Commonwealth Consultative Group on Human Settlements examines progress on habitat improvements
16 September 2004
The Commonwealth Consultative Group on Human Settlements (CCGHS) met informally in the wings of the World Urban Forum in Barcelona, Spain, on 14 September 2004 under the chairmanship of the Zambian Minister of Local Government and Housing, Sylvia Masebo.
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| Community members at the building site of a new community toilet block in Uganda - Credit: Homeless International |
The meeting was to prepare for a full session of CCGHS in Nairobi, Kenya, next April where ministers and senior officials will examine the new workplan for ComHabitat, the Commonwealth's mechanism for action on human settlements.
The workplan includes research on indicators to help the Commonwealth assess its progress in achieving the United Nations' Habitat Agenda, relevant Millennium Development Goals and the Commonwealth's own goal to "demonstrate progress towards adequate shelter for all with secure tenure and access to essential services in every community by 2015."
Other research will examine mechanisms and options for urban finance, including financial and banking regulations and their impact on settlement investment; the development of local financial markets; and the range of products offered by local financial institutions.
Delegates welcomed the research elements of the workplan, emphasising that this should draw on existing data and networks throughout the Commonwealth to add value to the UN-Habitat's work. The meeting also supported efforts to strengthen networking in the Commonwealth to deliver timely and practical advice and peer support to those with responsibilities for delivering water, sanitation and sustainable human settlements.
ComHabitat will hold its first networking meeting on 16 September 2004 to discuss partnership experiences. These will include case studies from Nairobi and Mumbai, India, on handling the resettlement of slum dwellers who live along railway lines. Ms Masebo will chair the meeting.
Over the next two years, ComHabitat will also forge links with UN-Habitat's campaigns on urban governance and secure tenure, and work to strengthen the network of institutions and practitioners that is providing support and advice through online services, networking events, and person-to-person contact to promote learning and information-sharing.
CNIS - the Commonwealth News and Information Service Issue 201
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