throughout the with the ‘core city’.
decentralization to the local level, transitional region has generated
and; c. Achieve effective multi-level significant numbers of owner- Impact of the report
governance. occupiers too poor to maintain their • Before the launch of the report, the
residential assets while it virtually Urban Intergroup of the European
• Whereas significant improvements wiped out the social housing stock at parliament hosted a round table with
have been achieved over the a time that urban housing costs are the key stakeholders of the European
past two decades of reform in escalating. Union to discuss the finding of the
the transition countries, the report. The report was well received,
environmental record and especially Which public and/or private sector and it was launched during Open
the urban environmental record interventions in the national and local Days of European Cities and Regions
needs to be notably improved. housing markets are best suited to in October 2013 at a common
address the dilemma of rapidly declining workshop with the Directorate
accessibility of urban housing, lack of General for Regional Policy discussing
affordable rental housing and lack of the progress of the transition
social housing? countries in sustainable urbanisation.
CHAPTER five: The European Union and Eastern Europe 69

TOP : Miraflores Town landscapes in Lima, Peru.
© Pablo Hidalgo/Shutterstock
Chapter six Selected activities by thematic branches
Selected activities by
thematic branches
‘The urban transition’ - a demographic trend whereby,

roughly speaking, the global population changes from
a two-thirds rural majority in 1950 to a two-thirds
urban majority around 2050
Urban Land, Legislation The 2013 and 2014 period reflected informs the implementation of city-level
and Governance growing interest in the Agency’s urban concept plans and recommendations.
law approach and demand for its Participatory workshops have also been
Urban Legislation services. In Latin America, legislative instrumental in developing local ‘legal’
Evidence shows that well formulated analysis was undertaken in Medellin, capacity to manage urban challenges.
law, based on sound policy, i) supports Colombia, as part of the Agency’s global The studies will be completed by mid-
equitable governance, planning and pilot project on Participatory and Inclusive 2015 and include normative conclusions
project implementation; ii) creates a Land Readjustment (’PILaR’). The urban on the development of appropriate legal
stable and predictable framework for legal baseline study conducted for this structures for urban development.
both public and private sector actors; project contributed directly to the City of
and iii) provides a platform for integrated Medellin’s detailed plan for the pilot. A key part of the UN-Habitat’s urban
local and national sustainable urban law work is to understand the current
development practice. The UN-Habitat In Africa and Asia, detailed legislative and emerging legal challenges in urban
Urban Legislation Unit was established in analysis and advisory work continued in development. Building on the interest in
May 2012 to lead the Agency’s work on the Philippines, Rwanda, Mozambique debates about law, equity and inclusion
developing evidence-based, collaborative and Egypt, as part of UN-Habitat’s in the 2014 World Urban Forum, a
approaches to urban development ‘Achieving Sustainable Urban gathering of international and local
assistance; developing innovative tools Development’ (ASUD) programme. This planning and legal experts was held in
and methodologies to address particular programme provides case studies of Guinea Bissau (July 2014). Organised
problems in urban law reform; and, sustainable urban development based in partnership with the Faculty of Law
building knowledge and understanding on the elements of planning, finance (Bissau), this event deepened participants’
of urban law via effective information and legislation. The empirical evidence understanding of the foundational legal
and communication platforms. gathered provides vital inputs for national and planning frameworks required for
legal and policy reform processes and sustainable urban development. The
S e l e c t e d a c t i v i t i e s b y t h e m at i c b r a n c h e s 71
outcomes report will be translated into of London, the first ‘Urban Law Day’ The Gender Evaluation Criteria (GEC) tool
Portuguese and used as a tool to engage was held in February 2014. UN-Habitat’s was implemented in 40 countries and
the new government on essential urban approach to urban law is gaining traction contributed to more equitable access to
development challenges facing Guinea within the United Nations system. land for women. In collaboration with
Bissau. other units in the Agency, a Participatory
Urban Land and Inclusive Land Readjustment
UN-Habitat’s work on urban law During 2013-2014 the Land and methodology wee piloted in Colombia.
includes the gathering of empirical GLTN Unit supported interventions on
evidence that helps answer questions tenure security in four regions (Africa, The Land Policy Initiative in Africa
such as ‘Where do urban laws facilitate Asia-Pacific, Arab States and Eastern was also supported with capacity
change and growth?’, or ‘Which laws Caribbean) and directly in seven countries development to implement the
are contributing to regressive urban (Uganda, DRC, Kenya, Colombia, Haiti, 2009 Declaration on Land Issues and
outcomes?’ We conducted case studies Iraq and Namibia). UN-Habitat facilitates Challenges in Africa. Other regional
from developing contexts (Ghana), the secretariat of the Global Land Tool platforms on land issues were also
emerging economies (South Africa) and Network (GLTN), an alliance of 66 strengthened.
developed country contexts (Australia, international partners contributing to
the United Kingdom and Portugal). poverty alleviation through land reform, Besides the development and
Two land management case studies improved land management and security implementation of tools, GLTN also
were also added to the existing legal of tenure. supported pro-poor land policy
publication portfolio on the Urban Legal development and implementation.
Network (ULN) website, documenting GLTN’s work is part of a global paradigm In Eastern Caribbean States, the
the experiences of land readjustment in shift in land administration, which has support resulted in the development of
Gujarat and Turkey. resulted in the endorsement of the national land policies in St Lucia and St
continuum of the land right model Vincent. In Uganda and DRC the policy
A landmark achievement of UN-Habitat’s among major global and national land implementation was supported though
legal information dissemination was actors. A number of affordable pro- strengthening of land sector coordination
the launch of a unique legal database, poor, gender responsive tools have mechanisms.
‘UrbanLex’ – a free online ‘library’ of been identified to fill existing gaps in
laws, policies and relevant secondary land administration and management At the global level, a set of core global
information. The database includes a and to support implementation of the indicators for measuring tenure security
digest for each law, which provides an continuum of land right approach. were developed, as well as a roadmap
accessible description of its key contents. for the engagement with the inclusion
It is being progressively populated Highlights of 2013-2014 include of land issues in the Sustainable
by a global partnership including the the following: Development Goals process and the
Urban and Environmental Planning and GLTN’s pro-poor land information Africa Development Goals. Additionally,
Research Centre in Istanbul Technical management system, the Social the urgent need for effective policies
University, Turkey; Renmin University, Tenure Domain Model (STDM) was and measures to enable, promote and
Beijing, China; and the International used, together with supporting tools protect a diversity of tenure forms, and
Islamic University in Malaysia. and approaches such as participatory the importance of developing enabling
enumerations, in Uganda, DRC, tools such as those of GLTN, were given
Through its urban legislation programme Colombia, Kenya, Haiti and the Eastern prominence in the Special Rapporteur on
UN-Habitat has actively promoted Caribbean States. This significantly adequate housing’s Recommendations
urban law as a key thematic area in contributed to the land dispute resolution on Security of Tenure for the Urban Poor
the sustainable urbanization agenda. and improvement of living conditions in (September 2013) and her report to the
In partnership with the Institute for informal settlements. Human Rights Council (December 2013).
Advanced Legal Studies at the University

