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Dr. Clos holds talks with the mayor of Accra
	Accra, 20 May 13 UN-Habitat Executive Director Dr. Joan Clos on Friday paid a courtesy call on the mayor of Accra Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije during which they discussed issues of mutual interest. The mayor upraised the Executive Director on the various challenges he was facing in running the city.


UN-Habitat mulls over extending partnership with Kampala
	Kampala, 17 May 13 UN-Habitat Executive Director Dr. Joan Clos has said that the agency would be willing to extend its rich pool of expertise to the city of Kampala to help it grapple with urbanization challenges.


Uganda hosts Commonwealth local authorities meeting
	Kampala, 17 May 13 The Commonwealth Local Government Conference was held this week in Kampala with thr thrust of addressing local authorities’ focused development.


Dr. Clos meets Ugandan ministers
	Kampala, 17 May 13 On the sidelines of the ongoing Commonwealth Local Governments Conference in Kampala, UN-Habitat Executive Director Dr. Joan Cloas held meetings Wednesday with Ugandan ministers and other officials where he pledged the agency’s willingness to help the East African nation in dealing with urbanization issues.


Kenyan university first to offer Masters Degree in urban studies
	Nairobi, 14 May 13 The Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology is to be the first in the East Africa region to offer a Masters degree programme in Urban Studies.


UN-Habitat signs agreement on governance with São Paulo
	São Paulo , 14 May 13 During a high level ceremony in which were present the Governor of the State of Sao Paulo, Geraldo Alckmin, the mayor of Sao Paulo, Fernando Haddad, and the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Brazil, Jorge Chediek, UN-Habitat signed an agreement on a new initiative aiming at strengthening the new strategy for metropolitan governance in the State of São Paulo.


International Council for Caring Communities and UN-Habitat launch design competition
	New York , 10 May 13 The International Council for Caring Communities (ICCC) and UN-Habitat have launched a design competition targeting students.


Construction training manual tested in Hargeisa
	Somaliland, 6 May 13 The Sustainable Employment Creation and Improved Livelihoods for Vulnerable Communities in Mogadishu (SECIL) project has developed a manual titled Practical Field Guide to Building Construction for Post-conflict Infrastructure Rehabilitation and Development. It details the essential parts of a building structure and provides information about standardized quality benchmarks, context-specific testing methods, skilled working principles for various construction sectors, and essential occupational safety standards.


Groundbreaking for the Ayaha IV Shelter and Resettlement Project in Hargeisa
	Somaliland, 6 May 13 A groundbreaking ceremony for the Ayaha IV Shelter and Resettlement Project was held at the Ambassador Hotel in Hargeisa on 18 March 2013. The project involves the construction of 350 permanent low-cost housing units and prioritized community infrastructure (e.g. a piped water system, solid waste collection point, and community centre) for returnees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and the urban poor.


Hargeisa Urban Water Supply Upgrading Project gets underway
	Somaliland, 6 May 13 Ask anyone on the streets of the Somaliland capital of Hargeisa what their city needs most urgently, and the answer is immediate: water. Every day, tankers and donkey-carts deliver water to tens of thousands of homes and businesses that have no direct access to the existing municipal piped water system.


UN-Habitat to support Kenya’s devolution process
	Nairobi, 6 May 13 The Transition Authority of Kenya the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support sustainable urban development and management in the framework of the devolved system of Government.


Additional infrastructure brings safer learning to Mogadishu
	Somaliland, 6 May 13 From 1991 until quite recently, Somalia was without an effective central government. The long-standing absence of authority in the country had a particular impact on education for girls.


Inauguration of new councillors and district mayors in Somaliland
	Somaliland, 6 May 13 In December 2012, newly elected councillors and district mayors were inaugurated in most Somaliland districts. UN-Habitat, being a long-term development partner of these district authorities, received invitation letters to attend the inauguration ceremonies in Hargeisa, Boroma, and Burao. Abdirahman Adan Mahamoud and Asha Mohamed, two UN-Habitat staff from the Hargeisa office, attended the functions.


New shelter project integrates displaced persons into Bossaso host community
	Somaliland, 6 May 13 After months of preparation related to beneficiary selection, design, and tendering processes, a new shelter project began in January 2013 in Bossaso, Puntland. The initiative involves 500 houses constructed with funds provided by the Government of Japan, 150 houses funded by the UN Common Humanitarian Fund, upgrading through building urban infrastructure, and training of selected beneficiaries in income-generating activities. Parts of the project will be done through cooperation agreements with a local NGO and the Bossaso Vocational Technical Educational Centre.


Public-private partnerships increase sustainability of waste collection service in Mogadishu
	Somaliland, 6 May 13 One of the primary components of the European Union-funded project Sustainable Employment Creation and Improved Livelihoods for Vulnerable Communities in Mogadishu (SECIL) is solid waste management – which to date has been informal and ad hoc in Mogadishu, without a systematic or managed approach.


