UN-HABITAT.:. Feature Stories | News

UN-Habitat

CPR Member Log-in

	Feature Stories

CALENDAR

|

|

|

Dec	\|	Nov	\|	Oct	\|	Sep
Aug	\|	Jul	\|	Jun	\|	May
Apr	\|	Mar	\|	Feb	\|	Jan

Dec	\|	Nov	\|	Oct	\|	Sep
Aug	\|	Jul	\|	Jun	\|	May
Apr	\|	Mar	\|	Feb	\|	Jan

Dec	\|	Nov	\|	Oct	\|	Sep
Aug	\|	Jul	\|	Jun	\|	May
Apr	\|	Mar	\|	Feb	\|	Jan

Dec	\|	Nov	\|	Oct	\|	Sep
Aug	\|	Jul	\|	Jun	\|	May
Apr	\|	Mar	\|	Feb	\|	Jan

Dec	\|	Nov	\|	Oct	\|	Sep
Aug	\|	Jul	\|	Jun	\|	May
Apr	\|	Mar	\|	Feb	\|	Jan

Dec	\|	Nov	\|	Oct	\|	Sep
Aug	\|	Jul	\|	Jun	\|	May
Apr	\|	Mar	\|	Feb	\|	Jan

Dec	\|	Nov	\|	Oct	\|	Sep
Aug	\|	Jul	\|	Jun	\|	May
Apr	\|	Mar	\|	Feb	\|	Jan

Dec	\|	Nov	\|	Oct	\|	Sep
Aug	\|	Jul	\|	Jun	\|	May
Apr	\|	Mar	\|	Feb	\|	Jan

Dec	\|	Nov	\|	Oct	\|	Sep
Aug	\|	Jul	\|	Jun	\|	May
Apr	\|	Mar	\|	Feb	\|	Jan

Dec	\|	Nov	\|	Oct	\|	Sep
Aug	\|	Jul	\|	May	\|	Apr
Mar	\|	Feb	\|	Jan

News

	display 10 \| 20 \| 30 \| 40 \| 50 \| All \| titles per page
1 - 236 of 236 titles


UN-HABITAT and partner resettles Pakistan flood victims
	Islamabad, 21 Dec 10 UN-HABITAT working in partnership with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) is facilitating the return of Internally Displaced Persons through the rehabilitation of infrastructures and communities. KOICA is the development assistance agency of the Republic of Korea.


UN-HABITAT hosts meeting on urban planning in Arab countries
	Cairo, 16 Dec 10 The UN-HABITAT Cairo office hosted the first Intra-regional Exchange Event on Urban Planning Methodology in Arab Countries.


Urban youth fund beneficiaries attend training course
	Nairobi, 14 Dec 10 A week of training by UN-HABITAT is underway for beneficiaries of the Urban Youth Fund from Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Palestine, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Yemen and Zimbabwe.


Helping conflict victims in Sudan: UN-HABITAT in Darfur
	Nyala, Darfur, 14 Dec 10 From grace to grass is a line usually used to narrate how one has fallen from a higher place but for some internally displaced persons in Sudan’s Darfur region, theirs is a story of how they have literally moved from grass to grace, thanks to a project by UN-HABITAT to improve their dwellings. These are some of the most vulnerable victims of conflict anywhere in the world.


UN agencies join forces to deliver on climate change
	Nairobi, 14 Dec 10 UN agencies have spoken out about their commitment to deliver as one in the fight against climate change.


Water operator partnerships launched in Korea
	Nairobi, 7 Dec 10 UN-HABITAT has launched its successful Global Water Operators' Partnership Alliance in Seoul, South Korea.


A dream come true for Khartoum slum dwellers
	Khartoum, 7 Dec 10 Alsurrah Awad is very happy and thanks God for a dream come true when asked what she thought of the new housing project by UN-HABITAT and partners


Safer cities for women
	New Delhi, 2 Dec 10 UN-HABITAT and UNIFEM have announced that they plan to launch a new programme aimed at stopping sexual harassment and violence against women and girls.


Water Safety Conference highlights challenges in Asia-Pacific
	Nairobi, 1 Dec 10 The Managing Drinking Water Quality for Public Health conference was organized by the International Water Association (IWA), the Malaysian Water Association and the World Health Organization in early November in Kuching, Malaysia.


Global Water Alliance supports new Latin American Association of Water and Sanitation Operators
	Nairobi, 1 Dec 10 The Latin American Association of Water and Sanitation Operators (Asociación Latinoamericana de Operadores de Agua y Saneamiento, ALOAS) has been launched in November at the 24th Annual Convention of the Mexican Association of Water and Sanitation Operators


Burao council offices improved and expanded
	Burao, 1 Dec 10 On 1 December 2010, a groundbreaking ceremony took place for the upgrading of the Burao municipal offices and the construction of the new council meeting hall.


Mogadishu rehabilitation moves into Phase II
	Mogadishu, 1 Dec 10 The Participatory District Rehabilitation in Mogadishu Project began in 2010, building on interventions that started in 2007. The project aims at strengthening informal local governance structures, implementing projects for better services and upgraded public infrastructure, and improving livelihoods.


Municipal finance interventions enable Somali districts to improve basic services
	Somalia, 1 Dec 10 UN-HABITAT has been working to build and strengthen financial management systems at the local government level in Somalia for over a decade. Having started in 2001 with only one district in Somaliland under the Berbera Technical and Institutional Assistance Programme, the current phase of the intervention is being carried out as an integral part of the UN Joint Programme on Local Governance and Decentralized Service Delivery, and now covers nine districts in Somaliland and four in Puntland. Extension to one district in south central Somalia is planned.


Urban Geographic Information System and property database come to Garowe
	Somalia, 1 Dec 10 The Habitat II Conference on Human Settlements (Istanbul 1996) singled out inadequate financial resources as one of the most serious problems affecting cities in developing countries. Fifteen years later, this still applies to most fast-growing cities in the developing world – in particular, urban centres in conflict and post-conflict situations.


“Urbanization is a political issue” – Clos
	Nairobi, 30 Nov 10 The Executive Director, Dr. Joan Clos, has observed that urbanization is one of the most political issues of our time. Dr. Clos made the observation today while receiving the credentials from the new Permanent Representative of the Republic of South Africa to UN-Habitat, H.E. Mr. Ndumiso Ndima Ntshinga.


Clos urges greater ties with Kuwait
	Nairobi, Kenya, 30 Nov 10 The Executive Director, Dr. Joan Clos, has called for greater cooperation between UN-HABITAT and the State of Kuwait. The Executive Director made the call today while receiving the credentials from the new Permanent Representative of the State Kuwait to UN-Habitat, H.E. Mr. Yakuob Y. Alsanad.


Scroll Winner gets Housing and Urban Development South-South Transfer award
	Geneva, 25 Nov 10 Un Techo Para mi Pais (A roof for my country), a youth-led NGO and winner of the Scroll of Honour in 2009, won the Housing and Urban Development South-South Transfer award for mobilizing 250,000 young volunteers to build of more than 73,000 transitional housing for families in slums or affected by natural disasters, and for transferring its innovative approach to 19 countries across Latin America.


Tibaijuka appointed Minister of Housing, Tanzania
	Nairobi, 24 Nov 10 Former executive Director of UN-HABITAT, Mrs Anna Tibaijuka, has been appointed the Minister for Lands, Housing and Human Settlements for the Republic of Tanzania. Mrs Tibaijuka retired from the UN in August this year after heading up the Human Settlements Programme, and previously the Commission for Human Settlements, for ten years. In October, she was elected unopposed to parliament in her home country of Tanzania


A new action plan for African land, housing
	Bamako, 24 Nov 10 The Third African Ministerial Conference on Housing and Urban Development closed on Wednesday with a new plan of action to tackle growing urban poverty


Population of African cities to triple
	Nairobi, 24 Nov 10 The population of African cities is set to triple over the next 40 years, warns UN-Habitat’s new report, The State of African Cities 2010: Governance, Inequalities and Urban Land Markets which was launched yesterday evening, in Bamako, Mali, during the 3rd African Ministerial Conference on Housing and Urban Development (AMCHUD III).


