Title of Event:

Name of Organisation:

Date and time of the session:

Rapid Urban Sector Profiling for Sustainability - from Agreed Needs to Action

UN-HABITAT

21/06/06; 16:30-18:30

Key Highlights

1. Estimated no of participants: Over 100
2. Stakeholder group representation at the event: Ministers, mayors, professionals and donors.
3. What were the expected objectives: The event highlighted the importance of identifying and agreeing on priority areas of intervention in the urban sector to ensure sustainability. Furthermore, in the post disaster countries where some areas are still difficult to access, it was demonstrated that this could be achieved through training local teams on utilizing well structured terms of reference and questionnaires to mobilize key stakeholders and run consultative meetings.
4. What did the networking event achieve: The objectives of the event were achieved through the presentation of the UN-HABITAT methodology of (RUSPS) and its application in five post-disaster countries: Afghanistan, Iraq, Liberia, Occupied Palestinian Territories and Somalia.

2. What were the core issues identified in your event as they relate to the theme and sub-themes of WUFIII?

Presentations demonstrated that prolonged civil strife and conflict result in same devastating effects on national and urban institutions resulting from brain-drain, loss of records and institutional memory, and overall lack of capacity to tackle the acute demand for rehabilitation, reconstruction and institution building. It was demonstrated that the RUSPS approach is a suitable tool to rapidly assess the institutional capacity gaps and the immediate reconstruction needs.

3. What were the main points raised by panellists and participants in relation to these different issues? What new ideas have been generated as a result of the discussion?

The presenters demonstrated how in their respective countries they were able to translate agreed priority needs into operational realities within their different contexts. For example, the Somalia case study demonstrated that agreed priorities were formulated into an integrated programme currently being implemented with funding from a variety of donors. The programme addresses urban governance through institutional capacity building, leadership training, and the role of civil society; it also addressed urban management through urban planning, land management, municipal finance, local economic development as well as reconstruction demonstration projects for integrating internally displaced persons, solid waste management and economic development projects. It was highlighted that in order to access funding for implementing programmes in the urban sector, such priorities should be reflected in the national programmes, the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers and the UN Development Assistance Frameworks. The RUSPS process helps raise awareness to the need of addressing urban issues in an integrated way rather than the traditional sectoral approaches.

4. What process steps have been identified in your event that could help turn ideas into operational reality?

The participants showed great interest in the application of the methodology in various contexts as it has also been utilized in more than 20 countries in various contexts of stability and levels of development. Two countries (Uganda and Benin) requested to be included in the new phase of RUSPS as they saw it necessary to analyse the needs and agree on priorities. Some external support agencies showed interest in exploring the possibilities of adapting and utilizing the approach. Participants expressed their interest in learning more about the approach particularly that it is rapid, inexpensive and based on participation. They also acknowledged that it filled a methodological gap in the urban sector.

Mr. Daniel Biau, Director of Regional and Technical Cooperation, UN-HABITAT announced the approval of Phase two by the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Secretariat to the European Commission for funding. Activities of this phase will commence in more than 90 cities in 30 countries in the next few months.