UN-HABITAT and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on Wednesday signed a cooperation agreement aimed at promoting sustainable urbanization and adequate housing in the Arab region.The agreement was signed in Amman by the Jordanian Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Dr. Bassem Awadallah, and the Deputy Executive Director, UN-HABITAT, Mr. Daniel Biau, on behalf the Executive Director, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka. By this agreement, UN-HABITAT will establish an office in Amman hosted by the Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The new office will promote human settlements policies in line with the Habitat Agenda and the Millennium Development Goals and support UN-HABITAT operational activities, particularly in Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and the Palestinian territories. It will also advocate the principles and values of UN-HABITAT global campaigns on secure tenure and good urban governance. The office will also work with international and regional organizations, governments and municipalities, NGOs and the private sector in the Arab region. Among its services to the countries of the region, the office will assist the Iraqi Government, through the already established High-Level Advisory Panel of Iraqi experts, with its efforts for reconstruction and rehabilitation of urban settlements and services. |