the Global Task Force of Local and
Box 5: ‘Information is power’: Using the GLTN Pro Poor Land Information
Regional Governments (www.gtf2016.
Management System (Social Tenure Domain Model - STDM) in Uganda
org) – in engaging with the post-2015
development agenda process, thereby
of their area showing each household, the exerting UN-Habitat’s key role as the
roads, taps, toilets and drains, and identified voice of local government within the
where there were gaps. The residents used UN system. UN-Habitat co-organised a
the information and evidence gathered global consultation on the Localization
to negotiate with the Mbale municipality
of Sustainable Development Goals
for additional services. Neumbe Angela,
a Community Development Officer in
together with UNDP and the Global
Mbale Municipal Council said: “... STDM Taskforce which represents approximately
is specifically helping us to get detailed 340,000 local and regional government
information at the household level. Nambozo bodies. UN-Habitat intensively engaged
A slum settlement at Mbale, Uganda, Sarah, from NSDFU, said that “in the in an 8-month multi-stakeholder
supported by project partners, the National community we learn by doing. We have learnt consultation during 2014: mobilizing
Slum Dwellers Federation (NSDFU) and data updating, management; we have also more than 4,200 participants from 80
ACTogether, used STDM and other support learnt to generate reports using the software. countries in a series of dialogues at local,
tools such as Participatory Enumerations and This software is very easy for anyone to learn national and regional levels. UN-Habitat
the Continuum of Land Rights to create maps and use.”
facilitated the e-discussions (http://www.
worldwewant2015.org/localising2015) and
supported local and national dialogues
in 13 countries (Armenia, Burundi,
A number of new areas were also security lighting, improved sanitation, Cameroon, El Salvador, Ecuador, Ghana,
brought to the attention of major actors. public toilets and drainage. The activities Jamaica, Malawi, Philippines, Portugal,
Land in post-conflict contexts was have been expanded to cover four Tajikistan, Tanzania and Vanuatu). The
brought to a UN System wide agenda additional municipalities, though profiling recommendations of the consultation
and GLTN initiated the development of of informal settlements. were included in the final report
global Guidelines on Land and Post- “Delivering the post-2015 agenda:
conflict. Furthermore, in partnership Local Government and opportunities at the national and local
with the UN-Habitat Youth Unit and a Decentralization level” highlighting the importance
number of emerging youth champions Strengthening partners’ capacities for of local and regional governments in
from around the world, the body of decentralized governance and inclusive achieving sustainable development.
knowledge on youth and land issues was urban management requires a complex
significantly strengthened. setting of political dialogue and inclusion UN-Habitat also consolidated its
of the different stakeholders that make technical capacities on metropolitan
The STDM software application has urban governance possible. To achieve governance, following on the success
proven to be very youth friendly and as this objective, our global and normative of 2013 activities in Latin America and
a result, a majority its users are young programmes are addressing three main scaling at the normative level during
people. This is significant as it empowers issues: transparency, urban governance 2014. UN-Habitat supported the
them to participate meaningfully in and financial and institutional formulation and implementation of the
processes of identifying problems, sustainability. São Paulo Macro-metropolitan Action
gathering evidence and finding solutions Plan, contributing to the identification
in the development of their communities. A significant achievement has been the of roles for the macro-metropolitan
In Mbale STDM information has led to continuous support of local government actors and the design of the macro-
the provision of five public water pipes, associations channelled through metropolitan dialogue model, including
consultations at sub-regional level. In At the global level, UN-Habitat are on-going with Cameroon, Uganda,
Rio de Janeiro, a new governance model successfully conducted a survey of urban Chad, and Haiti to provide technical
for the Metropolitan Region resulted in governance in 80 cities in partnership assistance for the formulation of urban
federal legislative action to address the with the London School of Economics policies. UN-Habitat’s contribution to a
metropolitan challenges. In Medellin Cities programme and with United national urban policy includes country
(Colombia), the strengthened capacities Cities and local Governments (UCLG). assessment; advice on setting up of
of the municipality have resulted in The results were presented at the Urban national processes and stakeholder
the formulation of the Metropolitan Age conference in New Delhi in 2014 participation; documentation of best
Land-Use Strategic Plan. UN-Habitat also and they will further inform the UCLG practices to support national processes;
facilitated the creation of a new network, GOLD Report, which represents the analysis of urban planning policies and
the Network of Metropolitan Areas of main technical contribution of local instruments; facilitation of local-national
the Americas (RAMA), bringing together government associations to Habitat III. dialogue on reforms; dissemination and
metropolitan authorities all along The capacity development of the urban policy
Americas. across the full range of actors.
Urban Planning
UN-Habitat also made substantial and Design UN-Habitat is currently assisting Rwanda
progress to promote Information and in formulating an inclusive urbanisation
Communications Technology (ICT) as Global Projects on National policy. This reflects the strong ambitions
a tool for enhanced transparency and Urban Policies of the President to boost the country’s
participation. A conceptual framework prosperity and reduce poverty. One aim
“ICT, Youth and Urban Governance” has National Urban Policies provide an is to raise the level of urbanisation to
been developed in 2013 to inform these overarching coordinating framework to 35 per cent by 2020. The aim of the
new trends and to highlight how ICT address the most pressing issues related draft policy framework is to enhance
represent an extraordinary instrument to rapid urban development, including technical and administrative capacities
to increase the level of participation slum prevention and regularization, in government; private sector and civil
of urban poor and youth and the access to land, basic services and society ensure a coherent urbanisation
accountability of urban policy managers. infrastructure, urban legislation, process.
Thanks to the Future Policy Modelling delegation of authority to sub-national
(FUPOL) research consortium, UN-Habitat and local governments, financial flows, Zambia: has recently taken tentative
started a pilot project in 2013, which urban planning regulations, urban steps towards establishing an urban
is now being rolled-out in Mtwapa mobility and urban energy requirements, policy. UN-Habitat has been supporting
(Kenya) to develop an e-participation as well as job creation. UN Habitat has the process with technical advice. One
tool which brings together community received a range of requests to support of the first steps taken was to convene
and local authorities in the field of slum national governments to develop, a national conference April 2013. A
upgrading. At the global level, UN- implement and/ or track the progress of discussion document has been discussed
Habitat has supported the creation of the their national urban policies. and approved by the national cabinet,
Uraia Platform (meaning “citizenship” with some funds allocated to facilitate
in Swahili) designed to support cities UN-Habitat is prioritizing NUP in low the process of preparing the NUP.
seeking innovation in municipal and middle income countries with rapid
management with the increased use urbanization. UN-Habitat has supported UN-Habitat is also involved in trying
of SMART Technologies. The Platform, several urban policy development to prepare the ground for a NUP in
managed by the Global Fund for Cities processes, including those of Burundi, Mozambique.
Development (FMDV) has been designed Malawi, Rwanda, Zambia, Mongolia,
to benefit local administrations. Gabon, and Sri Lanka (National Urban
Sector Policy Framework). Negotiations

Cameroon just completed a feasibility and how they have been addressed in earmarked contribution. Other partners
study on NUP development, and various contexts. have contributed in-kind or financial
Mongolia is in the process of completing resources on the same agenda which
the Country assessment phase. Planned Cities Extension and is central to the work of Focus Area
City Wide Planning 2 – Urban Planning and Design of the
In collaboration with the Barcelona A reinvigorated back to basic approach 2014-19 Strategic Plan. Collaboration
City Council, in May 2014, UN-Habitat to urban planning has been identified as with the ASUD (Achieving Sustainable
organized an Experts Group Meeting in a core element for a New Urban Agenda Urbanization) projects at the country level
Madrid on National Urban Policies. The which sets the basis for sustainable urban has been instrumental in advancing such
meetings were held under the framework growth and development UN-Habitat agenda.
of the Project “Towards a New urban has refined its approach to planned
Agenda” which is building debate and city extensions as a key strategy for In terms of normative work with the
consensus in the run up to the Third addressing urban growth, especially for Barcelona City Council in September
United Nations Conference on Housing intermediate cities where population 2013, UN-Habitat organized an Experts
and Sustainable Urban Development, growth is rapid. Ideally, this approach Group Meeting on Planned Cities
Habitat III, which will be held in 2016. requires adequate public space (50 per Extension: Public and Private Space
The Madrid meeting, “Towards Effective cent), proper density (61 people per for Growing Cities. The meeting,
National Urban Policies: Lessons from acre), mixed use (40 per cent of floor attended by 35 experts from all
current practice” was attended by several area for commercial use), social mix (20- continents, established criteria and
urban policy experts from national and 50 per cent) in a good plan with a sound principles for planned cities extension
regional governments, international legal framework and sustainable financial and growing cities in general, reflected
organizations and academia including plan. in a communique’. Building on case
research and training institutions. The studies presented during the meeting,
meeting, also supported by Cities UN-Habitat has started to elaborate, a publication on Historic experience of
Alliance and the Spanish Ministry of test and implement a new generation Planned City Extension was developed
Development, aimed to share recent of plans and design which supports and published in 2014. In parallel, Site
experiences and approaches on National cities, in particular rapidly urbanizing low and Services experiences were also
Urban Policies (NUP), and develop a income countries, to guide urbanization. analysed, as well as other case studies,
broad “roadmap” for National Urban UN-Habitat has worked to analyse leading to the development of a global
Policy implementation strategy. As a experience, develop tools and support searchable database of planning practices
result, the participants drew a joint countries and cities to develop planned which is presently being peer reviewed
communiqué capturing what was city extensions. for publication online. A discussion
discussed. on the 5 principles of Sustainable
Progress towards improving policies, Neighbourhood provides the key criteria
UN-Habitat in 2014 published a book on plans and designs that support the for a new planning approach, focused
“The Evolution of National Urban Policies, development of compact, integrated and on its spatial main characteristics and has
A Global Overview.” The purpose of this connected cities and neighbourhoods has been widely distributed and discussed.
publication is to review the experience of been notable in 2013-14, as reflected
national urban policies (NUPs) in selected in the growing number of partner cities In 2014, in collaboration with the
countries around the world in order to that adopted relevant policies, plans and Municipality of Zoppopan, Mexico, a
draw broad lessons and principles that designs during the reporting period. regional EGM gathering 10 regional and
would inform other countries interested international experts, discussed urban
in formulating or implementing their own UN-Habitat core work on such topics redevelopment and densification. The
policies. Through case studies, the book has been supported by SIDA, Norway topic which complements the issue of
identifies specific urbanization problems and Boo-young Ltd through their soft extension and is of particular relevance
in Latin America, established some density and planning in a hilly context. urban transformation. Planned City
key criteria for redevelopment and Such seminar will be complemented in extension for Santa Marta was produced
sustainable densification of city cores and 2015 with sessions on urban legislation and adopted by the city authority. The
peripheral areas. and municipal finance related to plan authority agreed that the Concept Plan
implementation. inputs will be reflected in the new Plan
In order to translate principles and de Ordenamiento Territorial.
general criteria into action, UN-Habitat In 2014 UN-Habitat also creates an
has devised several implementation in-house Urban Planning and Design Kenya: a concept plan for Kisumu City
mechanisms such as Several planning LAB, with the objective to assist in Extension and the City County authority
and analysis tools have been developed, turning principles into practice through through participatory processes was
focused on planning principles and on targeted planning support and services approved. Kisumu county has made a
PCE and sustainable neighbourhoods. for partner cities, as well as to test and financial commitment to UN-Habitat for
UN-Habitat also produced tool for contextualize planning concepts and preparation of detailed planning steps of
assessing the quality of the Master Plan principles. Support to cities provided the lakefront area.
and provide feedback to member states. by UN-Habitat through the LAB or its
Materials have been shared with partner network of experts include analysis and Rwanda: concept plans of the towns of
cities in both English and local languages assessment of existing urban plans and Rubavu and Nyagatare were approved
for better understanding and to convey designs, as conducted in the case of following six thematic training modules
the key planning messages. Kigali, Lusaka and Lima. In addition, offered for the local planners of six
UN-Habitat has also supported planning cities. The Guangzhou Planning Institute
Training has been an integral part of processes through the coaching of the contributed to the planning exercise.
the promotion and dissemination of clients and provision of capacity building
the NUA approach to planning. The as well as through direct management of Egypt: concept plan for the New
capacity of planners and city leaders of the design process on behalf of cities and Town Al Alamein (developed based on
partner cities in planning, designing and national governments. a baseline study) and a concept plan
implementation is strengthened through for PCE of Banha city were approved.
training based on the unique publication Among experiences and plans developed, The planning process brought together
‘Urban Planning for City Leaders’. Over the following can be mentioned: technical staff of Ministry of Physical
383 planners and decision-makers Planning, UN-Habitat and local
from 104 partner cities were trained in China: the City Wide Strategy of consultants.
Bangladesh, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Wuzhou was drafted using skills
Rwanda, Somalia and. Vietnam. enhanced by UN-Habitat in collaboration The Philippines: three cities (Cagayan
with the Guangzhou Planning Institute. de Oro, Iloilo and Silay) developed
Rapid Planning Studio workshops, cities Young Professionals of the Institute learnt planned city extension conceptual
and local partners have been engaged sustainable urban planning methodology frameworks and designs based on
in planning work on specific topics and UN-Habitat’s principles UN-Habitat principles of the Achieving Sustainable
and exposed to the tools discussed with the Guangzhou Planning Institute Urban Development global programme,
above. This method, developed initially led to planning of two secondary cities in on a pilot basis. The planned city
in Kisumu, has been replicated with 9 Rwanda. extension to showcase innovations in
Kenyan towns as well as in Rwanda, urban planning and design.
the Philippines and Mozambique. Colombia: a Planned City Infill for
In Rwanda in particular a series of 4 La Candelaria, Medellin city was Mozambique: the planning studio
seminars was conducted in 2014 with approved. UN-Habitat supported workshop was conducted to enhance the
6 secondary cities for urban expansion, an innovative programme being capacity of local experts and consultants
urban extension criteria, public space, implemented to improve processes of to prepare the extension plans for 2

