1. The High-Level segment

The suggested focus for the high-level segment of ministers, heads of delegations and mayors is: Activities of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-HABITAT: progress report of the Executive Director Follow-up to the special session of the General Assembly for an overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the Habitat Agenda.

In order to accommodate the 60-80 delegations who normally attend the Governing Council, it is recommended that during the high-level segment, each delegation be allowed a maximum of minutes speaking time and that this limit be respected. In establishing the list of speakers for the high-level segment, precedence will be given to ministers and deputy ministers. These will be followed by other heads of government delegations and Habitat Agenda partners.

2. Dialogues with local authorities and other partners

In line with resolution 16/12 of the Governing Council promoting dialogue among partners and with Governments, and with a view to increasing the participation of local authorities and other partners in the work of the Governing Council, arrangements have been made for dialogues with local authorities and other partners to be held in the plenary on Tuesday and Wednesday. These dialogues will be based on the format followed by Committee II at the Habitat II Conference in Istanbul, whereby representatives of partner groups will be given an opportunity to make a substantive presentation followed by a dialogue or discussion.

To this end, local authorities and other partners are encouraged to submit, in advance, a written summary of their presentation to the secretariat for distribution to all participants ahead of the meeting. It is suggested that presentations include specific issues of strategic importance to the implementation of the work programme of UN-HABITAT for the biennium 2004-2005 (document HSP/GC/19/8). To facilitate the preparatory process for these presentations, arrangements can be made for local authorities and each group of partners to have, if required, consultations in Nairobi immediately prior to the convening of the 19th session of the Governing Council, or at any other time and venue of their choice. Partners may include NGOs, parliamentarians, the private sector as well as professionals, researchers and labour unions.

At the end of the high-level segment and dialogues with local authorities and other partners, the Chair will prepare a summary of the main issues raised in the high-level segment, and of the conclusions (or recommendations) made in the dialogues. These summaries will reflect the main thrust of the discussions and key positions stated during the two segments and will be submitted to the plenary for endorsement. Once this summary is endorsed by the Governing Council as an accurate reflection of the proceedings, the Chair's conclusions and recommendations will serve as guidelines for follow-up action by Governments, local authorities, other partners and the secretariat.

Bearing in mind the organization of work in previous sessions of the Governing Council, and the above recommendations on the work of the plenary, the Governing Council may find it advisable to establish a sessional committee of the whole which would be given the responsibility for agenda items 6 to 11, with the remaining items being considered in the plenary.

At the 18th session, on an informal basis, the Governing Council established an ad hoc, open ended drafting committee under the chairmanship of one of the Vice-Chairs to pre-screen draft resolutions submitted by delegations, to merge, reconcile or clarify them, as necessary, prior to consideration by the Governing Council. Continuation of this practice is recommended as it was widely acknowledged to have enhanced the efficiency of the work of the Governing Council.