Clos hails African ministerial meeting on housing and urban development
	Bamako, Mali, 23 Nov 10 UN-HABITAT’s Executive Director Joan Clos on Tuesday hailed the African Ministerial Conference on Housing and Urban Development as a powerful vehicle for promoting sustainable urban development.


A new start on urbanisation in Africa
	Bamako, Mali, 22 Nov 10 UN-HABITAT on Monday called on experts from some 53 African countries to promote a better understanding of urbanisation and its implications on the continent.


Water Operators’ Partnerships launched in South East Europe
	Nairobi, 19 Nov 10 A first set of Water Operators’ Partnerships (WOPs) have been launched in South East Europe, under the Water Operators' Partnerships-South East Europe (WOP-SEE) platform.


Clos supports a new vision for our urban future
	Nairobi, 19 Nov 10 Joan Clos, the Executive Director of UN-HABITAT this week was a key speaker at the opening of the Third Congress of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) in Mexico.


Most residents happy with their cities, survey shows
	Nairobi, 18 Nov 10 Most of the residents of the world’s urban centres are happy with their cities, a new survey by UN-HABITAT shows. However, the residents also expressed misgivings about some aspects of urban governance and put forward proposals on how these could be addressed.


“China attaches great importance to UN-HABITAT” – Envoy
	Nairobi, Kenya, 15 Nov 10 The new Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of China to UN-HABITAT, H.E. Mr. Guangyuan Liu, has stated that his country attaches great importance to the role of UN-HABITAt in the world. According to Mr. Liu, “UN-HABITAT has become a very important organization in China.”


We are very grateful for UN-HABITAT – Japanese Envoy
	Nairobi, Kenya, 15 Nov 10 Japan’s new Permanent Representative to UN-HABITAT, H.E. Mr. Toshihisa Takata, presented his credentials to the Executive Director, Dr. Joan Clos 12 November.


Clos calls for greater cooperation with Australia
	Nairobi, 10 Nov 10 The Executive Director, Dr. Juan Clos, has called for multi-year framework cooperation agreement between UN-HABITAT and the Government of Australia in order to ensure predictable relationship and to involve all relevant stakeholders in the country.


A new UN-HABITAT report for eastern, southern and central Europe.
	Warsaw, 10 Nov 10 UN-HABITAT released a new report on Wednesday highlighting its activities in eastern, southern and central Europe with a view to promoting better urban planning, stronger local government, climate change measures and decentralisation.


“Help solve the slum problem in Egypt”– Envoy
	Nairobi, Kenya, 10 Nov 10 The new Permanent Representative of the Arab Republic Egypt to UN-HABITAT, H.E. Mr. Kadri Fathi Abdel-Mottaleb, appealed to the agency to help solve the slum problem in the country. Mr. Abdel-Mottaleb made the appeal while presenting his credentials to the Executive Director, Dr. Joan Clos.


Clos receives credentials from new French Envoy
	Nairobi, 9 Nov 10 The new Permanent Representative of the French Republic to UN-Habitat, H.E. Mr. Etienne de Poncins, today presented his credentials to the Executive Director, Dr. Joan Clos.


Unaffordability of housing in Nepal on the rise
	Nairobi, 5 Nov 10 City dwellers in Nepal are finding it increasingly hard to afford housing due to rapid price rises in land, according to a new UN-HABITAT report.


Winners of Dubai International Award for Best Practices announced
	Dubai, 5 Nov 10 An independent jury of international experts has announced the 12 winners of the 2010 Dubai International Award for Best Practices to Improve the Living Environment.


Shanghai Expo 2010 closes
	Shanghai, 5 Nov 10 China's great world exhibition, the Shanghai Expo 2010, closed its doors this week after giving more than 70 million visitors from China,


New Network tackles Transport Research Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa
	Nairobi, 4 Nov 10 Members of the new Transport and Environment Science Technology (TEST) Network met late last month at the UN-HABITAT headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya to discuss transport and environment research challenges in sub-Saharan African countries.


UN-HABITAT publication wins important award
	Vienna, 3 Nov 10 The International Solid Waste Association has bestowed its 2010 ISWA Publication Award to UN-HABITAT for its report entitled Solid Waste Management in the World’s Cities.


Continuity and Change: Responding to emerging urban challenges
	New York, 2 Nov 10 UN-HABITAT’s Executive Director Joan Clos this week urged governments to assess progress made towards attainment of the Habitat Agenda goals of adequate shelter for all and sustainable human settlements development.


At the flood relief frontlines in Pakistan
	Islamabad, 2 Nov 10 UN-HABITAT’s team in Pakistan has completed a survey of housing needs for victims of the devastating July 2010 monsoon floods.


World Urban Campaign signs up for South-South cooperation
	Hong Kong, 2 Nov 10 The World Urban Campaign was launched in Asia with the opening of the regional office of the South-South News network in Hong Kong on Sunday 24 October, marking the 65th birthday of the United Nations.


Assisting Kenyans most in need
	Nairobi, 29 Oct 10 A new UN-HABITAT health, rehabilitation and community learning centre for disabled slum children is set to open on schedule thanks to funding and support from the social fund of the German chemical giant, BASF.


“Help restore the Marshlands in Iraq” – Envoy
	Nairobi, 29 Oct 10 The new Permanent Representative of the Republic of Iraq to UN-HABITAT, H.E. Dr. Adel Mustafa Kamil Al-Kurdi, has appealed to the organization to help restore the marshlands in the country. Dr. Al-Kurdi made the appeal today while presenting his credentials to the Executive Director, Mr. Joan Clos.


Presenting credentials to the Executive Director
	Nairobi, 29 Oct 10 Two new Permanent Representatives today presented their credentials to the Executive Director, Mr. Joan Clos. They are from the Republic of Yemen, H.E. Mr. Yassine Admed Mokbel; and from the Kingdom of Denmark, H.E. Mr. Geert Angaard Andersen.


Envoys from India and Norway present credentials to Clos
	Nairobi, 28 Oct 10 Two new Permanent Representatives to UN-HABITAT today presented their credentials to the Executive Director, Mr. Juan Clos. They are H.E. Mr. Sababrata Tripathi of the Republic of India, and H.E. Mr. Per Ludvig Magnus of the Kingdom of Norway.


Clos appeals for support from Member States
	Nairobi, 28 Oct 10 UN-HABITAT’s new Executive Joan Clos has appealed to Member States for support to enable the organization achieve its mandate.


UN-HABITAT launches Urban Energy Network in Latin America
	San Jose, Costa Rica, 26 Oct 10 UN-HABITAT launched its Global Energy Network for Urban Settlements (GENUS) in Latin America this week at a meeting convened to help find innovative solutions for waste management and ways of converting waste into a source of energy.


Making Burkina Faso safer
	Ouagadougou, 25 Oct 10 Representatives of the United Nations, the Swedish police, and some 40 national experts, government officials and academics joined Professor Georges Compaoré of the University of Ouagadougou


UN, European Union unite to prevent land and natural resources conflict
	Brussels, 25 Oct 10 Land issues are at the heart of many of today’s violent conflicts. In countries as diverse as Afghanistan, Colombia, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Timor L’Este, unequal access to land and insecurity of tenure remain critical challenges to peace. Now a new initiative by the UN and the European Union (EU) will support countries to address land and natural resource issues more systematically within an overall framework of conflict prevention and peace-building.


United Nations Pavilion welcomes 3 millionth visitor
	Shanghai, 22 Oct 10 The United Nations has welcomed its 3 millionth visitor to its Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo.


Cartoon outlines benefits of disaster management
	Nairobi, 22 Oct 10 UN-HABITAT has launched an educational video on the benefits of preparing for natural disasters.


Mexico introduces first sustainable city for innovation at World Expo
	Shanghai, 19 Oct 10 The Government of Baja California and its partners this month showcased their first sustainable city on the United Nations Pavilion at the Shanghai 2010 World Expo.


Joan Clos calls for new urban thinking
	Nairobi, 19 Oct 10 Newly appointed UN-HABITAT Executive Director Joan Clos on Tuesday held a meeting with staff at which he exchanged ideas and called for new urban thinking


Nepal Launches National Sanitation Programme
	Kathmandu, 18 Oct 10 UN-HABITAT will be the Executing Agency for a major new water and sanitation programme in Nepal where it is estimated that less than half the population has access to toilets.