sites (Nacala Velha and Nacala Porto). Kirtipur (Nepal), Mumbai (India), or group has a small public space for
Expertly prepared metropolitan analysis Mogadishu (Somalia) and Lima (Peru) different activities. There is little support
in collaboration with Maputo University prepared public space plans and designs or funds (in some cases no support or
and the Ministry. The Concept plan will at neighbourhood level. These projects funds) from local authorities, so most of
be ready by January, 2015 and a detailed are being implemented by the maintenance and public construction
plan will be ready by June, 2015. UN-Habitat together with Mojang work is by community members.
through participatory trainings. Under
Preparation of urban plans and designs the Global Public Space Programme, Somalia: Proposal to Upgrade Sinay
has been completed in Wozhou, China, UN-Habitat has provided partner cities Market in Mogadishu). A design proposal
Bhana, Egypt, Santa Marta, Colombia, with small grants to implement the has been developed and approved by the
and Kisumu, Kenya. It is well advanced design plans and physical works. The Planning Department of the Mogadishu
in Rwanda, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro and major country level achievements in Municipality. The upgrading of the main
Silay, Philippines, Bogota and Medellin, 2013-2014 are illustrated below: market building which is in progress will
Colombia, Nacala Velha and Nacala harness the huge potential for economic
Porto, Mozambique, El Alamein New India: Lotus Garden project in Mumbai. growth, besides providing the community
Town, Egypt, and Nigeria. This is located in one of the most with a central public space for meetings,
neglected and poorest areas of Mumbai. gatherings and events that will contribute
In Bogota, the focus on urban economy The Garden, owned by the Municipal to strengthening social links.
will add value through Urbanism in a Corporation, has been upgraded
low income neighbourhood. In Medellin involving the local councillor, municipality Kenya: UN-Habitat has completed the
ASUD focus is on City Planning infill and and local communities. The space is now first phase of upgrading of the Jeevanjee
knowledge management. completed and there is such pressure Gardens to improve security, make
from the community surrounding the the park more appealing to the public
Global Public Space Programme space to an extent that a limitation to the and provide services such as a public
UN-Habitat takes a trans-disciplinary number of people using the space at any transport terminus stage and free Wi-Fi.
approach in supporting local given time, had to be put in place. New pathways, street furniture, waste
governments to develop working bins, etc. have been completed.
partnerships with a range of Nepal: Dey Pukhu Public Space Project
organisations; including multilateral, civil in Kirtipur. This has been completed and Les Cayes (Haiti): the Upgrading and
society, academia and the private sector, inspired the Municipality to also complete Revitalization of Parc de la Paix. This was
around the issues of public space. The a Public Space Revitalization Plan for the also completed in 2014. The project has
Global Programme on Public Space of entire Kirtipur, which includes an analysis involved the redevelopment of a small
UN-Habitat started in 2013. of all the existing public and open park; fixing the broken play equipment,
spaces, strategies for their revitalization. installing and repairing the concrete
In 2013-2014, UN-Habitat made a steady Communities around the Dey Pukhu site benches, and fixing the open drainage
progress in public space planning through have been continuously engaged in the which runs alongside the park. The park
both its normative and operational work. up-grading of a pond and public square walls and pavilion have been repainted
The value and contribution of public to enhance community use. and lighting installed. The project is now
space to sustainable urban development complete and very popular with the
were elaborated by experts and partners Peru: Villa El Salvador in Lima. Here, young people.
at the ‘Future of Places Conference II’ UN-habitat has supported the Municipal
(Buenos Aires, Argentina Sept. 2014). Parks Service, SERPAR, to develop a plan In 2014, an advanced draft of the
More than 300 experts attending this for the revitalization of a small public publication: “Public Space Principles,
meeting discussed ‘Streets as Public park in Villa El Salvador, which is a big Policies and Practices: Towards a Global
Spaces and Drivers of Urban Prosperity’. settlement divided into zones. Each zone Toolkit” was formulated and now it is
under revision and will be published In Kigali, the key institutional partners is a unique example of leveraging UN
in early 2015.Partners are involved in have been identified: The City of Kigali Habitat principles, tools and approaches
both the normative and the operational (with its Construction and Urban to providing technical advice towards
work with regards to public space, for Development One Stop Centre), The the participatory urban planning exercise
example, in 2014, the National Planning University of Rwanda, and the National conducted in a town (s) within the
Institute (INU) in Rome contributed to Ministry of Infrastructure with its focus counties involved in KMP.
the development of the Global Charter on urbanisation. The MoUs with partners
on Public Space and the publication were signed and the recruitment process In 2014, UN-Habitat organised a series
on Public Space Principles, Policies and for project staff has been finalized. of training sessions for KMPs’ Cluster I
Practices. (Mombasa), II (Malindi: Kilifi and Kitui),
Overview Country Project III (Thika: Kiambu, Embu and Machakos)
Rapid Planning Project Support to a Sustainable Urban and IV (Naivasha, Nakuru, Nyeri). Training
The Rapid Planning (RP) Project is a Development Sector in Kenya: sessions were adjusted to the different
5-year project, which started in July Support to the Kenya Municipal target groups, with the training content
2014. It is an action oriented research Programme developed through preparatory meetings
project that is supported by the German As part of the Kenya Sustainable Urban and discussions with different experts.
Federal Ministry for Education and Sector Support Programme, UN-Habitat
Research (BMBF). RP seeks to develop is supporting the Kenya Municipal Based on the success of the training,
a rapid trans-sectorial urban planning Programme (KMP) with urban panning UN-Habitat was requested to provide
methodology with a focus on targeting expertise and technical advice inputs. enhanced support (of enhancing the
supply and disposal infrastructure. capacity of MCAs); targeting whole
Therefore, the research project The KMP is jointly supported by the teams tasked with urban planning and
compliments effectively UN-Habitat’s World Bank, Agence Française de management from Kitui and Mombasa
efforts in the development of urban Développement (AFD) and Swedish county assemblies. UN-Habitat was also
planning methodologies. International Development Cooperation asked to support urban planning and
Agency (SIDA) and its lead agency is management in several counties; Kisumu,
UN-Habitat is playing a facilitating role in the Ministry of Land, Housing and Nairobi, Mandera, Kitui etc., using a
the project implementation of this global Urban Development. The Programme similar methodology that as that applied
project, which gathers a Consortium is being implemented in Four (No.) for KMP.
of 10 Universities and involves 3 cities; Components, namely: 1. Institutional
namely: Kigali (Rwanda), Da Nang Support; 2. Participatory Urban Planning;
(Vietnam) and Assiut (Egypt). The agency 3. Infrastructure investment; and 4. Urban Economy
will host the project offices in the case Monitoring and Evaluation.
Introduction
cities and will also play a role in the
steering of the overall project, particularly UN-Habitat is supporting KMP The objective of the Urban Economy sub-
in order to ensure its relevance for the Component 2 on Participatory Urban programme is to support city, regional
cities involved and for the new urban Planning. Here, the role of UN-Habitat and national authorities in adopting
agenda. On-going internal reviews, is to identify capacity needs/gaps, improved urban policies and strategies
external feedback from the case cities develop and provide adequate technical that promote economic development.
and practical application of the results support program to the “Participatory To achieve this objective, UN-Habitat has
in entry projects will ensure that the Strategic Urban Development Planning”. promoted urban strategies and policies
available resources are efficiently used. This planning process will result in an that strengthen the capacity of member
Examples of activities in the case cities Integrated Strategic Urban Development states and cities to realize their full
include; Plan (ISUDP) for each respective town. potential as drivers of inclusive economic
The collaborative approach to this project growth.

