HS/C/14/3

SUMMARY

This is the third report to the Commission on the implementation of the Global Strategy for Shelter to the Year2000. The first two reports were submitted to the Commission's twelfth and thirteenth sessions respectively. This report is submitted in response to Commission resolution 12/1 of 3 May 1989 and covers the period 1991-1992. It describes briefly the action taken by the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) as the coordinating agency for the implementation of the Strategy, actions taken by Member States, the organizations of the United Nations system and bilateral and multilateral. intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations. The Global Strategy for Shelter Plan of Action for 1994-1995 is contained in document HS/C/14/4/Add.1.

The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

INTRODUCTION

1. The Commission on Human Settlements, as the inter-governmental body responsible for coordinating, evaluating and monitoring the implementation of the Global Strategy for Shelter to the Year 2000, reviewed reports on the implementation of the Strategy at the global and national levels at its twelfth and thirteenth sessions. The current report is the third such report and covers the period 1991-1992.

2. This report is based largely on the information provided by Member States based on their use of the Monitoring Guidelines for National Shelter Strategies ⁽¹⁾ and information obtained through the Centre's technical cooperation programme and other sources. While every effort has been made to provide a global picture, this report cannot be said to reflect fully all the actions taken towards the implementation of the Strategy. This is particularly so concerning action at the national level, as many countries not mentioned in the report are also known to be taking action in some aspects of the shelter sector.

3. From the information available it is apparent that a considerable amount of progress has been achieved at the national level towards the implementation of the Strategy. This has been achieved against a background of low levels of economic development during 1991-1992 in the majority of the developing countries, and new political and social upheavals and other priority concerns in many countries. During 1991-1992 several countries prepared new national shelter strategies which have been placed before the national Parliament or cabinet. Examples are Costa Rica, India, Pakistan, the Philippines and Uganda. The example of Uganda, regarding both the context of the national strategy and the process of consultations undertaken with the private sector, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community-based organizations (CBOs) and other voluntary bodies during its formulation, is worthy of close study by similar countries embarking on the shelter strategy formulation exercise.

4. Several other countries are already implementing their recently adopted national shelter strategies. Their experience indicates that shelter policies and strategies are dynamic and need to respond constantly to changes in the political, economic and social fields at the national level. Other countries, for example, the Republic of Korea and Thailand, where housing policies have been under regular review as they are an essential component of the national development plans, have chosen not to formulate a new national shelter strategy but to develop new policies and strategies within the framework of national development plans.

5. The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in Brazil in June 1992 has thrown new light on some of the key components in the production of shelter and services. Agenda 21, adopted by the Conference, includes eight action areas in its sustainable human settlements programme. Other chapters provide an additional focus on issues such as land resources, water, transport, waste, conservation, air quality, pre-disaster planning, and human and natural resources. The Meeting on Governmental/Non-governmental Cooperation in the Field of Human Settlements, held at The Hague in November 1992, with the support of the government of the Netherlands, developed a range of modalities for cooperation between governments and NGOs at the international, national and local levels (see document HS/C/14/2/Add.4).

6. In view of the thorough manner in which the above subjects have been expounded, no recommendation is being made in the current report for any revision of the Global Strategy for Shelter. The Commission on Human Settlements and the General Assembly adopted the Global Strategy for Shelter Plan of Action for 1992-1993 during their sessions in 1991. The plan of action proposed for 1994-1995 and a timetable for its implementation (see document HS/C/14/4/Add.l) takes into consideration the actions that need to be taken at the national and international levels towards the implementation of Agenda 21 as well as the recommendations of the Meeting on Government/Non-governmental Cooperation.

INTRODUCTION

7. In its role as the coordinating agency for the implementation of the Global Strategy for Shelter, the Centre focused its activities on four areas. First, it successfully advocated the inclusion of the Strategy within Agenda 21, adopted by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNTED), thus increasing the understanding of the links between shelter, the living environment and sustainable development. Secondly, it has continued to increase the level of substantive support to Member States, upon request, for the formulation and implementation of national shelter strategies (NSS) and for addressing specific aspects of shelter and services production. Thirdly, it has increased awareness of the need for public participation, private-sector involvement and the role of women in shelter and human settlements development in many countries. Fourthly, the Centre has increased its cooperation with NGOs and CBOs.