Joan Clos takes office
	Nairobi, 18 Oct 10 Mr. Joan Clos, the new Executive Director of UN-HABITAT on Monday began his first day of a four-year tenure. Mr. Clos was recently elected by the United Nations General Assembly


Hanoi celebrates 1,000th birthday
	Hanoi, 18 Oct 10 The Vietnamese capital Hanoi celebrated its 1,000th birthday last week with much flag waving, dancing,


UN-HABITAT partners with University of Peace
	San Jose, 13 Oct 10 UN-HABITAT and the University of Peace (UPEACE) have signed an agreement offering a new course in urban governance for post-graduate students keen to contribute to a better urban future.


Cities are at the heart of sustainable development
	Brussels, 11 Oct 10 The 2010 European celebration of World Habitat Day in Brussels last week was attended by senior European and Belgian officials.


Urban diversity brought to life at World Expo
	Shanghai, 11 Oct 10 Urban writers and commentators from around the world met at the World Expo to discuss urban diversity this weekend.


President Johnson Sirleaf supports urban land policy
	Monrovia, 6 Oct 10 President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf opened the first National Urban Conference in Liberia to kick-start the process of developing an urban land policy.The Conference, which took place from 6 - 8 October 2010, was organized by the Liberian Land Commission, in partnership with UN-HABITAT.


Raising the global urban profile
	Hangzhou, China, 5 Oct 10 Senior Chinese leaders and experts from around the world on Wednesday warned that the challenge of urbanisation facing the world is perhaps one of the greatest confronting humanity.


UN-HABITAT publishes two new reports on Asian and Chinese cities
	Shanghai, 4 Oct 10 UN-HABITAT released two major new publications during the global celebration of World Habitat Day in Shanghai providing a fresh and informative insight into the state of cities in China and in Asia.


UN expo pavilion “urban edge” exhibition
	Shanghai, 4 Oct 10 The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-HABITAT, has opened a photography exhibition showing life on the ground in five of the world’s


A glittering World Habitat Day ceremony
	Shanghai, 4 Oct 10 The global celebration of World Habitat Day was celebrated with fanfare on Monday as China and UN-HABITAT feted the 2010 winners of Scroll of Honour Awards


Taking World Habitat Day to the Mozambique heartland
	Maputo, 28 Sept 10 In a bid to raise awareness about disaster mitigation and awareness, the UN-HABITAT team in Maputo, Mozambique, are holding a special World Habitat Day event with the country’s National Institute for Disaster Management in the very zone where floods brought on by heavy rains have struck in recent years with devastating impact.


New European funding for slum dwellers
	New York, 28 Sept 10 The European Union (EU) this week announced that it will provide new funding to the tune of euros 10 million (USD 13.3 million) to help improve the living conditions of slum dwellers in all the 79 Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.


A Global Forum on ICT for city management
	Shanghai, 28 Sept 10 Around 330 representatives of cities, major ICT companies, academic institutions, professional and international organizations from 50 countries attended a Global Forum on City Informatization to discuss innovative application of the latest computer technology for city management.


New European funding for slum dwellers
	New York, 24 Sept 10 The European Union (EU) this week announced that it will provide new funding to the tune of euros 10 million (USD 13.3 million) to help improve the living conditions


Global Water Alliance launches Pacific Partnership Programme
	Nairobi, 24 Sept 10 UN-HABITAT’s Global Water Operators Partnership Alliance has set the wheels in motion for cooperation in the Pacific region.


Water Operators Partnership holds third Steering Committee
	Nairobi, 24 Sept 10 24th September, Nairobi: The third Steering Committee of the Global Water Operators’ Partnership Alliance (GWOPA) was held in Stockholm earlier this month during World Water Week.


Curtain comes down on ISOCARP Congress
	Nairobi, 23 Sept 10 The 46th International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP) Congress officially closed on Thursday with a challenge to spatial planners to help in the fight against skewed distribution of capital investments.


Kenya’s Prime Minister opens ISOCARP Congress
	Nairobi, 21 Sept 10 Kenya’s Prime Minister Raila Odinga officially opened the 46th International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP) Congress which kicked off in Nairobi on Monday.


United Nations Pavilion gets 2 millionth visitor
	Shanghai, 14 Sept 10 The United Nations Pavilion welcomed its two millionth visitor last Tuesday. What was to be a stroll through the Expo Park, turned out to be an auspicious day for the 26 year-old Peng Liu from Xuzhou, Jiangsu province who was singled out from the crowd of visitors waiting outside as the two millionth person to visit the pavilion since the start of the Expo.


African planners mull urbanization challenges
	Durban, 14 Sept 10 With an accelerated pace of urbanization which is projected to result in over 300 million new urban dwellers in the next 20 years, planners in Africa are faced with the daunting task of ensuring that the development takes place in an orderly manner.


Cities get common standard for measuring greenhouse gas emissions
	Rio de Janeiro, 14 Sept 10 The world's cities now have a common method for calculating the amount of greenhouse gases produced within their boundaries.


Legacy of the Shanghai World Expo discussed
	Shanghai, 11 Sept 10 Ahead of the closing of the Shanghai Expo next month, the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Pavilion, Mr. Awni Behnam, took part in a forum to discuss the legacy of this international event. Held earlier this week in Shanghai, the forum gathered key media, private sector, university and Expo representatives.


Experts discuss new approaches to city design
	Shanghai, 10 Sept 10 Practitioners from the fields of design, planning and architecture gathered at the United Nations Pavilion yesterday to share ideas on building more sustainable, resourceful, and user-friendly cities. The event chaired by Prof. Ezio Mancini of Politecnico di Milano, Italy was part of a three-day conference taking place in Shanghai.


Youth ICT project launched in Malawi
	Blantyre, Malalwi, 9 Sept 10 An Information and Communications Technology project for young people has been officially launched in Blantyre City.


UN-HABITAT, Google in new global water initiative
	Stockholm, 9 Sept 10 UN-HABITAT and Google.org have launched an innovative new h2.0 Initiative to ensure water and sanitation facts are instantly available virtually anywhere in the world.


UN-HABITAT, WWF join hands in Congo conservation
	Nairobi, 8 Sept 10 UN-HABITAT and WWF have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to ensure a better protection of the Virunga National Park , a World Heritage site in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The two agencies made the announcement on Tuesday.


A new website for the Global Water Partnership
	Stockholm, 8 Sept 10 The Global Water Operators Partnership Alliance has launched a new website aimed at improving the collective capacity of water and sanitation service providers around the world.


Experts focus on oceans and coastal cities
	Shanghai, 7 Sept 10 More than 50 experts from the field of marine sciences gathered at the United Nations pavilion earlier this week to promote the sustainable governance of oceans.


The 2010 UN-HABITAT Scroll of Honour Award Winners
	Nairobi, 6 Sept 10 UN-HABITAT on Monday announced the winners of its 2010 Scroll of Honour, the UN's most prestigious award in human settlements development. The awards, which honour individuals and institutions instrumental in improving living conditions in towns and cities, will be bestowed on World Habitat Day.


The 20th World Water Week opens in Stockholm
	Stockholm, 6 Sept 10 The 20th session session of the annual World Water Week opened on Monday to examine the theme, "The Water Quality Challenge – Prevention, Wise Use and Abatement".


Safer house reconstruction guidelines launched in Malawi
	Karonga, Malawi, 2 Sept 10 When a series of earthquakes hit Karonga District in December 2009 leaving in its wake four deaths, damage to schools and over 10,000 houses affecting 24,000 people, the post relief challenge was how to support the communities to recover and with specific regard to shelter, how to ensure that households and communities are able to build back better and safer.


UN-HABITAT hands over model housing project
	Nairobi, 30 Aug 10 UN-HABITAT Executive Director Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka on Monday handed over to a women group a model housing project built as a partnership between the agency and several other actors. She at the same time also officially opened the Moonbeam Youth Training Centre.


Water kiosk project launched in Mongolia
	Ulaanbaatar, 27 Aug 10 As the world's water experts gathered for the 20th World Water Week in Stockholm, Sweden, across the globe in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Ger communities who live in tents on the high plains inaugurated a new water supply system installed as part of a community-led area upgrading programme.


