| Based on the Habitat Agenda
and on Resolutions 15/6 and 17/1 of the United Nations Commission on Human
Settlements, UNCHS (Habitat) has developed an indicators system that contains
a set of 30 key indicators and nine qualitative data. These are the minimum
data required for reporting on shelter and urban development consistent
with the twenty key areas of commitment in the Habitat Agenda
universal reporting format.
Indicators are supposed to
measure performances and trends in the 20 selected key areas, and to
measure progress in the implementation of the Habitat Agenda. Indicators
provide a comprehensive picture of cities, which, with other indicators
which may be chosen by countries, will provide a quantitative, comparative
base for the condition of cities, and show progress towards achieving urban
objectives.
Two different types of data
are included in the minimum set:
-
Key
indicators, comprising indicators which are both important for
policy and relatively easy to collect. They are either numbers, percentages
and ratios;
-
Qualitative
data or checklists, which give an assessment of areas which cannot
easily be measured quantitatively. They are audit questions generally accompanied
of checkboxes for yes or no answers.
Click on this link to access the Online Guide to Urban Indicators
Guide to Urban Indicators
The data collection process for this database has operated under various modes:
-
Voluntary participation of
Local Urban Observatories and other city-based institutions, upon invitation
of UNCHS (Habitat)
-
Consultants hired by UNCHS
(Habitat), usually recommended by the local government
-
Regional consulting organizations
funded by UNCHS (Habitat) to locate cities, hire local consultants and
assemble the data.
The local consultant or focal point had the responsibility for obtaining the data, making estimates of
data that are not directly available (using UNCHS or their own methodology),
documenting the results and providing other reports as necessary. Consultants
were also required to correct their data when necessary, document their
methods, explain divergences with other sources, etc.
Data compiled in the Global
Urban Indicators Database have been corrected when necessary. However,
some results need to be taken with caution. They may not represent official
views of governments when collected by individual consultants. They may
also conflict with other expert opinions available in the issues addressed.
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