8. A brief account of the major activities of the Centre directly concerning the implementation of the Global Strategy is given below.

A. Promoting wider understanding of the links between shelter, the living environment and sustainable development

9. The Centre actively promoted the role of shelter and the living environment in achieving sustainable development during the preparatory process of UNCED, as well as during the Conference itself. Agenda 21, the comprehensive programme adopted by UNCED to address the whole spectrum of issues involved in maintaining an adequate level of development now while safeguarding resources for use by future generations, includes a programme, "Promoting sustainable human settlements development". This programme is comprised of eight programme areas including "Providing adequate shelter for all".

10. Agenda 21 lists 10 different activities which should be undertaken at the national and international levels in order to achieve the objective of adequate shelter for rapidly growing populations and for the currently deprived urban and rural poor through an enabling approach to shelter development and improvement which is environmentally sound. These activities adequately complement the recommendations for national and international action already contained in the Global Strategy for Shelter. The 10 activities to be undertaken are:

11. Agenda 21 urges developed countries and funding agencies to provide specific assistance to developing countries in adopting an enabling approach to the provision of shelter for all, including the no-income group, and covering research institutions and training activities for government officials, professionals, communities and NGOs, and by strengthening local capacity for the development of appropriate technologies.

12. The Commission on Sustainable Development, currently being considered by the General Assembly, inter alia, to monitor progress in the implementation of Agenda 21, could coordinate its activities with the Commission on Human Settlements in its monitoring of the Global Strategy for Shelter (document HS/C/14/5 provides a detailed account of UNCED and Agenda 21).

B. Provision of substantive support to Member States

13. Following up on actions recommended at the various sub-regional seminars held on the implementation of the Global Strategy for Shelter ⁽³⁾ and responding to the requests of Member States, the Centre has provided substantive support to Member States through a number of programmes as outlined below.

1. Technical cooperation

14. Technical cooperation with Member States in the preparation of NSSs is being provided under a number of projects, upon request from governments.

2. Special advisory services

15. The Centre has provided, upon request from Member States, short-term advisory services on selected subjects to assist governments in the implementation of the Global Strategy. Examples include Brunei Dar-es-Salam, Jordan, Malaysia, Nepal, Panama, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela. In some countries this included the setting-up of databases in shelter and the selection of key indicators in the shelter sector.

16. Short-term advisory services on housing finance have covered several aspects, including the establishment and management of shelter-finance institutions and the development of community-based savings groups. Countries assisted include Brunei, Dar-es-Salam, Ghana, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, the Phillipines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Uganda and the United Arab Emirates.

17. Advisory services on construction methods and technologies were provided to Gambia which led to the Government proceeding with a full review of the human settlements sector. Advisory services on the application of micro-computer technology in selected aspects of the shelter sector were provided to Djibouti, Egypt, Malawi, Sri Lanka, Uganda, the United Arab Emirate, Yemen and Zimbabwe.

3. Subregional seminars on national shelter strategies

18. During the biennium, the Centre, in collaboration with interested governments and agencies, organized 10 sub-regional seminars on the implementation of the Global Strategy for Shelter. As a result of the seminars, many governments have initiated or refined their activities towards the adoption of enabling approaches to NSSs. The last two sub-regional seminars in this series, scheduled prior to the fourteenth session of the Commission, were the Arab States Conference on National Shelter Strategies organized in cooperation with the League of Arab States and the Government of Egypt in Cairo from 13 to 17 December 1992, and the Global Strategy for Shelter South Pacific Sub-regional Seminar organized in collaboration with the Government of Australia and the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, in April 1993 (planned, but still to be held at the time of writing).

4. Monitoring national shelter strategies

19. The Guidelines for Monitoring National Shelter Strategies, as adopted by the Commission at its thirteenth session, were distributed to all Member States, pursuant to Commission resolution 13/1 of 8 May 1991. These are based on 14 indicators, reflecting key actions recommended in the Global Strategy for Shelter to be taken by governments towards preparing an NSS. The Guidelines are already being used by a number of governments and some used them as a basis for reporting national progress on World HABITAT Day 1992.