UN-HABITAT wades into Pakistan floods with help
	Islamabad, 26 Aug 10 With the floods havoc in Pakistan reaching catastrophic levels, UN-HABITAT has joined other UN bodies in giving aid to the victims.


UN General Assembly elects Joan Clos as new Executive Director of UN-HABITAT
	Nairobi, 25 Aug 10 The United Nations General Assembly today elected Joan Clos as the Executive Director of UN-HABITAT at the level of Under Secretary-General of the UN. He is expected to begin his tenure on 18 October for a period of four years.


UN-HABITAT and wildlife body in collaboration in DR Congo
	Nairobi, 25 Aug 10 UN-HABITAT and the World Wide Fund for Nature “WWF” have entered into an agreement to ensure a better protection of the World heritage site of the Virunga National Park in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.


Re-building Liberia in a "small-small" way
	Gbarnga, Liberia, 20 Aug 10 At a workshop on Local Economic Development in Gbarnga this week, Liberia's Internal Affairs Minister Harrison Karnwea Sr. challenged local government participants to develop strategies that target the common man and woman.


Thailand’s new envoy presents credentials
	Nairobi, Kenya, 12 Aug 10 The new Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Thailand to UN-HABITAT, Mr. Kosit Chatpaiboon, on Friday presented his credentials to the Executive Directive Director, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka.


UN-HABITAT and partners hold training on urban policing
	Barcelona, 11 Aug 10 Some 15 participants from six African countries were the beneficiaries of a landmark training seminar on urban policing held in Barcelona last month.


UN-HABITAT awards 51 global youth empowerment projects
	Nairobi, 11 Aug 10 UN-HABITAT has awarded grants from its Urban Youth Fund to 51 projects proposed by young people from around the world.


Tibaijuka calls for more investment in housing and urban infrastructure
	Nairobi, Kenya, 11 Aug 10 The Executive Director of UN-HABITAT, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, has called for greater government and private sector investment in housing and urban infrastructure in order to improve the living conditions of the poor.


Tibaijuka hails good relations with Saudi Arabia
	Nairobi, Kenya, 10 Aug 10 The Executive Director of UN-HABITAT, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, has praised the good relationship between the organization and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Mrs. Tibaijuka was speaking today while receiving the credentials from the new Saudi Permanent Representative to UN-Habitat, Mr. Ghorm Said Malhan.


Celebrity Pu Cunxin tours UN pavillion with AIDS children
	Shanghai, 9 Aug 10 The Chinese actor Pu Cunxin last week led a group of a 60 HIV-affected school children the United Nations pavilion to give them a taste of the organization and the work it does around the world.


UN-HABITAT explores cooperation further with Chad and Cape Verde
	Nairobi, 27 Jul 10 UN-HABITAT is exploring new opportunities for further cooperation with Chad and Cape Verde following a visit to the agency by senior officials from both countries.


EGM Kicks Off Transparency in Land Administration Training in Asia
	Jogyakarta, Indonesia, 27 Jul 10 In preparation for the upcoming training events on Transparency in Land Administration (TLA) in South and South East Asia, about twenty-five land experts representing the academia, professional groups, members of civil society and government authorities participated in the Expert Group Meeting (EGM) in Yogyakarta, Indonesia on 20-21 July 2010.


The 2010 Global Model United Nations comes to the UN pavilion
	Shanghai, 26 Jul 10 The President of the 2010 Global Model United Nations General Assembly, Yue Qiushi, gave visitors to the UN pavilion in Shanghai a taste of how the global organization works when she presented a preview of an upcoming conference scheduled August 14-18 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, intended to show young people how an international summit meeting works.


Community Partnership and Corporate Social Responsibility promoted at United Nations Pavilion
	Shanghai, 23 Jul 10 The Vice President of a major Chinese Group of companies has highlighted stable community partnerships as the basis for corporate volunteer efforts.


World Trade Organization committed to Millennium Development Goals
	Shanghai, 22 Jul 10 The Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Pascal Lamy, has said that his organisation is committed to working with all UN agencies to successfully achieve the Millennium Development Goals.


UN-HABITAT supports grassroots projects
	Nairobi, 19 Jul 10 As part of what is called Grassroots Mechanism, the Global Land Tool Network (GLTN) partnering with Huairou Commission, International Land Coalition and Slum/Shack Dwellers International is providing support to four grassroots-led projects in India, Peru, Tanzania and the Philippines.


Nigeria launches Youth Resource Centers
	Oshogbo, 15 Jul 10 Nigeria’s Minister of Youth Development, Akinlola Olasunkanmi, announced plans for a Youth Development Fund and for eight youth centres in six regions around the country.


Youth join hands on climate change at UN Pavilion
	Shanghai, 12 Jul 10 More than 200 young people from around the world have met in China to debate climate change as a starting point for the development of a youth approach to a low-carbon future.


Adios amigos, Tibaijuka tells the world's youth
	Johannesburg, 11 Jul 10 In her last official mission to South Africa as UN-HABITAT's Executive Director, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka had a meeting with a constituency close to her heart- the young people. The historic visit also saw Mrs. Tibaijuka meet the former South Africa's President Nelson Mandela at his home.


Vuvuzela sounds as youth initiative is launched
	Garankuwa, South Africa, 11 Jul 10 Just hours before the historic FIFA World Cup final match kicked off in South Africa on Sunday, UN-HABITAT and its partners launched a major initiative aimed at making Africa's young people more productive and keep them away from delinquency.


World Population Day: Everyone Counts
	Shanghai, 11 Jul 10 Ahead of China's sixth census beginning in November this year an initiative has been launched to ensure that everyone in the country has access to basic public services during the process of urbanisation in China.


Yes we can, African youth declare
	Pretoria, 10 Jul 10 A group of young people from Eastern and South Africa meeting in Pretoria on Saturday declared that they were indeed the people who will bring solution to the myriad problems facing their countries.


Worker’s education key to gender equality
	Shanghai, 8 Jul 10 Vice-President of the All China Federation of Trade Unions, Ni Jianmin, has said that the key to promoting gender equality in the workplace is worker education.


UN and Qatar Pavilions welcome Yushu orphans to Expo
	Shanghai, 6 Jul 10 In collaboration with the Qatar Pavilion, the UN has hosted orphans of the Yushu earthquake in Qinghai Province, China, at its Pavilion at the World Expo.


Experts discuss future of Chongming Eco-Island
	Shanghai, 5 Jul 10 Key Chinese and international academics have opened a three day forum to discuss the future of Chongming Island.


Chinese Version of Famous Environmental Film HOME premiered at the United Nations Pavilion
	Shanghai, 5 Jul 10 The Chinese version of the famous environmental film HOME has been launched at the United Nations Pavilion.


Chinese celebs recognised for their green commitment at launch of UNEP exhibition
	Shanghai, 4 Jul 10 Chinese actress Li Bingbing, has been designated the first Chinese Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) at the launch of UNEP’s exhibition at the United Nations Expo Pavilion.


Bridging the urban gender divide
	New York, 2 Jul 10 A Special Ministerial Roundtable Breakfast Meeting on the theme Bridging the urban gender divide: An imperative for achieving the Millennium Development Goals, was held in New York as part of the ongoing high level segment of the Economic and Social Council.


World cities, water and sanitation top the agenda
	Singapore, 29 Jun 10 UN-HABITAT’s Executive Director Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka this week joined an array of government ministers, mayors and other urban leaders for the Singapore International Water Week and the World Cities Summit to discuss leadership, governance and new ways of building sustainable green cities.


A new stage for sustainable urban development in Asia and the Pacific
	Solo, Indonesia, 24 Jun 10 The third session of Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Housing and Urban Development wound up on Thursday with fresh commitments to improve housing and sustainable urban delivery in the region.


Executive Director roots for Dhaka slum dwellers
	Dhaka, 23 Jun 10 On a visit to Bangladesh, UN-HABITAT Executive Director Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka on Monday appealed to authorities there not to evict slum dwellers but rather resettle them if the land they are currently occupy is to be used for other purposes.


UN-HABITAT and partners sponsor youth to World Cup final
	Nairobi, 22 Jun 10 A group of select youth from East and South Africa will have the opportunity of a lifetime to watch the final match of the ongoing FIFA World Cup, courtesy of UN-HABITAT and its partners.


