The Commission on Human Settlements,
Recalling the Istanbul Declaration on Human Settlements,1 the Habitat Agenda2 and General Assembly resolution 51/177 of 16 December 1996, by which, inter alia, the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) was designated as a focal point for international cooperation in the implementation of the Habitat Agenda, as well as Commission resolution 16/19 of 7 May 1997 and Commission decision 16/29 of 7 May 1997, on budgetary issues,
Recognizing that, in the follow-up to the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), held in Istanbul from 3 to 14 June 1996, the overall orientation of the medium-term plan and the work programme of the Centre for the biennium 2000-2001 emanate from the specific role for the Centre outlined in paragraph 228 of the Habitat Agenda,
Recalling that, in paragraph 4 of the Istanbul Declaration the commitment to combat the deterioration of the quality of life within human settlements, particularly within developing countries, was reconfirmed,
Recognizing the need for the work programme for the biennium 2000-2001 to focus on well-defined objectives and strategic issues, in order to contribute to the achievement of the goals of the Habitat Agenda,
Affirming that the global advocacy of the United Nations of the goals of security of tenure and sound urban governance is a relevant and appropriate strategy for promoting the objectives of the Habitat Agenda,
Noting that the strategic vision for a revitalized United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat), as contained in the note by the secretariat,3 provides the fundamental direction for the preparation of the draft work programme for the biennium 2000-2001, within the financial constraints of the Centre,
Noting also the recent efforts of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) and the Executive Director to improve and to make transparent the fiscal and administrative management of the Centre, to draft a harmonized budget in line with the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions and to implement the recommendations of the Board of Auditors in their report for the biennium ended 31 December 1997,4
Noting with appreciation the ongoing work of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) in the field of housing rights, in collaboration with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, inter alia, in the context of the regular, extensive reporting of the High Commissioner under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 5
1. Approves the draft work programme for the biennium 2000-2001,6 while underlining the need for the programme as it is further developed adequately to reflect the strategic vision for a revitalized Centre;
2. Confirms that the reorganization from four to two subprogrammes reflects the need for an improved focus with a limited number of well-defined objectives and that this provides for direct correspondence with the two themes of the Habitat Agenda of adequate shelter for all and sustainable human settlements in an urbanizing world;
3. Also confirms that the strategy to combine normative and operative functions in the work programme is a direct response to the recommendations made by the Commission in its resolution 16/8 of 7 May 1997, on revitalization of the Centre, the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services,7 the report of the four Governments’ assessment,8 the report of the Secretary-General on environment and human settlements9 and the report of the Secretary-General to the General Assembly at its fifty-third session on the assessment of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat);10
4. Calls upon upon the Executive Director to consult closely with member Governments in developing the specific details of the work programme for the biennium 2000-2001;
5. Also calls upon the Executive Director, in elaborating and implementing the work programme, to consider carefully the potential impact on reducing poverty, improving human shelter, promoting governance, as described in paragraph 45 (a) of the Habitat Agenda, in the context of an enabling approach, promoting healthy living environments and improving the status of women;
6. Recommends that the medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005 have the same strategic focus as the work programme 2000-2001 and be organized into two subprogrammes corresponding to the two themes of the Habitat Agenda;
7. Encourages the Executive Director to continue his efforts to improve the financial and administrative management of the Centre and, in particular, to comply fully with all the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;
8. Invites the Centre further to harmonize its budget methodology with that of similar United Nations bodies and to present its future budgets in a results-based format;
9. Requests the Executive Director to raise more funds from all sources and to broaden the donor base to include all members of the United Nations, especially from countries that have developed a greater capacity to contribute, to ensure the successful implementation of the work programme for the biennium 2000-2001;
10. Urges all Governments to make efforts to pay their contributions prior to the year to which they relate or at the earliest possible date, in order to enable the Centre to plan and execute the work programme more effectively;
11. Invites the Executive Director to assess the exact level of services required by and provided to the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) by the United Nations Office at Nairobi and to assess the appropriateness of the Centre’s payments to the United Nations Office at Nairobi to make possible any adjustments that may be required, and to report on the actions and remedies taken in that regard to the Commission at its eighteenth session;
12. Approves an allocation of 22,808,300 dollars for the revised budget for the biennium 1998-1999 and 23,019,600 dollars for 2000-2001, recognizing that this will require substantial additional funding.
9th meeting,
14 May 1999.
5. General Assembly resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex.
9. A/53/463 (also distributed to the Commission as an annex to document HS/C/17/CRP.5).