5. Shelter sector performance indicators

20. Pursuant to Commission resolution of 8 May 1991, the Centre and the World Bank continued their collaboration under the Housing Indicators Programme during 1991 and 1992 to identify a set of key indicators that are policy-sensitive and easy to collect and update on a regular basis. Several external support agencies provided assistance in the implementation of the Programme. Under this Programme, data have been collected through an Intensive Survey conducted in a major urban area of countries selected from all five continents. These surveys were followed by a series of regional meetings which enabled UNCHS (Habitat) and the World Bank to evaluate the experiences of the country-based consultants in the collection and processing of data in the field.

21. The Programme has identified a set of 12 basic indicators which capture different dimensions of the housing sector taking into account their cost effectiveness, policy sensitivity, comparability etc. These are contained in the Report of the Executive Director (HS/C/14/3/Add.1), presented in response to resolution 13/9.

C. Research and development

22. In its research and development programme the Centre has addressed a number of issues in shelter and services during the last two years. The results of this work are disseminated widely through technical publications, training seminars and expert group meetings. Some examples of the research work follows.

23. In the area of housing finance, a research project evaluated the potential and problems of integrating housing finance into the national finance systems of developing countries. The findings of this research were reviewed at an interregional workshop for Africa and Asia held in Goa, India, in June 1991.⁽⁴⁾ Work is continuing on analyzing the performance of existing institutions, evaluating the major mortgage instruments in use by those institutions, identifying and promoting innovative housing-finance arrangements, the development of community-based finance institutions, and promoting local financial services and mechanisms to tap the savings potential of low-income groups.

24. Land-management research involved monitoring and assessment of land policies and strategies, the impacts of land-related activities on human settlements development, the analysis of procedures, regulations and instruments for the progressive modernization of land-tenure systems, and the formulation and implementation of land policies. Work continues on reviewing and updating the technical and administrative requirements for improving the operation of land-registrations systems. Towards this goal, a workshop on land-registration and land-information systems was organized at Nairobi, Kenya, in 1991.

25. In the area of housing production, three research activities were undertaken. The first involved the assessment of experience with the project approach to shelter delivery for the poor. A second study, based on the experiences of Colombia. India, Nigeria and Thailand with initiating enabling shelter strategies, noted the potential and problems in addressing the needs of the poor and disadvantaged groups and stressed the need for continued responsibility of the State to intervene more forcefully on behalf of those who cannot benefit even from enabling strategies. The third research activity in this area was a review and evaluation of the problems of the inner-city poor in general, and of relocation experiences in particular (with case studies from Mexico and Nigeria) discussed at a meeting held at Rotterdam, the Netherlands, from 12 to 15 February 1992.

26. An extensive programme on training in community participation is being undertaken in cooperation with the Danish International Development Agency (Danida) in Bolivia, Sri Lanka and Zambia. Further information on this programme is contained in document HS/C/14/2.

27. Activities in the field of building materials and technology include several technical publications and important meetings to stimulate transfer of small-scale and appropriate technologies through information exchange and a twice- yearly recurrent publication: Journal of the Network of African Countries on Local Building Materials and Technologies. Technical publications covered issues such as Development of National Technological Capacity for, the Production of Indigenous Building Materials,⁽⁵⁾ data sheets on soil construction technology, vertical-shaft lime-kilns and small scale production of Portland cement, and Technology in Human Settlements: Role of Construction.⁽⁶⁾

28. A technical publication entitled Stormwater Drainage and Reclamation for Urban Development⁽⁷⁾ was issued in 1991 and papers were produced on urban water supply and sanitation for the Global Forum for the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council held at Oslo, Norway, in September 1991, and for the International Conference on Water and the Environment at Dublin, Ireland, in January 1992. With the assistance of the Government of the Netherlands, the Centre has conducted a major research project on strategies for solid-waste recycling and reuse. A regional workshop was held in Manila, the Philippines in January 1993. Audio-visual materials in the form of video films and tape slide shows have been produced on various technologies for small-scale, cottage-based, waste-recycling industries in developing countries. Advisory services have been extended to the Governments of India and the United Republic of Tanzania aimed at strengthening capacities in managing solid wastes in Pune and Dar-es-Salaam respectively. A software package on the selection of refuse-collection vehicles to developing countries was finalized for dissemination.

29. An expert group meeting on environmental health aspects of human settlements in developing countries was held at Leeds, the United Kingdom, in 1991. With funding from Danida, applied research on shelter-related crowding and health has been conducted in Accra, Ghana, Bissau, Guinea Bissau, and Jakarta, Indonesia. An annotated bibliography entitled "Housing-related crowding and environmental health"⁽⁸⁾ was published and a report on community-based human settlements indicators finalized.