Raising awareness about water issues through art
	Somaliland, 6 May 13 Throughout January and February, the Sustainable Employment Creation and Improved Livelihoods for Vulnerable Communities in Mogadishu (SECIL) project conducted classes in seven schools in Mogadishu to raise awareness about the importance of safe water and to provide the opportunity for children to express these issues through art, a subject rarely taught in Mogadishu’s schools.


Road signs installed in Hargeisa
	Somaliland, 6 May 13 Under the UN Joint Programme on Local Governance and Decentralized Service Delivery, UN-Habitat has been implementing the Urban Road Classification and Road Naming in Hargeisa Project, which was initiated as a pilot project to help create a foundation for the development of an urban road network plan for fast-growing Hargeisa. UN-Habitat has supported the Municipality of Hargeisa through the project’s technical committee to develop a technical specification guideline for manufacturing and installing the street/road signage in Hargeisa.


UN-Habitat provides support to the Benadir Regional Administration’s Department of Urban Planning
	Somaliland, 6 May 13 A new project is bringing to life the Department of Urban Planning at the Benadir Regional Administration after 22 years of conflict. The support was requested by the emerging authorities of Mogadishu Municipality and designed and developed jointly with the DFID Stabilization Unit for Somalia.


Urban road planning support to Garowe Municipality
	Somaliland, 6 May 13 Garowe Municipality, assisted by UN-Habitat, has completed the implementation of the first phase of the pilot project Development of a Road Network Development Plan and Road Demarcation for Garowe. The project has resulted in the development of the Road Demarcation Development Phase Plan 2012–2035; during the first phase, around 7 km of roads, as new extensions of the main road, were demarcated to secure the future routes from encroachment by informal building construction.


Engaging slum dwellers as partners
	Nairobi, 2 May 13 The involvement of slum dwellers as partners and not beneficiaries was identified as one of the main recommendations that help to empower communities as well as strengthen the effectiveness of participatory slum upgrading processes.


Australia aids Sri Lankan towns to be resilient to disasters
	Colombo, 2 May 13 The Government of Australia is providing USD 1,039,900 to improve planning and community resilience in four disaster prone cities


Dr. Clos addresses an international development conference
	Cambridge, Boston, 2 May 13 Dr. Joan Clos, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and UN-Habitat Executive Director, on Thursday participated as a keynote speaker at an international development conference in the United States.


International Ecological Safety Collaborative Organization, UN-Habitat in a USD2 million deal
	Nairobi, 24 Apr 13 The partnership between UN-Habitat and the International Ecological Safety Collaborative Organization was strengthened with the signing of an agreement of cooperation focusing on youth empowerment and urban ecological safety.


Twenty-fourth Governing Council draws to a close
	Nairobi, 19 Apr 13 The twenty-fourth biennial meeting of governments in the Governing Council of UN-Habitat came to a close in Nairobi on Friday with a broad consensus on the relevance of sustainable urban development and the important role the agency is playing in the United Nations system.


Nigeria contributes USD 5 million to UN-Habitat
	Nairobi, 19 Apr 13 The Federal Government of Nigeria and the Government of Ondo State, Nigeria, this week announced a contribution totaling USD 5 million to the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).


The City of Medellín and UN-Habitat pilot inclusive land readjustment
	Nairobi, Kenya, 18 Apr 13 The city of Medellín, Colombia and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) have launched an innovative programme to enhance the processes of urban redevelopment in the city.


African slum dwellers get boost to improve living conditions
	Nairobi, 18 Apr 13 Thousands of slum dwellers from eight African countries will gain access to a fund to help them improve their housing conditions. French


UN-Habitat and ICLEI announce Mobility festival
	Nairobi, 18 Apr 13 During the Governing Council meeting in Nairobi last week, UN-Habitat and Secretary General Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) announced the EcoMobility World Festival due in September 2013 in the city of Suwon, South Korea.


UN-Habitat releases two landmark reports on women and youth
	Nairobi, 18 Apr 13 UN-Habitat released on Wednesday two landmark reports on women and youth which reveal that cities must resolve the issues affecting the two segments of society.


UN-Habitat announces ten partner cities for the City Resilience Profiling Programme
	Nairobi, 18 Apr 13 The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) announced today, the ten partner cities for its City Resilience Profiling Programme (CRPP). Working through partnerships with stakeholders including international agencies such as UNISDR, academic and research institutes, private sector actors, and NGOs, the CRPP will develop a comprehensive and integrated urban planning and management approach for profiling and monitoring the resilience of any city, to all plausible hazards.


UN-Habitat, UNEP and the International Resource Panel root for greener cities
	Nairobi, 17 Apr 13 Investing in sustainable infrastructures and resource efficient technologies in cities offers a golden opportunity to deliver economic growth with lower rates of environmental degradation, reductions in poverty, cuts in greenhouse gases, and improved well-being, according to a new report released by the United Nations today.


UN-Habitat and Korean Institute in a partnership
	Nairobi, 17 Apr 13 UN-Habitat and The Korea Transport Institute (KOTI) on Tuesday signed a Partnership Agreement which aims at supporting cities in developing sustainable urban transport systems with a focus on public transport.