Promoting urban policies and • The capacity of 31 participants 10 groups secured funds and two are
strategies that are supportive of from the Latin America region was in the process of refining their business
inclusive economic growth
strengthened through a training plans. In addition, 100 new designs of
Normative outputs in this area comprise programme on land markets and leather and footwear products were
mainly of the creation and dissemination informal settlement regularization. introduced to the market.
of knowledge, particularly in areas The participants included mayors,
of urban productive transformation, deputy mayors, heads of departments The Philippines: Silay City has
economic benefits of good urban form, and senior managers (60% from developed local economic development
and local economic development. These municipal and local governments). strategies and an action plan. These tools
outputs and efforts have resulted in The programme was organized by are linked to the broader plan for the
tangible production and marketing UN-Habitat in collaboration with the extension of Silay City. This integrated
support services that have benefited Valle University of Cali (Colombia) and practical approach to economic
micro enterprises and informal sector and the Lincoln Institute of Land development is expected to contribute
operators. Policy (United States). towards a prosperous and equitable
future, within UN-Habitat’s New Urban
Key achievements at • UN-Habitat has produced and Agenda.
the global level disseminated a publication entitled,
• Opportunities for knowledge “The Economics of Urban Form: Nigeria: Akure city in the Ondo state
creation and joint programming for a Literature Review.” The report has expanded urban policies and
promoting the role of the urban critically reviews the literature on the strategies supportive of local economic
economy and financing were economic benefits of good urban development under the Youth Inclusive
established and strengthened. form, characterized by population Planning and Urban Space project. As
Solutions for enhancing endogenous density, Centricity and city size. part of its commitment to empower
local economic development and youths, the Ondo state government has
the revenue of local governments • UN-Habitat has assisted local allocated a land for the construction of a
are being promoted through an authorities in Cagayan de Oro, one-stop youth centre to be built partly
agreement between UN-Habitat Philippines and the Nacala region, by 250 youth trained in construction.
and the Global Fund for Cities Mozambique in developing scenario,
Development. planning tools and indicators to help Mozambique: A new strategy for local
local governments assess economic economic development is developed
• Research and capacity building were benefits of good urban planning in the Nampula-Nacala development
strengthened through the enhanced and policy decisions through pilot corridor. The strategy to support
engagement of the Development projects. In addition, a toolkit has municipalities is based upon local
Bank of Latin America, UN-Habitat been developed and piloted in human, social and natural resources
and UNESCAP with cities and Rwanda to project future land use that can be leveraged into economic
national Governments on the urban patterns under baseline conditions. assets. Reinforcing the capacity of
economy. Six city case studies, drawn the municipalities to collect taxes
from Nairobi and Cape Town in Key achievements at and mobilizing the private sector
Africa, Dili-Timor Leste and Ho Chi the country level (for territorial planning and future
Ming in Asia and Quito and Lima Colombia: Twenty six enterprises have project implementation) in the Nacala
in Latin America, led to improved developed business plans following Special Economic Zone, including the
awareness of spatial and structural UN-Habitat’s support to the design and municipality of Nacala, are priority areas
economic transformation of urban implementation of a local economic of this strategy.
economies during the seventh development strategy. Twenty-four of
session of the World Urban Forum in them were trained in the design of
Medellin. leather and footwear products.
Zimbabwe: The capacity of residents to countries. Its outputs contribute to IRIS Knowledge Foundation together
pay revenue for targeted service delivery, increasing the access of urban youth with researchers from other Indian
improved as a result of the promotion of to entrepreneurship, livelihoods and research institutes and universities.
the informal sector and sustainable urban incomes, and developing model The report provides a comprehensive,
agriculture in the city of Masvingo. By the programmes derived from best practice. research-based evidence and policy
end of 2014, the business community guidance on urban youth issues
had developed a common front in Key achievements at such as migration, employment,
seeking services from the municipality. the global level gender equality, health and political
These gains are occurring through • The World Urban Forum maintained participation. The report has used in
a European Union-funded project its importance as an international parliamentary debates in India, and
being implemented by UN-Habitat, in advocacy platform for advancing the second edition will be launched
partnership with the Urban Councils the urban youth agenda. Through in 2015.
Association of Zimbabwe. the World Urban Youth Assembly
in Medellin, youth made important • The Global Youth-Led Development
Morocco: New aspirations for the city recommendations to further their Series of short and reader-friendly
and its development were articulated agenda, including the promotion of policy papers have been a success
in the recently adopted National Urban the state and private sector support in terms of outreach and impact.
Policy aimed to reinforce the inter to youth programmes for financing These publications enable partners
linkages between towns .The goal is to skills development and youth mainstream and build internal
support the development of a better- integration into the labour market. capacity and possibility to develop
structured urban fabric that will ensure The assembly also recommended the youth-friendly policies and
the macroeconomic balance of cities. engagement of youth in the Habitat programmes at the local and national
III preparatory process. A draft report level.
Egypt: A socioeconomic impact on the role of youth in the New
assessment conducted in the Greater Urban Agenda has been prepared, • As part of the Youth and Urban
Cairo region was adopted as an integral based on the engagement of the Space programme, The Global Land
activity for planning assignments at the Youth Advisory Board. Tool Network’s (GLTN) and Youth Unit
national, regional and local levels. The initiated the project on “Youth and
assessment outlined the added value • Through the Research and Capacity Land” that has emphasized that the
in alleviating poverty, enhancing the building program of the Youth Unit, linkages between youth and land
quality of life, and linking displaced UN-Habitat has a strong focus on are not yet adequately addressed
members with their new communities producing research-based policy or understood by land sector actors
while compensating them for adverse reports and papers supporting UN and youth groups. The Youth-led
economic impacts. agencies, member states´ and partner Action Research for Land project was
cities´ quest for the sustainable and therefore initiated by UN-Habitat,
Promoting urban policies and inclusive organization. The China in partnership with GLTN in 2013
programmes that are supportive of State of Urban Youth Report 2014- to address this research gap. Five
increased employment, livelihoods 2015: Equity, Employment and Youth youth organizations were selected to
and opportunities, and with focus Development in China was produced undertake action research projects
on urban youth and women in 2014. Building on previous in their home regions of São Paulo
The key objective of UN-Habitat’s youth UN-Habitat reports. (Brazil), Kathmandu and surrounds
programme is to assist in the design and (Nepal), Yemen (countrywide), Nairobi
implementation of economic and social • The State of the Indian Urban Youth (Kenya) and Harare (Zimbabwe).
empowerment models for young men Report: Employment, Livelihood and These projects broadly encompassed
and women in urban areas of developing Skills produced by UN-Habitat and the themes of land and governance,

agriculture and livelihoods, public youth centre has been established in capacity and awareness of urban youth
space and land tenure security. Akure city in the Ondo State in Nigeria. issues in India.
UN-Habitat has also supported the East
Collaboration with the UN Secretary African Community and the Southern Rwanda: The lives of 1,000 youth have
General’s Envoy on Youth: A donor African Development Community to been transformed through the services
meeting was organized under the utilize the model to implement regional of the Kimisagara One Stop Youth
auspices of the UN Resident Coordinator youth policies and strategies. The core Employment and Productive Centre in
for Somalia in order to strengthen the areas of the model include job skills and Kigali. A parent of a beneficiary of the
international community’s commitment entrepreneurship training, sports and centre recognized the change in his son’s
to youth programming in Somalia. The recreation, health services (HIV/AIDS life as follows: “My child has earned
Envoy also participated in UN-Habitat testing and counselling), and youth-led three medals in karate due to training
organized side-events at the Commission governance and planning. and sponsorship from the centre. He
that reviewed the Status of Women in has increased his confidence, and his
New York in March 2014. as well as The Oslo Youth and Governance academic performance has improved.
the side-event organized on Harnessing Project have been established as a Our family is treated with respect by
the Potential of Urban Public Space for platform for knowledge generation and the neighbours as a result of these
Women and Youth during Preparatory awareness raising of youth engagement achievements.”
Committee I for Habitat III in New York in in governance in partnership with the
September 2014. Norwegian Youth Council. The project Uganda: Incomes of the members
has also closed contact and partnership of the Kajjansi Youth in Development
Collaboration with UN agencies with the major youth organizations Initiative have improved. Started by
on youth issues. UN-Habitat has globally through the Major Group Kenneth, a jobless youth who received
throughout worked closely with other Children and Youth (MGCY) and the entrepreneurship skills training at the
UN agencies on direct programming and International Coordination Meeting of Kampala One Stop Youth Centre, the
mainstreaming of youth issues in the UN Youth Organizations (ICMYO). initiative runs a garbage management
system as part of the executive group project specializing in organic gardening.
of the Inter Agency Network on Youth Key achievements Its clients increased from just 3 in 2013 to
Development. UN-Habitat introduced at the global level over 80 by the end of 2014. The initiative
a mentorship programme and an India: About 100 youth from 14 youth employs 8 young people who earn
e-learning programme in collaboration groups has benefited from capacity regular incomes. In addition, through a
with the private sector, Samsung, BASF building and resource mobilization partnership involving UN-Habitat and the
and Refine+focus. through a national window of the Urban KiBO Foundation, 400 Ugandan youth
Youth Fund. The India Youth Fund gained skills in leadership, information
As part of the youth-led development Window is currently funding 14 youth- and communications technology, and
programme, the Urban Youth Fund in a led organizations in project management community resource mobilization.
partnership with BASF Social Foundation training, designed to build the capacities
and the government of Norway of youth project coordinators. Brazil: UN-Habitat and its partners
supported the establishment of more have supported the city of Rio de
than 630 social enterprises in the Latin India: About 300 youths from all Janeiro to leverage projects that
America, Africa and Asia Pacific regions. over India were trained in sustainable increase employment and livelihood
urbanization issues and establishment opportunities for urban youth and
An important part of the Youth and of enterprises in social development. women. Agentes da Transformação
Urban Space programme, has been The Mumbai Youth Conclave was (Agents of Transformation) supports a
scaling up the One Stop Youth Centre organized jointly with Narotam Sekhsaria participatory research project on youth
Model in different countries. A One Stop Foundation and UN-Habitat to build livelihoods and employment in 10
different Favelas. The project, financed package, UN-Habitat supported the pilot the mobile technology introduced
by a telecommunications enterprise has, development and testing of several by UN-Habitat to generate additional
developed profiles for 5,400 youths. innovative approaches to land-based revenue from property taxes. The total
financing. cost of this technology is about USD
Promoting cities to adopt policies, 200,000 including setting up the system
plans and strategies for improved A guidebook on municipal finance was to operationalize and institutionalize it.
urban and municipal finance prepared based on lessons learned from A feasibility study has demonstrated that
A fundamental problem of municipal the 2013 publication “Urban planning this cost could be recovered within the
finance in developing countries is the lack for city leaders and financing for city first year from taxes collected from 3,000
of financial resources. The fiscal deficit in leaders”. The 3 key pillars of the new households.
most cities is widening because the rapid urban agenda that is being promoted
urban population growth is creating an by UN-Habitat i.e. good governance, Kenya: The county government of
ever-growing demand for basic services, good urban planning and sustainable Kiambu has mapped its properties and
new infrastructures and maintenance. urban finance, was integrated into the facilities. The baseline data compiled
Revenues generated by municipal guidebook. with UN-Habitat technical support were
authorities are insufficient to meet the linked to information on land values,
growing municipal expenditure needs In 2014, UN-Habitat successfully which are rapidly rising as a result of
aimed to help local authorities identify, completed the first-ever municipal Kiambu’s proximity to the city of Nairobi.
develop, test and disseminate municipal credit rating initiative in Jordan Initial analyses show that the county has
financing tools under the auspices of the Ministry of an undeveloped portfolio of valuable
Municipal Affairs. Under this initiative, assets, presenting various scenarios
International discourse on sustainable five municipalities (Greater Maadaba, for mobilizing additional revenue from
municipal financing for improving New Mazar, West Irbid, New Shawbak existing sources. UN-Habitat is assisting
delivery of urban basic services has and Al Fuheis) were rated for their the county government to use its
advanced. A global dialogue on creditworthiness. statutory authority to set up a county
innovative financing instruments for assets management and development
local authorities, held during the Afghanistan: Under the Community- company.
seventh World Urban Forum in Medellin, Based Municipal Support programme,
discussed the challenges cities face in the citizens in settlements benefiting Rwanda: Local economic development
mobilizing revenue from local sources. A from land regularization are paying activities in Nyagatare and Rubavu
follow-up expert group meeting held in municipal tax revenue. The revenue has towns were identified. The proposed
Barcelona in 2014 on local government increased by an average of 15% in the municipal finance strategies developed
financing in developing countries last few years through the use of a UN- were tested through a diagnostic analysis
identified political, economic challenges Habitat cost-effective methodology of of the urban economy and municipal
facing local governments in revenue property registration that was approved finance in the country, including on the
generation. by the government for the collection of macroeconomic environment, bond
property tax. market and infrastructure development,
The capacities of local authorities to urban financing, job creation and the
adopt policies, plans and strategies Mozambique: Nampula municipality is land value sharing system.
to improve financing of services and piloting ways to meet its financial needs
infrastructure were strengthened, partly through a property tax – Imposto Predial The Philippines: Silay City is working
as a result of integrated normative and Autárquico. This tax applies to about on planned city extensions closely
operational initiatives supported by 10% of municipal properties, which is linked to an economic strategy that
UN-Habitat in a number of countries. the only local revenue enhancement considers supply chain linkages and
Using the land-based financing, training component. The municipality will also income multipliers, addresses labour