30. In the energy sector, technical publications were issued on energy for building, energy for low-income settlements and energy efficiency in housing construction and domestic usage in developing countries. Current research is directed to the promotion of biomass energy technologies. In the transport sector, a study on strategic options for public-transport improvements in large cities of developing countries has been completed.

31. Training courses were organized in a variety of critical subjects included Round Table Training in support of Urban Finance and Management for Arab States held in Cairo in April 1992; and support to the Nigerian national workshop on municipal finance held at lbadan in May 1992. Most of the training courses included discussions on the implementation of the Global Strategy for Shelter. Training courses with specific focus on shelter included the regional workshop in the field of housing in development held at Bandung, Indonesia, in April 1992, in cooperation with the Katholieke Universities Leuven, Belgium.

D. Dissemination of information on the Global Strategy for Shelter

32. Information on the Global Strategy is being disseminated continuously on a global basis through regular issues of UNCHS Habitat News and UNCHS (Habitat) Shelter Bulletin, and wide distribution of the Global Shelter Strategy Plan of Action for 1992-1993.

33. In the observance of World HABITAT Day (WED) in 1991 and 1992, shelter and services were given due attention nationally and internationally. The themes in 1991, "Shelter and the living environment," and in 1992, "Shelter for sustainable development," enabled Member States to continue to place emphasis on shelter production and maintenance in their policies and programmes in human settlements. The focus on shelter has enabled wider understanding of the links between shelter, the living environment and sustainable approaches to all aspects of development.

E. Women in shelter and services development

34. The Centre's scale of activities for promoting the role of women in the implementation of the Global Strategy for Shelter increased during 1991-1992. These activities were based largely on promoting the implementation of the recommendations of the Interregional Seminar to Promote the Full Participation of Women in All Phases of the Global Strategy for Shelter to the Year 2000, held at Nairobi, in 1989.⁽⁹⁾ Contacts have been established with women's organizations in a large number of countries with a resultant increase in information exchange and support to networking among women's groups working to improve the living environment. In order to assist Member States to incorporate women's participation in their NSS the Centre organized training workshops in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Sri Lanka, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania. An ad-hoc expert group meeting was held in December 1992 on enhancing the role of women in community development for achieving the objectives of the Global Strategy for Shelter (see documents HS/C/14/2/Add.3 and HS/C/14/INF.5).

35. The shelter needs of women was given special attention in the NSSs formulated in countries participating in the UNCHS (Habitat)/FINNIDA) Support Programme for Preparing National Shelter Strategies. For example, in Uganda, a special study initiated by the Programme on the socially and economically disadvantaged in the housing sector has drawn attention to the provisions and customary practices which militate against women's rights and the need to sensitize them to appreciate their roles, potential and rights. The NSS for Uganda has incorporated these recommendations in its plan of action. A more detailed account of the role of women in the Global Strategy for Shelter is contained in document HS/C/14/2/Add.3.

F. Cooperation with NGOs

36. The Centre's cooperation with NGOs and CBOs increased considerably during 1991-1992 in response to the growing global awareness of the role and contribution of these organizations towards the improvement of living conditions of the poor.

37. The major activity in this field was the organization of the Meeting on Governmental/Non-governmental Cooperation in the Field of Human Settlements, organized in cooperation with the Government of the Netherlands at The Hague from 2 to 6 November 1992. This Meeting, called in response to Commission resolution 13/16 of 8 May 1991 developed modalities and strategies for increasing cooperation at the local, national and international levels. The report of the Meeting is contained in document HS/C/14/2/Add.4.

38. The Centre issued the first Directory of Non-governmental Organizations in the Field of Human Settlements,⁽¹⁰⁾ containing information on some 350 NGOs known to be active in various ways in the field of human settlements at the national, regional or international levels. This Directory was prepared with the assistance of a large number of NGOs who participated in a global questionnaire survey.

39. The Centre also issued a technical publication, Improving Shelter: Activities by NGOs,⁽¹¹⁾ as a way of disseminating information on programmes and projects undertaken by national as well as international NGOs towards improving the living environment of the poor. Some 20 NGOs with active projects in different parts of the world provided information for the publication.

