UN-HABITAT is the focal point for local authorities in the United Nations System. But several other UN agencies also cooperate with local authorities within their respective mandates and areas of expertise.

UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, has launched a global initiative with UNITAR, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, called the City Aids Project. Its aim is to establish a private-public partnership to fight HIV/AIDS in cities world-wide.

The Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), under DESA, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, has worked closely with local authorities since the Rio Summit. Many of the problems and solutions addressed in Agenda 21 have their roots in local activities, and participation and cooperation of local authorities are thus a determining factor in fulfilling sustainable development objectives.

UNDCP, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, the institutes of the United Nations Crime Prevention and the Criminal Justice Programme network and other relevant United Nations bodies work with cities on proven and promising practices in urban crime prevention. Urban crime and the role of local authorities will be examined at the Eleventh United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Bangkok 18-25 April 2005.

UNDP, the UN Development Programme, provides financial support for a number of country projects aimed at building capacity in municipalities. It is also involved in the Urban Millennium Partnership (UMP) and the World Alliance of Cities against Poverty (WACAP).

UNEP, the UN Environment Programme, works with cities largely through partnerships with UN-HABITAT in areas such as localising the UNEP Global Environment Outlook (GEO), urban environmental planning and management, water-for-cities initiatives, cleaner production, environmental management tools, and awareness and preparedness for emergencies at local level.

UNESCO’s work with cities covers the three main pillars of the agency, namely Education, Science and Culture. It includes activities such as the Cities for Peace Prize, the Management of Social Transformations Programme (MOST), the Growing Up in Cities Programme, and the Small Historic Coastal Cities Programme. UNESCO also carries out extensive work in the areas of urban heritage conservation, urban biosphere reserves and urban water conflicts.

FAO, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, helps member countries develop national policies and strategies for improved agricultural productivity and food security. Its activities at the local level involve the promotion of agricultural extension services in rural municipalities.

UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, has been working with IULA, the International Union of Local authorities, to benefit children throughout the world. Every child has the right to grow up in an environment that cares for, protects and guides that child to adulthood, and local governments have responsibilities in many areas which affect the life of children such as health, education, housing, environmental protection, sports and recreation.

ILO, the International Labour Organization, emphasizes labour intensive approaches to infrastructure investment by working with local authorities and community based groups. ILO assists local authorities through its various programmes, such as the Local Economic Development (LED), Employment Intensive Investment Programme (EIIP), Advisory Support, Information Services and Training (ASIST), Small Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Development (SEED), Public-Private Partnership Programme (PPP), and Crisis and Reconstruction (IFP/CRISIS).

UNITAR has recently developed a programme on decentralised cooperation which supports a number of collaborative training centres (CIFAL). These include Bilbao, Curitiba, Kuala Lumpur and Ouagadougou. The programme involves regional associations of local authorities and the private sector.

The five UN Regional Commissions have developed research and advocacy activities on human settlements which are often relevant to the work of local authorities.

The World Bank has invested US $6 billion in assistance for urban development over the last 10 years. More than 100 projects have benefited from the Bank’s loans. These projects have improved urban living environments and local governance, with a focus on urban poverty and the strengthening of municipal management. A recent study (July 2003) assesses the challenges of implementing the Bank’s urban strategy paper published in 2000. It is entitled, Improving the lives of the poor through investment in cities. An update on the performance of the World Bank’s urban portfolio (see www.worldbank.org).

WHO, the World Health Organization, works with local authorities mainly under the auspices of its Healthy Cities Programme. This global programme is most active in Europe. Through participatory processes spearheaded by local authorities, it promotes improved public health. It concentrates on the social determinants of health within the sphere of influence of local authorities. It also works with local authorities to raise the awareness of citizens of their ability to influence health outcomes, especially in the area of non-communicable diseases.