force capacity, and plans for strategic revenue generation for local governments municipality to build infrastructure and
investment in key infrastructure. The in 7 districts (Hargeisa, Borama, Berbera, provide better urban public services.
city’s economy is dominated by sugar Gabiley, Sheikh, Odweine and Buroa)
production. UN-Habitat is providing in Somaliland and 6 districts (Garowe, Kingdom of Jordan: UN-Habitat
technical support to Silay City as part Qardo, Bosasso, Bander Beyla, Eyl, organized a conference in December
of the local economic development Jariiban) in Puntland. In addition, a 2014 in Amman, Jordan to finalize
plan taking advantage of tariffs that geographical information system (GIS0) the results of the first ever credit
protect the industry from international -based building and property database rating project conducted in Jordan.
competitors, set to end in 2015. This was developed and updated. UN-Habitat organized this conference
necessitates a new strategy for economic in collaboration with the Muhanna
transition capitalizing on Silay city’s role Mexico: Tlalnepantla municipality is Foundation in Lebanon and under the
in the region and the presence of large promoting policy dialogue and inclusive auspices of the Ministry of Municipal
agricultural plots that can accommodate and participatory processes. UN-Habitat Affairs of Jordan. The objectives of the
rapid urban development. assistance, which includes training conference were to share the final results
on a gender approach, has enhanced of the interactive credit ratings of five
Somalia: The capacity of local women’s participation, improved the municipalities in Jordan and to hand
governments in municipal finance was provision of information disaggregated over the credit rating certificates to the
strengthened under the United Nations by gender, and strengthened municipal representatives of the five municipalities
Joint Programme on Local Governance governance for participatory budgeting. that participated in the project -
and Decentralized Service Delivery, with The outcome of this process includes a Maadaba, Al Karak, Al Mazar Al Shamali,
technical assistance from UN-Habitat. budget allocation that takes into account Al Shawbak, and Al Feheys.
This is manifested in increased municipal local needs and priorities, helping the
MENTOR MENTEE
1 RandWater (Johannesburg/South Africa) Harar Water and Sewerage Authority (Ethiopia)
2 RandWater (Johannesburg/South Africa) Namibia Water Corporation -NamWater (Namibia)
3 Swaziland Water Services Corporation (Swaziland) Nkana Water and Sewerage Company (Zambia) 2d phase
4 Swaziland Water Services Corporation Kigoma Urban Water and Sewerage Authority KUWASA
(Swaziland) (Kigoma/Tanzania)
5 National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC Uganda) Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC Kenya)
6 NWSC (Uganda) GWCL (Ghana Water Company Limited) 2d phase
7 Office National de l’Eau et de l’Assainissement Societe des Eaux de Guinee SEG

(ONEA - Burkina Faso) (Guinea)
8 ONEA (Burkina Faso) Societe Togolaise des Eaux (TdE Togo)
9 E-Thekwini Water and Sanitation Unit/E-Thekwini Municipality Lilongwe Water Board

(Durban/South Africa) (Malawi)
Urban Basic Services for the WOPs facilitation. In addition, Urban Mobility
four WOPs facilitated by GWOPA are Overview:
Global Water Operators currently under implementation as part UN-Habitat’s work in urban mobility is
Partnership Alliance (GWOPA) of the collaboration between the French driven by a vision of cities as engines of
Development Agency (AFD) and GWOPA. economic and social development and
In 2014, GWOPA have been equally “Transport” is seen as a means and not
busy promoting WOPs and guiding its Short-term action plans have been an end itself - the ultimate objective
effective practice as we have been in developed and are currently being of all transportation being access to
supporting WOPs implementation in the implemented, with strong emphasis opportunities, goods, services and
world, including Asia and the Pacific, on Non-Revenue Water, billing and amenities.
Latin American and the Caribbean with collection, customer care and geographic
the financial contribution by the Spanish information system (GIS). Medium-term In East Africa, with support from the
Government (1 million euros/year from Performance Improvement Plans are Global Environment Facility, UN-Habitat
2013 to 2017). As intended by our being drafted and will be available at the is implementing the “Promoting
2013-2017 Strategy, the two types of end of the project in April 2015. During Sustainable Transport Solutions for East
activities feed into one another in useful this first phase, the PIP manual is being African Cities (SUSTRAN)” project. This
ways: the African WOPs provide research tested and the experience gathered from USD 2.9 million initiative is linked to
and testing ground for BEWOP and its use will feed into a second version of proposed investment projects of the
BEWOP provides guidance and structure the manual. World Bank and the French Development
TOP : Kampala Uganda

© UN-Habitat

Corporation. UN-Habitat’s partners in this Project Highlight: methodology has demonstrated how a
initiative include the Governments, the Initial efforts to develop operational new paradigm of people based planning
Institute of Transport Development and plans for a BRT service in Nairobi were can be implemented as opposed to
Policy (ITDP) and the Transport Research hampered by the lack of information the unsustainable conventional way
Laboratory (TRL). on the travel patterns and demands for of car or vehicle based planning which
people, while statistics on vehicular travel leads to more and more infrastructure
UN-Habitat is actively working to make demand seemed to be more available. construction.
cycling and walking safer and more Based on pioneering work done by
attractive while promoting NMT as a the University of Colombia, USA and Urban Energy
sustainable alternative to private vehicle the University of Nairobi, Kenya, maps Cities today are home to more than half
dependency in cities. A “Policymakers’ of all informal public transport routes of the World’s population, consume 60
Toolbox for Promoting Non–Motorised in Nairobi (step 1) were produced. to 80 per cent of the World’s energy
Transport” for Asian Cities was also In addition, through a collaboration resources and produce over 70 per cent
developed. Among UN-Habitat’s partners between UN-Habitat and ITDP, rapid of the World’s Carbon emissions. The
are city and national governments, Clean surveys of matatu ridership patterns were global urban population will grow from
Energy Nepal, Clean Air Asia, India and carried out (steps 2+3). the 3.3 billion people in 2008 to almost
Despacio, Colombia. 5 billion by the year 2030. The benefits
This resulted in the Service Plan (step 4) of improving Access to Modern Energy
UN-Habitat launched the Urban Electric for the first BRT demonstration corridor Services in poor urban and peri-urban
Mobility Initiative that seeks to increase in the city which is providing the basis areas are transformational: Lighting for
the uptake of electric vehicles in cities. for the design of the infrastructure. The productive activities, increased security,
energy for basic service provision, Water and Sanitation Health Organization (WHO) (under the
including water and sanitation, cleaner UN-Water platform), with initial funding
indoor air, faster food-processing/
Overview from The Swiss Agency for Development
cooking, more income-generating During the reporting period, an and Cooperation, to lead the Global
opportunities, industrial development important focus of UN-Habitat’s work Expanded Monitoring Initiative for Water.
and so on. Developing green cities and in water and sanitation was to engage
green economies will need supportive in the post-2015 consultations on Progress was made towards the
policies, capacity building, knowledge the Sustainable Development Goals, identification of the main governance
transfer, financial support mechanisms, which has led to the adoption by the and institutional barriers to effective
market stimulation and sensitizing the Open Working Group (OWG). The storm water drainage management,
population, at the regional, national and proposed water goal encompasses waste with examples from four cities – Kigali
local level. water treatment, water quality, water (Rwanda), Casablanca (Morocco), Dhaka
use efficiency and integrated water (Bangladesh) and Bordeaux (France).
Under this program, we have been able resources management. Building in this
to conduct trainings from architects development, UN-Habitat has been Africa Region
and other building practitioners on working with UNEP, WHO and other A Gender Focused Micro-credit Sanitation
sustainable building design that take into UN-Agencies to establish a Global Programme in Africa was launched to
consideration local climate, make use of Expanded Monitoring Initiative (GEMI). advance the rights and dignity of women
locally available building materials and supported through the UN-Habitat water
make particular attention on affordability. UN-Habitat’s engagement in global and sanitation activities. The programme
This program is funded by the Global normative work has been supported by consists of small loans, on favourable
Environment Fund (GEF). a portfolio of projects at the regional payment terms, to poor households for
and country levels. The project portfolio improved latrine construction.
The project “Mainstream Energy for the reporting period covered projects
Efficiency and Conservation Measures in over 20 countries in Africa and have Ghana
into Building Codes in West Africa” targeted over 100 national and city-level In Ghana, the Canadian Department of
is implemented in Nigeria, Cameroon institutions, while the level of investment Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
and Senegal with the financial support leveraged by UN-Habitat’s work is provided C$19.915 million for the
from the German Government and estimated at over USD 150 million. UN-Habitat-led WASH in Disaster-Prone
the three west African countries. The Communities in Northern Ghana project.
main objective is to integrate energy In the next two years, UN-Habitat will This initiative is a collaborative effort
efficient measures in existing building seek to expand its technical assistance by a group of United Nations agencies,
legislations. This project is funded by to Municipalities and Urban Utilities to with UN-Habitat (as the lead agency),
ENEL Foundation, Italy. Under the project improve the enabling environment for UNICEF, WHO and UNDP working with
“Hands-on training on energy efficiency investment in basic services for the urban government institutions in the WASH and
and renewable energy Technologies for poor. disaster management sectors. UN-Habitat
Youth Empowerment”, we have trained is managing C$9.32 million for the new
over 120 youth in the construction of Global Activities programme.
renewable energy appliances in Kenya, A milestone of UN-Habitat’s engagement
Burundi and Tanzania. in the post-2015 process was the Kenya
contribution towards the establishment Approximately 10,000 people are
of the Global Expanded Monitoring benefiting from improved water supply
Initiative for Water (GEMI). UN-Habitat and sanitation in low-income settlements
joined the United Nations Environment of Mandera town. A new borehole fitted
Programme (UNEP) and the World with a new pumping station, a 135,000