40. In the Centre's technical cooperation programme many NGOs and CBOs have been involved in the formulation and execution of shelter-related programmes and projects. These include training or research NGOs such as the Centre for African Settlements Studies and Development, as well as many local-level NGOs and CBOs involved in operational activities concerning shelter and services development.

41. During UNCED, the Centre took an active part in participating in or supporting NGO activities at the Global Forum, the major gathering of NGOs at the Conference. These included a keynote address to Ecopolis 1992, the First International Seminar on the Environmental Problems of Large Urban Cities; the workshop organized by the Habitat International Coalition (HIC) Women and Shelter Network; the International Seminar on Sustainable Transport and Development; an International Panel on "Improving the working and living environment of poor urban women" organized by City University of New York; and the Ecopolis - City of the Future exhibition organized by the International Academy of Architecture (IAA). A fuller account of cooperation between the Centre and NGOs is contained in document HS/C/14/13.

42. In its role as the coordinating agency for the implementation of the Global Strategy, the Centre is increasing collaboration with a large number of organizations in the fields of programme coordination, technical cooperation, research, training and information dissemination. Cooperation with bilateral and multilateral agencies has continued to grow, in particular with the Finnish International Development Agency (FINNIDA) in the implementation of the Support Programme for National Shelter Strategies, the Danish International Development Agency (Danida) in the Community Development Programme and its extension to support the Women in Development Programme, the Urban Management Programme and the Sustainable Cities Programme. Cooperation with organizations within the United Nations system is described briefly in chapter III of this report. Cooperation with intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations is continuously increasing and is described briefly in the document entitled "Cooperation with intergovernmental organizations outside the United Nations system and with non-governmental organizations" (HS/C/14/13).

II. Action by Member States towards national shelter strategies

43. Action at the national level by governments, provincial administrations and municipal authorities lies at the heart of the implementation of the Global Strategy for Shelter, for it is only by improvement to shelter and services at the national level that the success of the Strategy can be assessed. Many developing countries have had to formulate and implement their NSS in the context of a deteriorating economic situation and structural adjustment programmes. In some cases, these programmes have reduced previous subsidies on the cost of essential goods and services to the public, thus increasing the percentage of the income that households have to allocate to meet daily living costs, so reducing their ability to afford shelter and services. Further, some governments have been preoccupied with managing political changes in the wake of increasing democratization both in Central and Eastern Europe as well as some in developing countries, thus reducing the level of attention that might have been accorded to shelter and services. These factors have considerably restrained the ability of developing-country governments to raise the priority to housing in the list of national development concerns. The expected peace dividend after the end of the Cold War has not yet manifested itself in improvements in the living conditions of the poor, and many industrialized countries have noted an increase in the number of the homeless.

44. As a result, the political will and commitment to reorganize the shelter sector, linking it with the macro-economy and involving the population at large, as advocated in the Global Strategy for Shelter, has not been exercised to the extent set out in the Strategy's Plans of Action for 1989-1991 and 1992-1993. Nevertheless, a large number of governments have taken steps to improve national strategies and programmes in the shelter sector.

45. No global assessment can be made of the effect of new national efforts in the shelter sector as a result of the adoption of the Global Strategy until a survey is undertaken extending over time, covering at least such key issues as adequacy of shelter, the level of production and maintenance; access to land, infrastructure, finance and building materials; and the environmental aspects of shelter and services. However, from the reports received from governments and information obtained by the Centre though its extensive technical cooperation programme and other activities, it is evident that many Member States have taken a variety of actions towards implementing the Global Strategy for Shelter.

46. A selection of activities grouped according to the 14 indicators endorsed by the Commission are presented below as examples. It should be noted that the progress reported under the different indicators varies, not only because it is based only on the available information but also because the extent of actions by Member States in certain fields appears to be limited. This report concentrates largely on new initiatives undertaken during the period 1991-1992.

Indicator No. 1. Political commitment to shelter

47. General Assembly resolution 43/181 urges all governments to commit themselves to the objectives of the Global Strategy for Shelter by adopting and implementing shelter strategies in accordance with the guidelines contained in the resolution, and to renew this commitment annually by, inter alia, announcing on World HABITAT Day the concrete actions to be taken and targets to be achieved during each successive year.