Medellin to host the next World Urban Forum
	Nairobi, 16 Apr 13 UN-Habitat on Tuesday unveiled the City of Medellin as the venue of the Seventh session of the World Urban Forum due next year, 2014.


UN-Habitat Launches the bicycle sharing concept in Africa
	Nairobi, 16 Apr 13 UN-Habitat- Executive Director Dr. Joan Clos and the President of the Republic of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday jointly launched one of the first Bicycle sharing concepts in Africa at the United Nations Headquarters in Gigiri. This took place after the official UN-Habitat Governing Council Opening session.


Side event on local authorities and urban law
	Nairobi, 16 Apr 13 On the side-lines of the on-going 24th Session of UN-Habitat Governing Council, a side event was held to discuss local authorities and urban law.


UN-Habitat Governing Council kicks off
	Nairobi, Kenya, 15 Apr 13 The 24th Session of UN-Habitat’s Governing kicked off in Nairobi with calls to better the lives of the world’s poor.


Governing Council gets new President
	Nairobi, Kenya, 15 Apr 13 Ms. Amal Pepple, the Minister of Housing, Land and Urban Development for the Federal Republic of Nigeria was today elected the new President of UN-Habitat’s 24th Session of the Governing Council.


UN-Habitat to promote National Urban Policies in Africa
	Nairobi, Kenya, 15 Apr 13 As a side event to its 24th Governing Council, UN-Habitat organised a workshop on April 13th 2013 at the United Nations’ Offices in Nairobi (Kenya), discussing the use of a new generation of National Urban Policies (NUP) towards socio-economic growth and Sustainable Development.


High Level Discussion on Post-2015 on the Eve of UN-Habitat Governing Council
	Nairobi, 14 Apr 13 A round table as a lead-up to the 24th Session of the UN-Habitat's Governing Council was held on Sunday, Introduced by Ms. Amina J. Mohammed, the Secretary-General's Special Advisor on Post-2015, and Dr. Joan Clos, the Executive Director of UN-Habitat, the event focused on the role of urbanization in the post-2015 sustainable development agenda.


United Nations asks citizens about their world
	Nairobi, 3 Apr 13 The United Nations has teamed up with youth groups, private sector bodies and NGO partners all over the world to launch MY World, which is the United Nations Survey for a Better World. MY World asks citizens everywhere about the issues that make the most difference to their lives.


Madagascar holds national urban forum
	Antananarivo, 3 Apr 13 The Government of Madagascar with the support from UNDP and UN-Habitat organized the first National Urban forum from 27-28 March with the theme: “Building together the future of our cities” following extensive consultations at local and regional levels from 27 February to 26 March 2013.


Heads of United Nations organisations commit to end violence against women and girls
	New York, 22 Mar 13 UN-Habitat Executive Director Dr. Joan Clos last week in New York joined other heads of United Nations system organisations and bodies in signing a joint statement on “Ending Violence against Women and Girls”.


United Nations Human Settlements Programme celebrates the World Water Day
	World Water Day, 22 Mar 13 World Water Day is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.


World mayors commit to make cities crime and violence free
	New York, 14 Mar 13 Mayors from across the globe met Thursday at the United Nations, New York, where the main outcome was their stated determination to make cities free from violence and crime.


Dr. Joan Clos recognised as Urban Leader
	Philadelphia, 13 Mar 13 The United Nations Under-Secretary-General and UN-Habitat Executive Director, Dr. Joan Clos, was on Tuesday awarded the prestigious Penn IUR Urban Leadership Award.

Regional Training and Exchange Workshop for the Participatory Slum Upgrading Programme (PSUP)

Port of Spain, 12 Mar 13

French

A regional training and exchange workshop on the Participatory Slum Upgrading Programme (PSUP) is being held from 12th to 16th March in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.


UN-Habitat Executive Director reaffirms his commitment to women’s safety
	Nairobi, 11 Mar 13 On the occasion of the International Women’s Day celebrated last Friday, UN-Habitat Executive Director Dr. Joan Clos reaffirmed his commitment to making cities safe for the women.


Japan extends support to the rehabilitation of Sri Lanka's conflict affected areas
	Colombo, 6 Mar 13 The Japanese government is extending financial contribution amounting to 345 million Japanese Yen (approximately US$ 4 million) through UN-Habitat for the "Project for Rehabilitation of Community Infrastructure and Facilities in the Conflict Affected Areas in Northern Province".


Japanese extends support to Afghan government through UN-Habitat
	Kabul, 5 Mar 13 The Government of Japan last week approved JPY2,187 million (approximately USD23.77 million) of grant assistance to UN-Habitat for its Community-Based Municipal Support Programme in five Afghan cities.


UN-Habitat join hands with sister agencies to discuss cities
	Dublin, 21 Feb 13 UN-Habitat joined hands with sister agencies to discuss cities at the ongoing 8th session of the World Alliance of Cities Against Poverty (WACAP) currently underway in Dublin.