litre storage tank and a distribution line Senegal Authority .A Similar groundwater quality
to strategic water collection outlets A High Level Stakeholders Meeting on monitoring exercise has commenced in
was established in Neboy and Bulla Human Values-based Water, Sanitation Zanzibar and is ongoing.
Juhumia informal settlements. The and Hygiene Education (HVWSHE)
capacities of the local utility, Mandera was held in Dakar in 2013. Education In Zanzibar, UN-Habitat has worked with
Water and Sewerage Company, and the Ministers and staff from Ghana, Cote the Zanzibar Water Authority (ZAWA) on
Mandera Water Users’ Association were d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Mali, Cameroon the following:
strengthened. In addition, four schools and Niger participated in the meeting
in Mandera benefited from improved during which an evaluation of the • Rainwater harvesting systems in
sanitation with the completion of 10 HVWSHE Programme in West Africa was 15 schools which were completed
double-door latrines, observing gender discussed to chart a way forward for the in two phases between 2013 and
considerations in the design. The BASF programme. 2014, in partnership with AfDB, and
evaluation report (2014) applauded the collaboration with the Ministry of
contribution of UN-Habitat’s gendered Somalia Education and Vocational Training.
initiatives to the safety for women UN-Habitat, in partnership with the A total of 16,613 school community
and children, and improved sanitation Hargeisa Water Agency and the Ministry members are benefitting from the
facilities for girls. of Mining, Energy, and Water Resources, systems.
continued the implementation of the EU
Malawi funded Hargeisa Urban Water Supply • A sanitation scoping study was
A EU€0.98m agreement was signed Upgrading Project (HUWSUP). The project completed in September 2013. The
between the European Union and is envisaged to improve water supplies study, which recommended the
UN-Habitat for the implementation of to Hargeisa from nearby wells, and to transfer of sewerage services from
a water and sanitation project in 2 local ensure that the supply system is secure the Zanzibar Municipal Council
authorities in Malawi at the end of 2014. and sustainable. (ZMC) to ZAWA, was validated and
Preparatory activities for the project to endorsed by various stakeholders
take off were being worked on as at the South Sudan during a workshop in September
end of the year. Over 90,000 people in seven towns 2014.
(Yirol, Turalei, Gok Machar, Kapoeta,
Rwanda Magwi, Ezo and Nyin Akok) now • Completed the implementation of
have access to clean water. This was pilot Water Demand Management
UN-Habitat supported the urban water achieved under phases I and II of the (WDM) interventions in Tumbe.
tariff study conducted jointly with the quick impact water projects funded by
relevant government institutions. The the United Nations Mission in South • UN-Habitat in collaboration with
capacity of staff of the Ministry of Sudan. The communities are operating the Zanzibar Municipal Council
Infrastructure, Rwanda Utility Regulatory and maintaining the projects through (ZMC) is initiating a capacity building
Authority, and Energy, Water and payments of agreed guideline tariffs. One programme for the CBOs. The
Sanitation Authority was strengthened more system in Rumbek is scheduled for programme includes the introduction
using the findings of the study. A review completion in early 2015 to serve about of a Non-Motorized solid waste
of drainage problems facing Kigali was 10,000 more persons. collection system. An experience
carried out during an Expert Group sharing visit was organized for two
Meeting (EGM) in Kigali in 2013. The Tanzania/Zanzibar staff members of ZMC to UN-Habitat
meeting examined the link between UN-Habitat continued to support partner supported projects in Kibera and
storm water drainage management local authority urban basic service Naivasha.
and integrated urban water resources providers. Support was provided to the
management. Dar es Salaam Water and Sewerage
the capital investment and long term
sustainability of LVWATSAN II in 15 towns
in the East African Community. As at
the end of 2014, technical support has
been provided through 31 tailor made
training workshops organized at regional,
national and town levels for a total of
1400 persons.
Lake Tanganyika Region

In July 2013, a roadmap to mobilize
financial resources to improve the water,
sanitation and environmental conditions
in the Lake Tanganyika Region was
endorsed by Ministers from the riparian
countries in Bujumbura, Burundi. A
communique issued by the ministers
reaffirmed their countries’ commitment
to regional collaboration and cooperation
on matters of sustainable management
of the resources of the Lake Basin.
TOP : Lilongwe, Malawi.
Mutukula and Bunda towns in Tanzania
© UN-Habitat
as part of LVWATSAN II. Improvements Urban Waste Management
in solid waste management as a result of Global
The Lake Victoria Water and Sanitation these activities would complement the As part of the global thematic
Programme expansion to Mwanza achievements of the overall LVWATSAN consultations on water for the Post 2015
commenced following a EU€90 million Phase II programme. development agenda, the Wastewater
loan agreement signed between the Management and Water Quality thematic
Tanzanian Government, the European The Muleba Water Supply Project was group, chaired by UN-Habitat and UNEP,
Investment Bank (EIB) and the French inaugurated by the President of the launched its consultations in February
Development Agency (AfD). UN-Habitat United Republic of Tanzania, H.E Jakaya 2013. Co-chaired by UNEP and
provided technical inputs and supported Kikwete. UN-Habitat provided technical UN-Habitat, the initiative held back-to-
the preparation of the wastewater assistance for the implementation of the back events at the World Water Week
treatment and sanitation for the informal project in collaboration with local actors. in Stockholm, in August 2014. Working
settlements components of the project Over 10,000 residents, who in the past groups were established in the identified
document. relied on polluted sources of water to priority areas of the initiative.
meet their needs, are now benefiting
WATSAN Model Setting from safe drinking water supplies as a Africa Regional
Initiatives result of the project. A Guide Book for Meetings were held in 2013 to
Lake Victoria Region the Lake Victoria Climate Change Study conceptualize the ‘The Land Raise
Activities to promote pro-poor water was published in 2013. Technology’, a low cost solid waste
and sanitation investments and improve disposal system for secondary cities.
the realization of upstream water sector UN-Habitat is leading the implementation The outcome included production of a
reforms in these secondary urban centres of the Capacity Building and Training brochure to market the technology. A
were undertaken in Bukoba, Muleba, Component for effective delivery of Quelemani town in Mozambique and

Bothevile in South Africa have been Asia Region Lao PDR
identified as possible towns to pilot the Nepal The UN-Habitat portfolio of projects has
technology. In 2013-2014, UN-Habitat expanded focused on provision of basic services
its activities in Nepal, where it has to the poor through community-based
Kenya supported the government since 1990s interventions in settlements across
UN-Habitat supported the sustainable in the water sanitation, sustainable urban Lao PDR and issues related to disaster
urban development sector by sensitizing development, land management, and response, climate change, renewable
key policymakers through expert mobility related issues. energy, land management and
group meetings and workshops on the decentralization of basic services.
implications of the current challenges UN-Habitat, together with Coca Cola
of solid and liquid waste in secondary implemented “Support My School” The projects aims to bring in value
towns. Kiambu County improved its campaign in 33 schools with the aim of addition to International Fund for
capacity for waste management. The creating healthy and active schools. Over Agriculture Development’s (IFAD) project
lessons on solid waste management 18 thousand students have benefited on improving agricultural productivity
drawn from phase I of the UN-Habitat from this campaign. under the Southern Laos Food and
Lake Victoria Water and Sanitation Nutrition Security and Market Linkages
Programme, implemented in seven In order to promote sustainable urban Programme (FNML), in Saravane, Sekong
secondary towns in Kenya, Uganda and mobility in Kathmandu, UN-Habitat and Attapeu provinces by conducting
the United Republic of Tanzania, are supported in drafting standards for urban assess and improve existing water and
being applied in phase II. roads, conducted various training and sanitation infrastructure, schools, medical
awareness campaigns and helped initiate dispensaries and community resilience
Somalia a “Kathmandu Walk” campaign aimed at through design/structural improvements
In December 2013, UN-Habitat supported making the historic core of Kathmandu of shelters of the poor and vulnerable
the launch of a regular solid waste more pedestrian friendly. households.
collection service, In 2014, a citywide
clean-up campaign was organised in Government of Nepal has initiated the Clean water access will be supported in
Mogadishu involving regional authorities, preparation of Green Building Code” the 60 selected villages of 5 districts in
district commissioners, private partners, and three municipalities have introduced the 3 southern provinces of Saravane,
community volunteers and civil society. incentives to promote green buildings. Sekong and Attapeu provinces under
Similarly about 300 engineers and FNML and will further improve families’
Project activities include an improved entrepreneurs have received training on nutrition. This set of activities will
legal framework for service delivery; green buildings. be implemented by UN-Habitat, in
public awareness campaign; procurement collaboration with relevant district
of vehicles for door-to-door solid The project “Catalytic Support of Land departments.
waste collection; equipment for street Issues” initiated participatory land use
sweeping; and provision of secondary planning process at the national level MDG GoAL WASH on Realizing the
storage containers. The construction of and piloted it in three districts. Women’s MDGs: Enhancing pro-poor water
a biomedical waste treatment facility is empowerment for improving their access governance in Lao PDR: Developed of
in progress. A Training of Trainers (TOT) to land has been prioritised for the next sector strategy for emerging towns to
was conducted in 2013 in Mogadishu, phase which will start in 2015. strengthen pro-poor water governance in
covering the operations and preventive the country as well as developed capacity
maintenance of the UN-Habitat. for speeding up access to basic services
with established water treatment plan
database for water utilities as tools.
UN-Habitat’s partnership with Rural totalling number beneficiaries of 659 strengthened international cooperation
Livelihoods improvement Programme people, and Upgrading an existing gravity and partnerships with countries. These
(RLIP) project in Sansax of Attapeu feed system in Pangandao with totalling attracted funding and requests from
province: Established the new water number of beneficiaries of up to 329 member states to join the Participatory
supply network to provide of Safe Piped people. Slum Upgrading programme. Currently,
Water (6,444 beneficiaries) for the 6 24 programmes have already been
villages of Nam Pa’s cluster (namely implemented and are currently
Vangxay, Somboun, Mixay, Phouxay, Urban Housing and documented. This brings an increase
Dakhied and Phiakeo) in Sansay district of Slum Upgrading from 8 to 24 in 2014, against a target of
Attapeu province. 34 to be met by the end of 2015.
Overview
Pilot on Decentralized Wastewater 35 countries endorsed the vision of the In 2014, the status of resource for focus
Treatment Systems (DEWATS) Global Housing Strategy which inter area 5 was as follows: USD 31 million
in Sanxay of Attapeu Province: alia, has been translated into the PSUP was planned; USD 42.1 million was
Constructed of Decentralized Wastewater principles for housing, slum upgrading allocated; and expenditure was USD 39.7
Treatment Systems (DEWATS) in two and prevention. Countries have million, giving a utilization rate of 94 per
villages namely Mixay and Phouxay of approached UN-Habitat for technical cent, which is satisfactory.
Sanxay district (2,393 beneficiaries) and support and have shown the political will
improved sanitation facilities for sixty (60) to co-finance activities. The number of UN-Habitat Human
poor’s households. national housing, slum upgrading and Rights Mainstreaming
prevention strategies and programmes UN-Habitat is bound by the UN Charter,
Water for Life Phase II: “Expanding aligned to the Global Housing Strategy which recognizes human rights as one
Access to Safe Water through and vision rose from 28 to 36 in 2014. of its pillars, and is specifically mandated
Underground Rainwater Harvesting Over the same period, the number of by the UN General Assembly. According
(URWH)” in Phouvong District of Attapeu partner national authorities working to the human rights-based approach,
Province (funded by Fukuoka’s institute, towards implementation of slum the process of urbanization should
Japan: Constructed two underground upgrading programmes increased from adhere to the human rights principles.
rainwater harvesting (uRWH) in Taoum’s 8 to 35. Concurrently, the city, as the outcome
and Phouxay’s schools of two most of this process, should meet specified
vulnerable communities in Phouvong Advocacy for slum upgrading and human rights standards, for instance:
district. prevention, poverty reduction in tandem
with sustainable urban development The human rights-based approach
Building Small-scale Climate Resilient contributed to improved knowledge adds value to urban planning by
Rural Infrastructure to Enhance and visibility of the challenge of slums legitimizing prioritization of the
Agricultural Productivity in Saravane internationally and especially within interests on the most marginalized in
Province: Construction the new gravity the UN system. The Kigali Conference society and their participation in the
feed system in Paju-Kapa with totalling outcomes and Declaration on planning process. Indeed, the creation
number beneficiaries of 374 people; Sustainable Urbanization for Poverty and implementation of an appropriate
Upgrading an existing gravity feed Reduction, demonstrated increased form of urban planning is a precondition
system in Kokbok with totalling number awareness of the five deprivations19, and
beneficiaries of 863 people; Upgrading sufficient living space which means not more than
three people sharing the same room; easy access
an existing gravity feed system in Kape 19 UN-HABITAT defines a slum household as a to safe water in sufficient amounts at an affordable
with totalling number beneficiaries group of individuals living under the same roof prices; access to adequate sanitation in the form
in an urban area who lack one or more of the of a private or public toilet shared by a reasonable
of 647 people; Upgrading an existing
following: Durable housing of a permanent nature number of people; security of tenure that prevents
gravity feed system in Phoxen with that protects against extreme climate conditions; forced evictions.