48. A number of Governments have officially adopted a NSS based on enabling principles and are in the process of implementing them. These include Afghanistan, Barbados, Botswana, Brunei, Dar-es-Salaam, Burundi, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Gambia, Jamaica, Jordan, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Turkey, Venezuela and Zimbabwe. However, the adverse economic situation in many of these countries has affected the ability of the Governments to implement new strategies at a scale sufficient to make appreciable improvements to the condition of the shelter and services of the poor and disadvantaged. New national housing policies or shelter strategies have been completed or are under active formulation in Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Congo, Ecuador, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Kiribati, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Panama, Peru, the Philippines and Uganda.

49. The countries of Central and Eastern Europe are actively formulating new housing strategies in the framework of political, economic and social changes. The Conference of Ministers of Housing and Physical Planning of Central and East Europe, held in cooperation with UNCHS (Habitat) at Warsaw in February 1992, identified the challenges which influence the process of housing reform, agreed on a number of principles as the basis for their new housing policies and made a number of recommendations for follow-up action.

50. Some countries are continuously improving their approaches to shelter delivery and incorporating these into their national development plans without necessarily formally adopting a new NSS. These countries include most of the industrialized countries as well as Bahrain, Cameroon, Egypt, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mauritius, Mexico, Oman, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of Korea, Seychelles, Thailand and Uruguay. Some development plans contain specific targets in shelter production. For example, the Five-year Housing Construction Plan of the Republic of Korea with a target of 2 million housing units is expected to make a substantial impact on the housing situation in that country.

51. A variety of approaches are being taken by governments for improving shelter strategies. Australia, Bangladesh and Costa Rica have completed their NSS based on an enabling approach. Nicaragua has commenced an NSS based on initial outputs from the grassroots level. In the Philippines, regional steering committees guided the formulation of the NSS. This exercise involved community-oriented training, and assessment of information needs, institutionalization of policy-makers, assessment of informal land markets and of appropriate building techniques.

52. Several different approaches have been taken by countries to undertake the revision of NSS. For example, Australia's National Housing Strategy exercise has produced a series of documents on different aspects of shelter. These have been widely distributed for public comment. Bangladesh is formulating a strategy and methodology for providing low-cost housing for low-income groups through undertaking a specific project comprising the construction of 2600 core houses in Dhaka. Djibouti is implementing a pilot housing project to apply the enabling strategies it has adopted. The project includes infrastructural development of arid land and its subdivision into 1400 plots, setting up a housing-finance system, preparation of building plans and the provision of technical assistance to owner-builders. Fiji undertook sectoral reviews on urban land markets, urban infrastructure, housing finance, municipal management and legislation. A consolidated report entitled Policy Recommendations for Housing and Urban Development is to be considered at national workshops.

53. In Ghana, the Policy Planning and Evaluation Unit (PPEU) in the Ministry of Works and Housing has analysed data on key areas of land for housing, the construction and building-material industries, rural housing, and finance for housing with a view to preparing the NSS and programmes for execution by implementing units. India's Draft National Housing Policy proposes many reforms including removal of legal and regulatory constraints and greater involvement of the private sector. Indonesia has taken several initiatives to develop informal and community-based housing to enable very-low-income groups in urban areas to have access to land tenure, urban services, housing and institutional finance.

54. Malaysia has reviewed the performance of shelter policies and strategies under the previous five-year national development plan and is identifying bottlenecks in the shelter-production processes in both the public and private sectors. Mali has reviewed the constraints and opportunities of the country's rural and urban housing situation at a national seminar at which some 200 representatives of the public and private sectors participated. The seminar provided clear guidelines for the formulation on the NSS on which work commenced in September 1991 starting with five in-depth studies dealing respectively with institutions, housing finance, infrastructure, land and the building industry. Namibia is also proceeding with the formulation of an NSS starting with the identification, review and analysis of the constraints in housing production at the national, local-authority and community levels, a comprehensive analysis of housing needs, assessment of human resources and training needs and carrying out a pilot project in aided self-help housing for low-income families.

55. Nicaragua has commenced an NSS based on initial outputs from the grass-roots level. The active participation of the people in the strategy development had been ensured at three distinct stages of the process: data gathering at the local level, diagnosis of priority needs and problems, and preparation of local-level shelter and human settlements policy. In the Philippines regional steering committees guided the formulation of the NSS. This exercise involved 11 community-oriented training courses, assessment of information needs, and assessment of informal land markets and of appropriate building techniques.