Third Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference opens
	Solo, Indonesia, 22 Jun 10 Keynote speakers addressing the opening of the 3rd Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Housing and Urban Development (APMCHUD) on Tuesday called on governments to share lessons and best practices to ensure that plans to tackle housing needs and urban development are carried through in the world's most populous region.


Human settlements professionals active at WUF5
	Rio de Janeiro, 21 Jun 10 At the Fifth Session of the World Urban Forum in Rio de Janeiro in March, human settlement professionals made a mark by their active participation at the event.


Habitat professionals and the World Urban Campaign
	Rio de Janeiro, 21 Jun 10 During the closing ceremony of the fifth session if the World Urban Forum in Rio de Janeiro, Mr. Derek Martin, former Chair of the Habitat Professionals Forum, made a statement besides several other UN-HABITAT Partners, on behalf of the Habitat Professionals Forum and its members .


Give refugees a chance to realise their dreams says actress Yao Chen
	Shanghai, 20 Jun 10 Popular Chinese actress Yao Chen, Honorary Patron for the UN Refugee Agency, told visitors to the UN Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo 2010 that a recent visit to refugees living in cities in the Philippines had completely transfored her impression of refugees.


New Economic Development in Africa report focuses on South-South Cooperation
	Shanghai, 18 Jun 10 The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has launched its 2010 Economic Development in Africa report at a seminar on Fostering China-Africa Cooperation for Equitable Development at the United Nations Pavilion.


UN-HABITAT mourns staff member
	Nairobi, 18 Jun 10 The UN-HABITAT family was thrown into mourning on Friday following the sudden death of its Country Technical Advisor in Chad, Mr. Francois Muhirwe.


The United Nations Pavilion at the World Day to Combat Desertification
	Shanghai, 17 Jun 10 The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the All China Youth Federation, China's State Forestry Administration, and Future Forest jointly marked the World Day to Combat Desertification at the United Nations Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo.


United Nations Pavilion celebrates 500,000 visitors
	Shanghai, 17 Jun 10 The United Nations welcomed visitor number 500,000 to its pavilion this morning. The UN Pavilion Commissioner General Awni Behnam, UN Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information Kiyo Akasaka and Deputy UN Pavilion Director Jianguo Shen awarded the lucky visitor from Guangxi Liuzhou certificates and prizes.


Executive Director bids government envoys farewell
	Nairobi,Kenya, 16 Jun 10 UN-HABITAT’s Executive Director Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka this week received a standing ovation at the United Nations great hall in Nairobi when she formally took leave of the Committee of Permanent Representatives which acts on behalf of the governments overseeing UN-HABITAT.


University students learn at the World Expo
	Shanghai, 16 Jun 10 Journalism and communications students from Shanghai Universities met with United Nations’ Directors of Communication at the UN Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo 2010. The meeting was led by Communications Under-Secretary-General Kiyo Akasaka and moderated by Peter Zhang, Editor-in- Chief of the Shanghai Daily.


Independent Review Commends GLTN Achievements
	Nairobi, 16 Jun 10 An independent Mid-Term Assessment (MTA) has commended the Global Land Tool Network for its performance and also recommended stronger staffing and funding in view of future challenges.


Expo visitors peek into “invisible” lives of refugees around the world
	Shanghai, 14 Jun 10 Visitors to Expo 2010 lined up early to get into the UN pavilion at the world’s fair here to learn about the resilience of refugees living in cities -- told by world-renowned photographer Zalmaï through an exhibit of 17 stark black-and-white images that opened Saturday.


Executive Director visits Kuwait
	Kuwait City, 11 Jun 10 UN HABITAT’s Executive Director, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, this week praised the modern planning and neighbourhood support programmes in Kuwait City.


World Urban Forum to be held in Bahrain
	Bahrain, 10 Jun 10 The Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, His Royal Highness Khalifah ibn Sulman al-Khalifah on Wednesday received UN-HABITAT's Executive Director Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, paving the way for Bahrain to host the sixth session of the World Urban Forum in 2012.


Executive Director visits Saudi Arabia
	Riyadh, 7 Jun 10 UN-HABITAT's Executive Director, visited Saudi Arabia at the weekend for talks with high-level officials at the start of a tour of Gulf countries.


Ballet Queen Builds Bridges for the United Nations Pavilion
	Shanghai, 5 Jun 10 World-renowned ballet dancer Yuan Yuan Tan welcomed visitors to the United Nations Pavilion during International Peacekeepers Week, meeting and signing autographs for delighted fans.


“Dream of a smoke-free city” event held at the United Nations Pavilion
	Shanghai, 4 Jun 10 Yesterday, the United Nations Pavilion held a “Dream of a smoke-free city” celebration. Mark Rowswell, the Commissioner General of the Canada Pavilion which has committed to the anti-smoking campaign, presided over the ceremony.


UN-HABITAT and partners to host training on urban policing
	Nairobi, 4 Jun 10 UN-HABITAT and three other partners are coming together to offer a training seminar on improving policing public events in urban areas.


UN Peacekeepers Day commemorated at the International Expo
	New York, 3 Jun 10 In a short but moving ceremony on 29 May, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) commemorated the International Day of UN Peacekeepers in Shanghai, China at the UN Pavilion in the International Exposition.


Watch the Haiti debate unfold
	Nairobi, 3 Jun 10 UN-HABITAT is joining hands with the Institute for Urban Design in New York to carry live a debate on the Haiti crisis which promises to give new insights into how the country is recovering following the deadliest earthquake in living memory and the need for urban planning in disaster recovery. The debate will be streamed live on this website starting 1.00 pm, New York time.


Gearing up for the World Urban Campaign
	Alicante, Spain, 2 Jun 10 Sonia Castedo Ramos, the Mayor of Alicante, Spain, this week hosted the fourth session of the World Urban Campaign’s steering committee. UN-Habitat designated Alicante as model of sustainable development, a recognition framed in the World Urban Campaign’s 100 Cities Initiative


UN-HABITAT assures Somalia of continued support
	Nairobi,Kenya, 2 Jun 10 The Executive Director, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, has assured the Government and people of Somalia of the organization’s continued support in its quest for stability and sustainable urbanization. Mrs. Tibaijuka gave the assurance today while receiving the credentials of the country’s new Permanent Representative to UN-HABITAT, Mr. Mohamed Ali Nur.


Norwegian minister visits UN-HABITAT Myanmar cyclone projects
	Yangon, 2 Jun 10 Norwegian Development and Environment Minister, Mr. Erik Solheim, this week visited villages being rehabilitated by UN-HABITAT and its partners following the devastation caused by a cyclone two years ago.


Palestine to benefit from USD 500 million finance facility
	Bethlehem, West Bank, 2 Jun 10 Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas last week launched a landmark USD 500 million mortgage finance program that will double the number of Palestinian families who are able to purchase homes by offering long-term mortgages that will enable them to enjoy the benefits of home ownership without excessively burdening their monthly incomes.


Mogadishu Markets Successfully Rehabilitated
	Mogadishu, 27 May 10 A project to rehabilitate two public markets in Mogadishu, in Wadajir District and Yaqshid District respectively, was successfully completed on 30 December 2009. The project stemmed from a broader infrastructure rehabilitation programme implemented by UN-HABITAT partner NGO SAACID, which ended in June 2009.


District Profiling in Somaliland
	Somaliland, 27 May 10 As part of the District Participatory Planning and Budgeting Process, supported by the five agencies of the UN Joint Programme on Local Governance and Decentralized Service Delivery for Somalia, district profiles were developed in six districts of Somaliland in November 2009: Hargeisa, Boroma, Berbera, Burao, Sheikh, and Odweyne.


Somali Local Authorities: Training on Elected Leadership and Managing Conflicts and Differences
	Puntland, 27 May 10 UN-HABITAT has re-engaged with local authorities in Puntland and Somaliland through the training of local councillors, local leaders, and key department staff members in the key competences and skills required from those serving the general public as leaders.


Trees Transform Burao’s City Centre
	Burao, 26 May 10 One of the most important projects undertaken by Burao Municipality in collaboration with UN-HABITAT was the planting of flower trees in the middle of the main roads of Burao in 2009. Many people were sceptical about the feasibility of the project at first, because they said that animals (goats) would climb the protection housing of the flowers and eat the leaves.