in many national contexts for the There has been a strong integration of Partnerships
fulfilment of human rights obligations in human rights into the processes of the UN-Habitat has strengthened its
the urban context. Global Land Tool Network (GLTN) in partnership with the Office of the
2014, particularly through UN-Habitat United Nations High Commissioner
UN-Habitat has made progress towards work on access to land, tenure security for Human Rights (UNOHCHR). The
the promotion of human rights, both and the continuum of land rights. UN Housing Rights Programme has been
in operational and normative activities, Technical assistance for implementation formally upgraded to include the human
as detailed in the sections below on of the Flexible Land Tenure Act has been rights mainstreaming component of the
normative/technical tools, institutional provided in Namibia. shared work related to housing rights
progress, partnerships, and country and evictions.
achievements. Human Rights have been mainstreamed
at global and country level, for 35 UN-Habitat further works with the UN
Global Achievements participating ACP countries, with the Development Group Human Rights
Normative/technical tools inclusion of the Human Rights Based Mainstreaming Mechanism to leverage
UN-Habitat has finalized a Programmatic Approach to Development methodology the human rights-based approach in
Guidance Note on Human Rights in in the Participatory Slum Upgrading the post-2015 Agenda. UN-Habitat is
Cities for UN-Habitat Staff. This Note Programme (PSUP) methodology. also collaborating with the UN Special
provides staff with an introduction to the Furthermore, countries are required Rapporteurs on the Right to Adequate
international human rights system and to review their regulatory framework Housing and the Right to Safe Drinking
the human rights of most relevance to relating to access to water, sanitation Water and Sanitation.
UN-Habitat’s mandate. and adequate housing, in alignment
with international legal instruments, in Through its membership of the United
Other guidance and information support of the implementation of the Nations Rule of Law Coordination
materials have been developed, PSUP phase II. and Resource Group, in partnership
including a number of Briefing Notes with the Rule of Law Office and the
on issues relevant to human rights The Agency’s pilot project testing a Department of Political Affairs,
and urbanization, such as UN-Habitat new approach to land readjustment UN-Habitat has launched a UN system-
engagement with the Human Rights Up – Participatory and Inclusive Land wide dialogue on developing appropriate
Front Initiative and the Universal Periodic Readjustment (PILaR) is making measures for land in post conflict
Review. significant headway in promoting situations. A draft Guidance Note for the
a rights-based approach to land UN system will be developed by the end
Institutional Progress readjustment that recognises the basic of 2015.
The UN-Habitat Project Cycle is becoming right to adequate housing beyond those
increasingly human rights-based. A holding orthodox property and tenure Country Achievements
Human Rights Project Document has rights. In Sri Lanka, UN-Habitat has integrated
been approved by UN-Habitat senior security of tenure and property rights into
management to guide the Human UN-Habitat in 2013 published a report its work as a fundamental component to
Rights Policy and Strategy until the end on Advancing Youth Civic Engagement shelter and livelihoods, and a cornerstone
of the current Strategic Plan in 2019. and Human Rights. Human Rights Day for the realization of poverty reduction.
A Human Right focal point is present Celebrations in December 2014 included
at the meeting of the Project Advisory a UN-Habitat Brown Bag Debate on the
Group (PAG) where specific advice and Youth and Human Rights.
guidance is provided on appropriately
strengthening the human rights-based
approach in all phases of the UN-Habitat
project cycle.
In Nigeria, the first National Housing project is being integrated into other relate to post-disaster and post-conflict
Slum Summit was held in November methodologies and a PILaR methodology recovery and rehabilitation of shelter
2013. As a consequence, the federal Sourcebook will be completed in mid- and settlements in ways that advance
and state governments have started 2015. sustainable urban development.
to implement a results-based national
programme on mainstreaming human Shelter Rehabilitation and
rights into public policies, program Urban Risk Reduction Settlements Recovery Units
designs, and decision-making. and Rehabilitation The scale and complexity of humanitarian
emergencies, and urban emergencies
The Participatory and Inclusive Land Disasters and conflicts have in 2013-2014 has challenged the entire
Readjustment project (PILaR) in the City become increasingly urban humanitarian community as never before.
of Medellin, Colombia is 1) protecting UN-Habitat is increasingly engaged at the
the rights and interests of those without The goal of the Risk Reduction and forefront of humanitarian activities. More
formal property rights and 2) integrating Rehabilitation, sub Programme is to than USD 1 billion of projects in shelter,
all residents into the decision-making build resilience, promote sustainable resilient, and sustainable recovery has
processes of the project, regardless of relief and reconstruction and to increase been implemented in the past decade,
their property rights status. The rights the resilience of cities to the impacts of and approx... USD 120million in 2013-
based approach developed in this natural and human-made crisis. Activities 2014, in partnership with a wide range
TOP : Sharia Camp in Dukuk, Iraq.

© UN-Habitat

of member states and benefitting tens of
thousands of families and hundreds of
communities.
Post-crisis emergency and recovery

projects account for the largest per
centage of UN-Habitat’s annual
expenditure. As the world continues
to urbanise, and complex conflicts and
natural disasters increase, the more likely
it is that urban areas will be affected.
UN-Habitat’s current emergency and

recovery programmes encompass Syria,
Iraq, Lebanon, occupied Palestinian
territories, Somalia, South Sudan, Central
Africa Republic, Pakistan, Afghanistan,
Sri Lanka, Philippines and the West Africa
Ebola crisis, and others.
UN-Habitat is one of only nine UN

