UN AGENCY LAUNCHES SCHEME IN IRAQ TO IMPROVE BASIC SERVICES, HOUSING

A $70 million urban development plan aimed at bolstering the delivery of basic services and provision of housing for Iraq's poor and most vulnerable was jointly launched today by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) and the country's Government.

The project, of which $49 million remains unfunded, focuses on providing Government ministries and local authorities with technical assistance and capacity-building support in the areas of urban governance, housing, infrastructure and basic services.

"This is a historical moment in marking the partnership between the Government of Iraq and UN-HABITAT," said Anna Tibaijuka, Executive Director of UN-HABITAT, in a televised address, reminding the international community of its obligation to help Iraq meet the social and economic targets set out in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Naeema al-Gasseer, acting UN Resident Coordinator in Iraq, said that the UN is "increasingly engaged in ensuring a high level of consultation and concrete action with the Government of Iraq to rebuild housing throughout the country and further develop Iraq's urban planning infrastructure with an emphasis on overcoming climate change challenges."

"Hand in hand with Iraq, the UN's goal will be to continue improving the lives of ordinary Iraqis," Ms. Al-Gasseer added.

The launch of the UN-HABITAT Iraq Country Programme for 2009-2011, in cooperation with the Ministry of Planning and Development Cooperation, was attended by several senior representatives of Iraqi ministries, representatives of the international community in Baghdad, including UN agencies and donors.
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UN AGENCY COMMITS TO HELPING PROTECT LAND RIGHTS FOR AFRICA’S DISPLACED

The United Nations agency tasked with promoting adequate shelter for all has committed to ensuring better protection of land and property rights for people uprooted from their homes in Africa, which hosts nearly half of the total number of displaced persons worldwide.

UN-HABITAT and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding last week committing them to this common goal.

Anna Tibaijuka, Executive Director of UN-HABITAT, said she hoped the new agreement will be an opportunity to "work together to mobilize resources and help the significant number of displaced persons in Africa."

The two institutions will work together to promote the creation of proper legal and institutional frameworks so that countries can be better prepared to protect the rights of displaced populations and to find durable solutions with regards to land and property issues.

In 2008 there were an estimated 11.6 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Africa, nearly half of the total number of displaced worldwide.

"The technical assistance that UN-HABITAT can provide will aid us greatly in our quest to help the huge displaced populations in the Great Lakes Region," said Liberata Mulamula, Executive Secretary of the ICGLR. "The sharing of experience and resources is going to be essential in dealing with the current situation."

The ICGLR is an institution created by Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic (CAR), Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia to implement the Pact on Security, Stability and Development in the Great Lakes Region.
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UN AGENCY AIMS TO TACKLE HOUSING CRUNCH DURING FINANCIAL CRISIS

With the world struck by an economic crisis that has its origins in housing credit, the head of the United Nations agency tasked with ensuring adequate shelter for all today said it was doubly important to confront the challenge of affordable housing.

"This year, our meeting takes place at a time our world is mired in the worst economic crisis in living memory," Anna Tibaijuka, Executive Director of the UN agency for human settlements (UN-HABITAT), said as she opened the agency's yearly Governing Council in Nairobi, Kenya.

"The origin of the crisis lies with a housing finance system gone wrong. Lessons learned from this experience must inform our housing policies and strategies," she added, outlining how the global financial crisis has affected housing worldwide.

The theme for the Governing Council, at which governments decide on UN-HABITAT's budgets and work programmes, is entitled "Promoting affordable housing finance systems in an urbanizing world in the face of the global financial crisis."

Also speaking at the meeting's opening session, the head of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), Achim Steiner, called for measures to cushion the urban poor against the shocks arising from both the global economic meltdown and climate change.

The Governing Council, attended by representatives from some 100 countries, runs through 3 April.
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URBAN YOUTH GROUPS RECEIVE BOOST FROM NEW UN SCHEME

With nearly three quarters of the world's one billion slum-dwellers under the age of 30, a new United Nations programme seeks to empower urban-based, youth-led community initiatives.

The UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) "Opportunities Fund for Urban Youth-Led Development" scheme will provide grants between $5,000 and $25,000 to groups, steered by people between the ages of 15 and 32, promoting sustainable urbanization.

"In this time of worldwide economic crisis, it is not only banks and automakers who deserve financial support, we also need to encourage youth who are often best placed to solve problems in their communities," said Anna Tibaijuka, Executive Director of UN-HABITAT.

"We must harness the energies of the young if we are to overcome the problems of urban poverty," she added.

The Norwegian Government-backed initiative aims to support efforts in employment, education, environment, health and safety, among other areas.
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