UN-HABITAT teams up with paint firm to train youth
	Nairobi, 24 May 10 Some 14 young people from the informal settlements of Kibera, Githogoro in Nairobi and Athi River in Mavoko, Kenya have benefitted from a painting skills training in economic water and oil paints.


United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) Week Opens
	Shanghai, 23 May 10 The United Nations Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo has launched the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Week celebrating the promotion of green industry throughout the world.


UN-HABITAT joins the Inter-American Coalition for the Prevention of Violence
	Rio de Janeiro, 23 May 10 UN-HABITAT became a member of the Inter-American Coalition for the Prevention of Violence, during the fifth World Urban Forum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which took place from March 22 to 26.


UNESCO launches "Investing in Cultural Diversity & Intercultural Dialogue" report
	Shanghai, 21 May 10 Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, launched the agency’s report on culture “Investing in Cultural Diversity & Intercultural Dialogue” at the United Nations Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo.


Commitments to biological diversity celebrated and strengthened
	Shanghai, 20 May 10 In advance of International Biodiversity Day on 22nd May, Chinese Man and the Biosphere National Committee held a Forum on Sustainable Development and Biodiversity and the 12th China Biosphere Reserve Network Conference in the United Nations Pavilion at Shanghai Expo


Chinese Goodwill Ambassador Against Hunger visits the UN Pavilion
	Shanghai, 19 May 10 The first Chinese Goodwill Ambassador Against Hunger, Li Ning, visited the United Nations Pavilion last week to support the World Food Programmes’s (WFP) event “Pool our strength and fight hunger worldwide”.


United Nations Pavilion celebrates 100,000 visitors
	Shanghai, 18 May 10 The United Nations Pavilion welcomed its 100,000th visitor this morning. After a short wait, the surprised winner passed through the doors to the pavilion at around 11 a.m. The lucky visitor Ms. Wu, who comes from Jiangsu Province, was warmly welcomed by the UN Pavilion Commissioner General Awni Behnam and Pavilion Director Jianguo Shen.


Ten Chinese Teas to taste in the UN Pavilion
	Shanghai, 17 May 10 Why not rest your feet in the United Nations pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo and try a cup of Chinese tea! This weekend, the China Tea Association launched its exhibition of ten famous Expo teas and formally took its place in the United Nations pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo.


African professionals push green building agenda
	Nairobi, 14 May 10 Building professionals from some 20 countries across Africa concluded a three-day conference in Nairobi with a declaration of commitment to promote and foster green building practices in Africa, and a call to form an African Network of Green Building Councils.


UN leads the way in emission reduction at Expo
	Shanghai, 14 May 10 The United Nations Pavilion has become the first pavilion at the World Expo to sign up to the Voluntary Emission Reduction Programme.


Applications pour in for UN-HABITAT Urban Youth Fund
	Nairobi, 14 May 10 The UN-HABITAT Urban Youth Fund is growing increasingly popular with youth groups across the developing world judging by a 40 percent rise in applications over last year. Among regions showing the largest increase in applications are Latin America, the Middle East and Central Asia.


UN-HABITAT signs agreement with Nigeria
	Nairobi, 11 May 10 UN-HABITAT and the government of Nigeria on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding which will see the agency and the West African nation engage in collaborative activities targeting young people.


New Turkish envoy presents credentials to Tibaijuka
	Nairobi, 11 May 10 The new Permanent Representative of the Republic of Turkey to UN-HABITAT, Mr. Tuncer Kayalar, today presented his credentials to the Executive Director, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka.


Urbanization raised at World Economic Forum on Africa
	Dar es Salaam, 5 May 10 The 2010 World Economic Forum on Africa opened on Wednesday with sessions designed to identify the opportunities that can unlock Africa's growth potential. The aim of the meetings is to discuss the barriers to social and economic progress.


Experts seek to explore Green Building Rating in Africa
	Nairobi, 4 May 10 In a first-of-its-kind event in Africa, builders and housing ministry officials from all over the continent are converging on Nairobi this week to explore ways to encourage ‘green’ building in their own countries. The three day conference organized by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) titled “Promoting Green Building Rating in Africa” will take place from the 4th to the 6th of May 2010.


Visitors treated to “Microcosm of the UN”
	Shanghai, 3 May 10 The UN has welcomed its first few thousand visitors to its pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo. Revolving through a journey of the UN’s work on improving urban structures and the environment around the world, the UN pavilion showcases the Expo’s theme of a common aspiration to create better habitats for humanity, especially in urban environments.


ONE EARTH ONE UN unveiled at Shanghai Expo
	Shanghai, China, 1 May 10 Special Representative of the UN Secretary General Ambassador Reed, UN Under-Secretary General and UN-Habitat Executive Director Anna Tibaijuka and Expo Section Commissioner General Awni Behnam opened the UN Pavilion today at the Shanghai World Expo.


A dazzling World Expo opening
	Shanghai, 1 May 10 With a dazzling display of fireworks lighting up the skyline, thousands and thousands of visitors packed Shanghai for the opening of World Expo 2010 on Saturday.


Two years after Myanmar cyclone, an aid shortfall
	Yangon, Myanmar, 30 Apr 10 Two years after Cyclone Nargis ravaged Myanmar claiming more than 140,000 lives and leaving some 2.4 million survivors in need of emergency food, housing and other assistance, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator said that just a quarter of the funds pledged had been received.


A new regional report for Arab cities
	Kuwait, 29 Apr 10 UN-HABITAT’s Kuwait Office convened a two-day Expert Group Meeting to start the preparation of a new regional report, The State of Arab Cities, in cooperation with the Arab Towns Organisation and the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development.


Launch of community-led initiatives for up-scaling land tools
	Nairobi, 27 Apr 10 As part of the Grassroots Mechanism, GLTN is providing support to four grassroots-led projects in India, Peru, Tanzania and the Philippines. The aim of the projects is to enable a process of learning and communication to take place, to help get grassroots solutions to land policy implementation problems and to make the leap from pilots to large scale impact.


FIG Congress Launches the Social Tenure Domain Model
	Sydney, Australia, 27 Apr 10 A pro-poor land rights recording system - the Social Tenure Domain Model (STDM), was launched in a Special Event during the 24th International Federation of Surveyors (FIG) Congress, 11-16 April 2010 in Sydney, Australia.


UN Expo pavilion partners with ocean bi-tech producers
	Shanghai, 27 Apr 10 The UN today signed a partnership agreement with Qingdao Hinon Bi-Tech Company Ltd for support of its Shanghai World Expo Pavilion.


“1st Urban Photo Competition´s winner attended the WUF 5”
	Mexico, 26 Apr 10 Leticia Herrera, an urbanism student of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, attended the V World Urban Forum at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as the winner of the World Habitat Day 2009 photo competition.


UN-HABITAT website in Chinese
	Rizhao, 26 Apr 10 A Chinese city has pledged funding to help translate the UN-HABITAT website into Chinese.


Providing new urban services in Mongolia
	Ulaanbaatar, 22 Apr 10 The city of Ulaanbaatar this week announced a new programme to provide basic urban services for tens of thousands of people in the Ger communities living in sub-standard housing on the outskirts of the Mongolian capital.


US senators push urban development legislation
	Washington, 22 Apr 10 On the heels of World Urban Forum, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry, along with Senators Dick Durbin and Benjamin L. Cardin, has introduced new legislation to address the challenges of urbanization in developing countries.


The Youth Fund is now closed for applications
	Nairobi, 19 Apr 10 The 2010 deadline for applications to the UN-HABITAT Urban Youth Fund has now passed. Several thousand youth-led organizations from across the developing world have submitted proposals for funding.


55,000 to be granted security of tenure in Pernambuco thanks to UN-HABITAT’s Global Land Tool Network
	Nairobi, 9 Apr 10 The Brazilian Government recently announced that it would not evict around 55,000 from their homes in Santo Amaro.


Régistre Foncier Urbain (RFU) workshop in Cotonou
	Cotonou, Benin, 1 Apr 10 The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), the Global Land Tool Network (GLTN) and the Government of the Republic of Benin organised a Workshop to review the documentation of the Urban Land Registry or Régistre Foncier Urbain (RFU) in Cotonou, Benin, 25-26 February 2010.


