1. Urban Governance

Global Campaign on Urban Governance (August 2004) — by UN-HABITAT — last modified 2007-06-24 20:07

UN-HABITAT is mandated by the UN General Assembly and the Habitat Agenda, adopted in 1996, to pursue the twin goals of sustainable human settlements development and adequate shelter for all. In order to achieve these goals, UN-HABITAT launched two Global Campaigns on Urban Governance and Secure Tenure in 1999. The Campaigns are closely inter-linked, interdependent, and mutually reinforcing.

Urban Governance in Africa: Experiences and Challenges (Series title) — by UN-HABITAT — last modified 2007-06-24 20:09

Africa enters the 21st century not only faced with the challenge of an unprecedented rapid rate of urbanisation, but also with an intensification of poverty among the urban population. Within the next two-and-a-half decades, Africa’s urban centres will become the dominant habitat of its population. While this unavoidable demographic shift has a historic potential of transforming cities into crucibles of development and engines of national growth, the prevalence of abject poverty impedes the harnessing of such an opportunity. African countries are thus at involves enhancing the capacity of local authorities to partner with the private sector and civil society in delivering services and promoting economic development.

Governing Our Cities: Will People Power Work — by Panos Institute — last modified 2007-06-24 20:17

The solution to sustainable development in cities is for poor people to be allowed to assert their own rights, and increasingly to organise themselves to provide their own services and infrastructure. Successful systems of urban governance depend on people power. This consensus is not simply that of a fringe group of radicals, but the analysis that emerged five years ago in Istanbul at the meeting of 171 governments for Habitat II, the City Summit (the Second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements).

Policy Dialogue Series: Youth, Children And Urban Governance — by UN-HABITAT — last modified 2007-06-24 20:11

The purpose of this paper is to stimulate and promote action by outlining the arguments for giving children and young people a far greater role in urban governance. It sets out the background to the growing problems besetting children and young people in urban environments, the urgency of the need for action, and the arguments for supporting their participation in urban governance, including those based on their human rights. It reviews existing commitments and action globally, and some of the emerging models of participation which have proved to be viable ways of increasing the participation of children and young people, both nationally and locally.

UNCHS (Habitat) - the global campaign for good urban governance — by UNCHS — last modified 2007-06-24 20:14

The aim of these campaigns is to reduce urban poverty through policies which emphasize equity, sustainability and social justice. Strategic and operational partnerships with government, local authorities, nongovernmental and community-based organizations, the private sector and UN agencies are crucial to the success of these campaigns.

The Urban Governance Initiative (UNDP - TUGI) — by United Nations — last modified 2007-06-24 20:15

This paper presents a profile of the work of the Urban Governance Initiative, which seeks to promote and support good urban governance in Asia and the Pacific. It describes the principles underlying its work; the pilot projects it supported in Suva, Kathmandu, Penang and Shenyang; its award schemes for urban innovation, the use of new technologies and for young leaders; and its publications and outreach to local authorities and journalists. It also describes the citizen Report Cards system it has supported, and its special interest in mobilizing local governance action for preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS and for supporting those who are infected. Published by UNDP in April 2003