agencies as permanent members of the
Humanitarian Affairs coordinating body,
TOP : Sharia Camp in Dukuk, Iraq.
the Inter Agency Standing Committee © UN-Habitat
(IASC), with a mandate and responsibility
to predictably respond and provide
humanitarian support to member states Case Study – Sinjar, Iraq Initial humanitarian response,
in times of crisis. Families had been displaced from Sinjar in Sharia Camp in Dukuk, Iraq 2014
August 2014 due to the ongoing conflict This project has been developed in full
During the 2014 the West Africa Ebola in the region eventually took temporary consultation with Local Authorities and
Virus Disease (EVD) crisis, it became refuge in a tented camp in Sarrensk, affected families. This is an excellent
apparent that there was a strong Dohuk and arrived at the Dawodye camp initiative of the Regional Office for Arab
urban dimension to the spread of the for longer term settlement in early 2015. States (ROAS). The project involves seven
disease. The United Nations Mission for UN organizations: UN-Habitat, UNDP,
Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) A new model of IDP camp UNESCO, (4) elementary schools, WHO,
requested UN-Habitat to provide In areas of protracted conflict, UNOPS and IOM.
urban expertise in Accra, Ghana and UN-Habitat noted that many camps
Ebola affected capitals of the cities in the region become permanent or The camp was funded by the
of Monrovia, Liberia and Freetown, semi-permanent settlements and over Government of Saudi Arabia is well
Sierra Leone. In collaboration with the time developed into urban slums. Poor planned in line with urban planning
Global Shelter Cluster, UN-Habitat has choice of site and or poor drainage can principles, and housing is provided in
established a new role of Shelter Cluster prove to be disastrous for families already prefabricated units. Parents remarked
Americas Coordinator. traumatized by their conflict related on how they looked forward to their
experiences. children returning soon to school, and
returning to a more normal life.
Conclusion
Conclusion
UN-Habitat’s mandate over the past 15 years since
the adoption of the Millennium Declaration in 2000,
has been achieved by improving the living conditions
of more than 220 million slum dwellers, surpassing
the target of 100 million.
The outputs and results of UN-Habitat’s in support of the national ownership of options. Therefore, slum upgrading must
activities at the global, regional, national urban development tools and processes. be part of a broader framework of urban
and local levels as highlighted in this and housing policies underpinned by
report provide a clear evidence of the key However, many challenges need to be urban planning as a tool to prevent the
role played by the Agency in supporting addressed in order to secure the gains formation of new slums.
national and local governments to of the ongoing operations and future
build capacity to promote sustainable activities so that the emerging trend of In this perspective, the “three pronged”
urbanization as a driver of development. “planning together for a better urban strategic track pursued by UN-Habitat in
it also advocates for a well-prepared and future” becomes sustainable. its recent interventions addressing the
planned urban development across the challenges of urbanization by integrating
No doubts, the Goal 7 of the MDGs — legal, political, urban design and financial
regions.
which provided a significant boost to the modelling approaches in a coherent
It is worth noting that the new strategic UN-Habitat’s mandate over the past manner proves to be efficient.
plan of UN-Habitat for the period 15 years — has been achieved by
of 2014-2019 provides a conducive improving the living conditions of As we embark on the post-2015
framework for realizing a model that more than 220 million slum dwellers, development framework ahead of
links normative and operational activities. surpassing the target of 100 million. Habitat III in 2016, UN-Habitat is working
This paves the way to achieving of well- However, an additional 360 million closely with national governments
defined and tangible results for a greater slum dwellers have been added to the and local authorities in identifying and
impact at the field level by increasing global urban population, which calls implementing programmes and projects
the synergy of the ongoing programmes for new approaches to slum prevention that have the potential to empower the
and ensuring a greater ownership by the and upgrading. A key lesson learnt recipients and boost the ownership by
recipients. from this report is that slums, which the beneficiaries.
are the manifestation of urban poverty
Promoting self-reliance and improving across the regions, are not a stand-alone
capacity building as described in some of phenomenon. They are linked to urban
the strories higlighted in this report ( in inequalities, lack of mixed urban land use
the boxes) confirm UN-Habitat’s strategy as well as inadequate land and housing

LIST OF ALL DONORS 2013-2014
Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority European Union Nigeria
Action Aid Ethiopa Norway
Afghanistan FAO - Liaison Office - NY OIC
African Development Bank FHK Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
(OCHA)
Agence Francaise de Development France
Ondo State Government
Angola Fundacao Euclides da CUNHA (FEC)
OPEC fund for International Development
Asian Development Bank Germany
Prefeitura da Cidade do Rio de Janeiro (PCRJ)
AT-Verband (AT-Association) Global Environment and Technology Foundation
Plan International
AusAID Global Green Growth Institute
Prefeitura da Cidade do Rio de Janeiro (PCRJ)
Bahrain GUADALAJARA
Rafik Hariri Foundation
Barcelona City Council IBRD/World Bank
Russia
BASF AG ICBF
S.D.D.E
Belgium India
Saudi Arabia
Booyoung Instituto Pereira Passos/Prefeitura da Cidade do Rio de
Janeiro Siemens AG
Brazil
International Federation of Red Cross and Red South Korea
Cajame
Crescent Societies ( IFRC & RCS )
Spain
Cameroon
Iran
Sri Lanka
Canada
Iraq
Sweden
Canadian International Developement Agency
ISVIMED
(CIDA) Swedish International Development Cooperation
Italy Agency (SIDA)
Cabo Verde
Japan Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
CEPA
JICA Thailand
China
Jordan The Ford Foundation
China Environmental Foundation
Kenya The Grand Korean Leisure Company
City of Munich
Korea The Palestinian Ministry of Public Works and Housing
Coca Cola - Atlanta
Kunshan Housing and Urban Rural Development Togo
Common Fund for Commodities (CFC)
Bureau
Ulaanbaatar City Government
Construction Bureau of Jiangyin City
Kuwait
United Nations
Corporacion Andina de Fomento (CAF)
LaFarge
Corporacion Volver a la Gente United States
Lao
CORREGIDORA USAID
Libya
COSUDE VNG International
Malteser International
Denmark Work
Mexico
Department for International Development (DFID) World Bank
Mongol Diving LLC
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Wuppertal Institut Fur Klima/ Umwelt/ Energie
Morocco
Government of Australia GMBH
MRRD Afghanistan
Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zapopan
Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Municipality of Medellin
Egypt Netherlands
LIST OF ALL DONORS 2013-2014 95

UN-Habitat Global Activities Report 2015
INCREASING SYNERGY FOR GREATER NATIONAL OWNERSHIP
The UN-Habitat Global Activities Report is an historical progress report to

the Governing Council that takes into account developments in addressing
the project portfolio of the United Nations Human Settlement Programme
UN-HABITAT
UN-HABITAT GLOBAL
GLOBAL
(UN-Habitat) at the national, regional and global levels.
Over the years, the report – formerly known as the operational activity report
ACTIVITIES
ACTIVITIES REPORT
REPORT 2015 2015
– has been transmitted to the Governing Council on a biennial basis as an
information document that provides project portfolio trend analysis based on INCREASING
INCREASING SYNERGYSYNERGY
FOR FOR
project acquisition and expenditures.
The Programme’s work has been focused on promoting national urban policy
GREATERGREATER NATIONAL
NATIONAL OWNERSHIP
OWNERSHIP
reforms together with building institutional and human capacities, including
providing support to Governments in the implementation of national urban
plans. UN-Habitat activities and programmes at the global, regional and national
levels are crucial in increasing synergies for greater national ownership of the
various sustainable urban development tools and best practices being promoted
by the United Nations and Habitat Agenda partners around the world.
The report is available from www.unhabitat.org/gc25documents.
HS/028/15E
ISBN(Series): 978-92-1-133406-7
ISBN(Volume): 978-92-1-132652-9
UNITED NATIONS HUMAN SETTLEMENTS PROGRAMME

P.O.Box 30030,Nairobi 00100,Kenya;
Tel: +254-20-76263120; Fax: +254-20-76234266/7 (central office);
infohabitat@unhabitat.org www.unhabitat.org

UN-Habitat Global Country Activities Report: 2015 - Increasing Synergy For Greater National Ownership

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UN-Habitat Global Activities Report 2015

INCREASING SYNERGY FOR GREATER NATIONAL OWNERSHIP

The UN-Habitat Global Activities Report is an historical progress report to

The report is available from www.unhabitat.org/gc25documents.

UNITED NATIONS HUMAN SETTLEMENTS PROGRAMME

Copyright © United Nations Human Settlements Programme 2015

All rights reserved

UN-HABITAT GLOBAL ACTIVITIES REPORT 2015

Over the past two years, UN-Habitat

More concretely, the main focus of

UN-HABITAT GLOBAL ACTIVITIES REPORT 2015

UN-Habitat Portfolio Overview 6 European Union and its neighbourhood 67

60 Less developed regions

Latin America and the Caribbean

Source: UN-Habitat 2013-2014

UN-HABITAT GLOBAL ACTIVITIES REPORT 2015

More developed regions

Less developed regions

Urban planning requires a shift from viewing

Figure 3: Geographic Distribution of UN-Habitat Projects in 2013-2014

Source: UN-Habitat 2013-2014

UN-HABITAT GLOBAL ACTIVITIES REPORT 2015

Figure 4: Geographic Distribution of UN-Habitat Projects, 2011-2012 and 2013-2014

Source: UN-Habitat 2013-2014

Source: UN-Habitat 2013-2014

UN-HABITAT GLOBAL ACTIVITIES REPORT 2015

10 8.9 8.8 9.1 9.0

*Global Projects - projects not limited to one particular country or region

Source: UN-Habitat 2013-2014

B R E A K D O WN O F G L O B A L P R O J ECTS* B Y TH EM E IN TH E 2013- 2014 B IENNIU M

*Global Projects - projects not limited to one particular country or region

UN-HABITAT GLOBAL ACTIVITIES REPORT 2015

Introduction Integration of the sustainable and building sustainable cities and

Chapter one: Regional Office for Africa 11

Democratic Republic of Congo 5,202,642

South Sudan 4,117,794

Burkina Faso 567,981

Cape Verde 49,396

0 10,000,000 20,000,000 30,000,000

Source: UN-Habitat 2013-2014 USD ($)

UN-HABITAT GLOBAL ACTIVITIES REPORT 2015

T H EM A T I C D I S TRI BUTI ON OF P ORTFOL I O I N AFRI CA, 2 0 1 3 - 2 0 1 4

Chapter one: Regional Office for Africa 13

Source: UN-Habitat 2013-2014

Democratic Republic local land governance and administration Ethiopia

UN-HABITAT GLOBAL ACTIVITIES REPORT 2015

0 5,000,000 10,000,000 15,000,000 20,000,000

Source: UN-Habitat 2013-2014

Chapter one: Regional Office for Africa 15

LEFT: Aerial view on the suburbs of Hwange

UN-HABITAT GLOBAL ACTIVITIES REPORT 2015

Chapter one: Regional Office for Africa 17

All practices developed were captured

30 schools and Resilience modules in different

UN-HABITAT GLOBAL ACTIVITIES REPORT 2015

Chapter one: Regional Office for Africa 19

UN-HABITAT GLOBAL ACTIVITIES REPORT 2015

Chapter one: Regional Office for Africa 21

UN-HABITAT GLOBAL ACTIVITIES REPORT 2015

Chapter one: Regional Office for Africa 23

UN-HABITAT GLOBAL ACTIVITIES REPORT 2015

Environment and Urbanization

UN-HABITAT GLOBAL ACTIVITIES REPORT 2015