UN Secretary General Receives update on Shanghai Pavilion
	Shanghai, 31 Mar 10 UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon met last week with Awni Behnam, UN Commissioner General for the Shanghai World Expo UN Pavilion.


Executive Director challenges African leaders over slums
	Rio de Janeiro, 26 Mar 10 With a huge number of their population living in slums, the onus is on African leaders to provide leadership on improving their compatriots’ lives, UN-HABITAT Executive Director Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka said on Thursday.


World Urban Campaign logo unveiled
	Rio de Janeiro, 26 Mar 10 The official logo for the World Urban Campaign was unveiled on Friday as UN-HABITAT launched a compact signing ceremony with people who committed themselves to drive the initiative.


Curtain falls on Fifth World Urban Forum
	Rio de Janeiro, 26 Mar 10 The Fifth Session of the World Urban Forum drew to a close in Rio de Janeiro on Friday with speakers hailing it as the most successful one ever staged.


Norway and UN-HABITAT sign cooperation agreement
	Rio de Janeiro, 26 Mar 10 The government of Norway on Thursday signed a cooperation agreement giving UN-HABITAT USD 18 million for the period covering the biennium


Brazilian sports stars join hands with UN-HABITAT
	Rio de Janeiro, 26 Mar 10 Two Brazilian sports luminaries on Thursday joined hands with UN-HABITAT in efforts to help the youth steer away from delinquency.


The Urban private sector's participation at The World Urban Forum in Rio de Janeiro
	Rio de Janeiro, 26 Mar 10 For the first time in a World Urban Forum, three main events were dedicated or closely related to the Business Sector’s participation and commitment to sustainable urban development: a Business Caucus (two mornings’ sessions), a Business Roundtable and the launch of the World Urban Campaign.


A veteran’s appreciation for invitation
	Rio de Janeiro, 26 Mar 10 A number of former UN-HABITAT staff were invited to attend the Fifth Session of the World Urban Forum that has just concluded in Rio de Janeiro. Kidane Alemayehu was one of the retirees invited and here he reminisces of the time he spent in UN-HABITAT and offers some insights.


Rising to the challenge of slums in ACP countries
	Rio de Janeiro, 25 Mar 10 UN-HABITAT Executive Director, Anna Tibaijuka, launched the World Urban Campaign yesterday, by signing Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with leading international companies including Siemens, Veolia and ARCADIS.


UN-HABITAT and Spain in cooperation agreement
	Rio de Janeiro, 24 Mar 10 UN-HABITAT and the government of Spain on Tuesday signed an agreement aimed at bolstering the existing cooperation between them.


Over 500 attend youth assembly
	Nairobi, 24 Mar 10 UN-HABITAT Executive Director, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, and Brazil’s Permanent Representative, Mrs. Ana Maria Sampaio, signed a Conference Agreement to facilitate the organization of the Fifth Session of the World Urban Forum to be held in Rio de Janeiro from 22-26 March 2010.


Exhibition packs in the crowds at WUF5
	Rio de Janeiro, 24 Mar 10 The Fifth Session of the World Urban Forum has attracted a record number of exhibitors and visitors with the organizers saying it is the best they ever held.


Special session on Haiti at World Urban Forum
	Rio de Janeiro, 24 Mar 10 The Prime Minister of Haiti Mr. Jean-Max Bellerive on Tuesday received overwhelming support for his government’s rehabilitation efforts of his earthquake devastated country.


World Urban Campaign launched
	Rio de Janeiro, 24 Mar 10 UN-HABITAT Executive Director, Anna Tibaijuka, launched the World Urban Campaign yesterday, by signing Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with leading international companies including Siemens, Veolia and ARCADIS.


Executive Director and Brazilian Minister call for action
	Rio de Janeiro, 23 Mar 10 UN-HABITAT Executive Director Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka and Brazilian Minister for Cities Mr. Marcio Fortes urged delegates to the Fifth Session of the World Urban Forum to actively interact in sessions and to exchange experiences with other cities.


UN-HABITAT and Coca Cola strengthen their partnership
	Rio de Janeiro, 23 Mar 10 UN-HABITAT and Coca Cola on Tuesday took their collaboration a notch higher when they signed an agreement to improve community access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation in selected countries in Asia, Africa and South America.


Urban Poverty alleviation receives top priority in Rio
	Rio de Janeiro, 23 Mar 10 The Slum Upgrading and Prevention networking event, held at the 5th session of the World Urban Forum in Rio de Janeiro, brought together more than 90 country representatives to discuss the results, challenges and successes posed by slum upgrading and prevention. The event was attended by representatives from the three programme regions, Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP), and the tripartite partnership consisting of the European Commission, the ACP Group of States and UN-HABITAT.


Fifth Session of World Urban Forum opens in Rio
	Rio de Janeiro, 22 Mar 10 President Lula of Brazil kicked of the fifth session of the world urban forum in the presence of high level dignitaries which included President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Department Mr. Shaun Donovan among others.


First Gender Equality Action Assembly a landmark for UN-HABITAT
	Rio de Janeiro, 22 Mar 10 UN-HABITAT´s first Gender Equality Action Assembly concluded last weekend with strong support from partner organizations to take a stronger role in promoting the Gender Equality Action Plan and strengthened collaborations between urban planners, local governments, and grassroots women’s networks.


Abu Dhabi contributes money to the Global Water Alliance
	Nairobi, 20 Mar 10 The Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority last week made a landmark contribution of USD three million to UN-HABITAT.


UN-HABITAT launches State of World Cities Report
	Nairobi, 18 Mar 10 UN-HABITAT launched its report State of the World Cities 2010/2011: Bridging the Urban Divide in the run up to the World Urban Forum 5 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.


Donovan to lead high-level team to World Urban Forum
	Washington, 17 Mar 10 U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan said this week he will lead a high-level delegation to the World Urban Forum in Rio de Janeiro because it is an historic opportunity to shape the forces of urbanization for a healthier, more inclusive future for our cities and metropolitan regions.


Countdown to the World Urban Forum
	Rio de Janeiro, 12 Mar 10 UN-HABITAT is gearing up for the world’s biggest global meeting on cities. The 22-26 March World Urban Forum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which President Luiz Inacio Lula de Silva is scheduled to open, is expected to draw a number of world leaders.


Executive Director to attend World Cities Summit
	Nairobi, 11 Mar 10 UN-HABITAT Executive Director Anna Tibaijuka joins a list of highly distinguished speakers due to appear at the second World Cities Summit in Singapore in June 2010.


Countdown to the World Urban Forum, The Right to the City: Bridging the Urban Divide
	Nairobi, 8 Mar 10 With over half the world’s population now living in cities, and cities making a disproportionate contribution to climate change, urbanisation is one of the “crucial agendas” of our time (UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon).


Preparations Advance For EXPO Summit Forum
	New York, 5 Mar 10 The Commissioner General for the Shanghai Expo, Dr Awni Behnam, yesterday met with the Under Secretary General for Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), Mr. SHA Zukang, in New York to discuss preparations for the Summit Forum to be held at the closing of the Shanghai Expo on 31st October.


New Cyprus envoy presents credentials
	Nairobi, 4 Mar 10 The new Permanent Representative of the Republic of Cyprus to UN-HABITAT, Mr. Agis Loizou, has presented his credentials to the Executive Director, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka.


Executive Director visits Mali
	Bamako, 2 Mar 10 On a working visit to Mali, the Executive Director Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka held talks with senior government officials including the president, Mr. Amadou Toumani Toure.


Turkish premier is winner of Rafik Hariri Memorial Award
	Nairobi, 1 Mar 10 TURKISH Prime Minister, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan is winner of the inaugural Rafik Hariri-UN-HABITAT Memorial Award.


Climbers tackle Mount Kilimanjaro
	Nairobi, 26 Feb 10 Some 35 climbers from around the world on Monday began an ascent of Africa’s highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro to highlight the key role of sport in fostering peace and development.


President Compaore promises support for Word Urban Campaign
	Ouagadougou, 24 Feb 10 Paying a courtesy call on Burkina Faso’s President Blaise Campaore, UN-HABITAT Executive Director Mrs Anna Tibaijuka appealed to the head of state to support the World Urban Campaign.


President Compaore promises support for Word Urban Campaign
	Ouagadougou, Bukina Faso, 24 Feb 10 Paying a courtesy call on Burkina Faso’s President Blaise Compaore, UN-HABITAT Executive Director Mrs Anna Tibaijuka appealed to the head of state to support the World Urban Campaign.


Nairobi slum gets resource centre
	Nairobi, 23 Feb 10 Residents of Kibera slums in Nairobi will soon be the proud of owners of a resource centre, courtesy of UN-HABITAT.


Agreement reached to plan “Women for Water Decade”
	Nairobi, 22 Feb 10 UN-HABITAT hosted a meeting of women’s networks from 20-21 February to develop a strategy for a “Women for Water Decade” in Africa—a new platform for advocacy to promote women’s involvement in solving the region’s water and sanitation problems.


Serbia holds conference on affordable housing
	Belgrade, 17 Feb 10 The Government of Serbia last week hosted a national conference aimed at sharing experiences on social and affordable housing policies in Serbia and other European countries. The event was organized with UN-HABITAT, the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration.


European Investment Bank supports Lake Victoria initiative
	Nairobi, 16 Feb 10 Following the success of the first phase of the Lake Victoria Water and Sanitation Initiative, the European Investment Bank has provided a grant of EUR 50,000 to UN-HABITAT to help extend the programme to larger towns in the Lake Victoria region.


Rapid urbanization a major challenge for Africa
	Wilton Park, 16 Feb 10 Five years after the Commission for Africa presented its recommendations to world leaders at the G8 Summit in Gleneagles and five years before the target date for the Millennium Development Goals, a conference was held during the first week of February at Wiston House in Wilton Park to focus on the challenges facing Africa.


Improving water delivery in Asia
	Bangkok, 16 Feb 10 USAID’s ECO-Asia project, a regional environmental programme based in Thailand, is offering grants of up to USD 10,000 to any private organization, NGO or academic institutions working in countries eligible for USAID that can demonstrate how they can improve water services in the region.


The UN-HABITAT Urban Youth Fund is now open for applications
	Nairobi, 15 Feb 10 Youth-led organizations in developing countries working to improve the lives of young people and their communities can now seek financing for their projects through the UN-HABITAT Urban Youth Fund. The Fund will provide grants for innovative projects that promote employment, good governance, shelter and secure tenure.


Catholic university fetes UN-HABITAT Executive Director
	Nairobi, 12 Feb 10 The Catholic University of East Africa (CUEA) on Thursday awarded UN-HABITAT Executive Director Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka an honorary doctorate degree.


Stepping up assistance in Haiti
	Port-au-Prince, 11 Feb 10 UN-HABITAT said on Wednesday it was stepping up plans to help an estimated 2 million people left homeless in Haiti after the most devastating earthquake to hit the Caribbean island nation in 250 years.


Working with the Palestinians
	Ramallah, 11 Feb 10 UN-HABITAT has unveiled a new Programme Document for the occupied Palestinian territory covering the years 2010 and 2011 at a seminar it held on the challenge of sustainable urbanization and the need for effective spatial planning. The gathering was chaired by the Minister of Public Works and Housing, Dr. Mohammad Shtayyeh.


UN-HABITAT, European Union sign new memorandum
	Brussels, 11 Feb 10 UN-HABITAT and the European Union’s Committee of the Regions on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at improving sustainable urban development in Europe and sharing best practices with the developing world.


Transforming an African lakeside city
	Jinja, 11 Feb 10 The Ugandan city of Jinja on the shores of Lake Victoria has launched a new City Development Strategy aimed at transforming it into "a sustainable and prosperous city with excellence in tourism, commerce and industry".


Rain water harvesting systems dedicated in India
	Bhopal, 10 Feb 10 Sixteen projects on rain water harvesting have been completed at different schools in the four major cities in Madhya Pradesh, India, under a unique partnership spearheaded by UN-HABITAT and bringing together education institutions, government agencies and corporate bodies.


Shelter problems still persist after Myanmar cyclone
	Rangoon, 10 Feb 10 More than one year since the devastating Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar, shelter provision for the victims still remains a huge challenge, UN-HABITAT says.


Cities and Climate change
	London, 8 Feb 10 UN-HABITAT’s Executive Director, Mrs Anna Tibaijuka, said that with over half of humanity living in cities and cities already accounting for 75% of global energy consumption, urban residents are not only victims of climate change but must also be recognised as part of the solution. “Urbanisation”, she added, “brings about irreversible changes in our production and consumption patterns. How we plan, manage and live in our expanding cities determines, to a large extent, the pace of global warming.”


UN-HABITAT launches essay competition for youth
	Nairobi, 3 Feb 10 UN-HABITAT has launched an essay competition for the youth as part of the activities of the Fifth Session of World Urban Forum staging in Rio de Janeiro next month.


UN-HABITAT and Government of Italy join hands in schools’ sanitation
	Nairobi, 2 Feb 10 A partnership between UN-HABITAT and the Government of Italy will provide clean water and better sanitation facilities to over 15,000 pupils in Kenya through the construction of rainwater harvesting tanks and latrines.


UN-HABITAT and UNEP launch online discussions on women and the environment
	Nairobi, 2 Feb 10 UN-HABITAT and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have launched an online discussion on women and the environment.


UN signs up for groundbreaking “Virtual Pavillion” at Shanghai world expo
	Shanghai, 27 Jan 10 Although 70 million people are expected to visit this year’s World Expo in Shanghai between May and October, many more will not have that opportunity.


Executive Director opens youth center in DAR
	Dar es Salaam, 27 Jan 10 As part of her first official business of the year, UN-HABITAT’s Executive Director, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, opened a new youth centre in Dar es Salaam built by young people using soil block technology and other environmentally friendly technology.


Community-led Gender Mainstreaming in Water and Sanitation Improves Access
	Nairobi, 26 Jan 10 Settlements Executive Committees and Sustainable Neighbourhoods Programmes established with the support of UN-HABITAT are instrumental in ensuring equal participation of both men and women at the grassroots in project design, implementation and monitoring.


“ONE WORLD ONE UN” ON SHOW AT SHANGHAI WORLD EXPO
	Shanghai, 23 Jan 10 The very best of the UN’s work on urbanisation and development will be on show at the Shanghai World Expo in May.


UN-HABITAT hits the ground running in Haiti
	Port Au Prince, 22 Jan 10 Port Au Prince 22 January 2009—After deploying a rapid response team to the earthquake hit Haiti early in the week, UN-HABITAT is already formulating plans to help the residents pick up their shattered lives.


New Malaysian Envoy Presents Credentials to Tibaijuka
	Nairobi, 22 Jan 10 The new Permanent Representative of Malaysia to UN-HABITAT, Mr. Zainol Rahim bin Zainuddin, today presented his credentials to the Executive Director, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka. Mrs. Tibaijuka briefed the envoy on the activities of UH-HABITAT worldwide, particularly its activities in Malaysia.


UN-HABITAT comes to the aid of Haiti
	Nairobi, Kenya, 19 Jan 10 UN-HABITAT Executive Director Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka has sent a message of condolence to the President and people of Haiti following last week’s massive earthquake in that country.


Pope calls for the protection of the human environment
	Nairobi, 14 Jan 10 Pope Benedict XVI, has called for the protection of the human ecology in the interest of future generations.


Tibaijuka named Aga Khan University trustee
	Nairobi, 14 Jan 10 UN-HABITAT Executive Director Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka has been named a trustee of the Aga Khan University.


Islamic Land Training Successfully Piloted in Malaysia
	Malaysia, 13 Jan 10 The International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM), in cooperation with the Global Land Tool Network (GLTN), Training and Capacity Building Branch (TCBB) of UN-HABITAT and University of East London (UEL) successfully hosted an international pilot training on land and property rights issues in Islamic Contexts.


Putting the Grassroots Mechanism into practice
	Nairobi, Kenya, 11 Jan 10 In many countries, laws and policies exist that have the potential to enhance secure access to land for poor women and men. These laws relate to issues such as adequate housing and freedom from eviction, land reform and access to all land-based resources.

Site Map | Site Directory | Contact Us | Feedback | Terms & Conditions | Fraud and scam alert