56. Sierra Leone has started to formulate a housing policy under difficult economic circumstances with the objective of improving the availability of housing finance, reducing the high import content of building materials and reducing construction costs.

57. Solomon Islands is undertaking a review of the housing sector with the long-term objective of developing a self-sustaining housing production and finance system that is capable of meeting the continuing shelter needs of all income groups without subsidies. Uganda has prepared an NSS after comprehensive consultations with NGOs, the private sector, CBOs and women's groups throughout the country. During this process it also undertook a major settlement-upgrading project where the new strategies were implemented. A comprehensive strategy document has been prepared and is to be presented to the cabinet. Vanuatu has undertaken a review of the land market, the housing-finance situation and the availability of water to sustain expansion of settlements in selected areas through public and private-sector initiatives.

58. Some countries have created special high-level bodies to oversee the formulation and implementation of the NSS. Afghanistan has created a National Committee for the implementation of its shelter strategy, which places more emphasis on the private sector and community participation. In Bangladesh a committee, headed by the Minister for Planning and which includes CBOs, is undertaking a comprehensive review of the entire urban and shelter sectors. China has created a National Housing Reform Group which coordinates its activities with human settlements committees at the local-government level. In Kenya, an Interministerial Committee on Human Settlements meets as required. It includes representatives of NGOs and CBOs, the private sector and research institutions. Malaysia has set up a three-tiered system with a National Housing Council, a National Consultative Council on Housing and a consultative panel. Membership of these bodies includes representatives of professional bodies of architects and planners, builders and housing developers, institutes of higher learning, consumers' associations and manufacturers. The Republic of Korea has set up a National Comprehensive Development Committee under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister, to deal with human settlements planning, strategies and monitoring at the national level. In Thailand, the National Housing Policy Committee, consisting of 20 representatives of government, the private sector and individuals, meets every two months. In Uganda, an Inter-agency steering committee was involved in the formulation of the NSS and a committee is to be set up to ensure its implementation.

Indicator No. 2. Sustainable development policies

59. The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, through its preparatory process and through the adoption of Agenda 21, has clearly established the link between shelter and sustainable development. It is too early for governments to incorporate the relevant components of Agenda 21 fully in their NSSs. Only a few countries have reported on the official adoption of a sustainable natural resource policy, a comprehensive national energy policy or on standards and procedures for establishing air quality and water quality or a national public health policy. However, some have incorporated a sustainable approach to natural resource utilization in their national development plans. For example, Australia is developing a National Ecologically Sustainable Development Plan. Canada sponsored a Health House Design Competition according to the principles of sustainable development - houses which offer healthy indoor environments, conserve resources, are environmentally responsible, and which remain affordable. It has also published a report entitled Sustainable Urban Development in Canada; from Concept to Practice which catalogues over 200 sustainable development initiatives being undertaken by Canadian municipalities. In Egypt, the Governorate of Ismailia has assessed the sustainability of major natural resources (tourist attractions, fisheries, agricultural, reclaimable and buildable land, and underground water) and identified policy issues concerning development by competing and conflicting interests.

60. Nigeria has formulated a Natural Resource Conservation Policy. Pakistan has commenced a programme for waste-water reuse in four areas of Karachi and for integrating sewage recycling into the overall drainage and sanitation plan for the city. Pakistan is also preparing a coastal development plan for the area covering the environs of Karachi to provide for developmental and recreational facilities for an urban population of some 12 million by the year 2000. This plan will include a strategy for physical development of the coastline based on assessment of the demand for recreation and tourism with special emphasis on environmental planning and preservation of the unique and valuable natural characteristics of the coast.

61. Some countries have reported specific action towards developing a national energy policy. Ethiopia has prepared a national energy policy. Kenya has introduced a Woodfuel Conservation Subsidy Scheme to encourage alternatives to the use of charcoal and wood. Pakistan is giving increased attention to energy efficiency in the building sector and has embarked on a programme to develop designs of energy-efficient houses for each of the five climatic zones, utilizing energy-conservation principles in buildings and the use of energy- efficient appliances in accordance with the National Building and Energy Code. In the Republic of Korea, the Energy and Resource Plan has been implemented as an integral part of the Five-year Economic and Social Development Plan and the National Land-use Plan.

62. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland issued its first White Paper on the Environment which describes how the Government's policies for housing support the wider objectives of environmental policy and the aim of sustainable development. Housing's main contribution is through improving energy efficiency and encouraging savings since domestic use in the United Kingdom accounts for nearly a third of energy consumption and carbon dioxide. The Green House Demonstration Programme demonstrates the application of energy-efficiency measures for a range of common housing types and situations. Projects include combined heat and power schemes, use of refuse-derived fuel, heating and insulation packages for various house types, and low-energy lighting schemes.

63. Many countries are preparing or have adopted a national land-use plan or a human settlements plan. Bahrain is arresting unguided urban growth by the adoption of a national land-use plan which will optimize the use of the scarce land resource and preserve the environmental balance. Ethiopia is preparing a national land-use plan in order to integrate rural and urban activities. Grenada is preparing a national spatial development strategy to guide national physical development which will minimize the effect on environmental conservation. Nigeria has adopted a National Land and Settlement Development Policy. In the Republic of Korea, a Ten-year National Land-use Plan has served as a powerful vehicle for conservation of natural resources as well as for promoting decentralization strategies.

64. Some countries have adopted standards and procedures for maintaining air quality and water quality. Kenya has set standards for maintaining water quality through a monitoring programme. Nigeria has established the Federal Environmental Protection Agency, which has published guidelines and standards for control of environmental pollution that are already being enforced.

Indicator No. 3. Macro-economic strategies

65. The economic situation in many countries has dampened the capacity of the government to invest in the shelter sector and become effective facilitators. However, such a depressed economic situation could be the opportunity to take advantage of the productive links between the shelter sector and the macro-economy. Although very few governments have reported as having done so, some have undertaken other actions which take advantage of the links. Among the countries which have reported integrating shelter policies and programmes with the overall economy are Australia, Barbados, the Republic of Korea, Uganda and the United Kingdom. China is introducing a pricing mechanism in the housing sector in coordination with reforms in other sectors of the economy. Ethiopia's national development plan indicates the share of investment for housing and urban development. Guinea has strengthened the organization, management and planning capacities of the crucial economic sectors including housing and urban development. The evaluation of the housing sector was followed by the preparation of a housing development strategy which has been incorporated into the national development plan. India's five-year national development plan stresses employment and productive aspects of shelter and services. Kenya's Development Plan 1989-93 recognizes that the construction industry is the largest employer after agriculture.

66. Programme coordination between the shelter sector and other sectors of the economy is receiving attention in many countries. Afghanistan has established a High Commission for Shelter, headed by a Deputy Prime Minister. In Ghana, the Ministry of Local Government has developed a strategic planning unit within the Department of Town and Country Planning. This unit has prepared a strategic development plan, investment prospectus, area-based action plans and a five-year implementation plan which has been agreed to by all concerned agencies. In Guinea, programme coordination between the shelter sector and other sectors in the economy is being achieved through the integration of sectoral databases on increased contribution of the housing sector to national development. In Kenya, the Ministry of Planning and National Development coordinates all development through several sector committees, including one on shelter. In Malaysia, the Economic Planning Unit and the Implementation and Coordination Unit of the Prime Minister's Department coordinate the activities in all sectors of the economy. Nigeria has established the National Housing Policy Council which will, inter alia, coordinate activities in the shelter sector with other sectors in the economy. In Thailand, the National Economic Social Development Board is the coordinating agency.

Indicator No.4. Links between shelter objectives and settlement management

67. Shelter is an integral part of settlements development and, therefore, all governments will need to use the tools at their disposal to optimize the spatial component of shelter demand by guiding or influencing shifts in national and regional settlements patterns, particularly urbanization processes.

68. Linking shelter strategies with national and regional settlement developments is being attempted in several countries. In Bahrain, the Ministry of Housing is evaluating and improving existing regulations as well as streamlining procedures for efficient implementation of the national landuse plan. Canada has launched the Affordability and Choice Today (ACT) programme, managed by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the Canadian Home Builders Association and the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association, to stimulate regulatory reform in all municipalities and promote changes in planning and building regulations and the approval process to improve housing affordability. In Ethiopia, the National Urban Planning Institute is formulating plans for a regional system of urban settlements. Guinea is implementing its new housing policy to develop a programme for the construction of 10,000 housing units as an extension of the capital city, Conakry. India is linking shelter strategies with regional plans and integrated rural development programmes. The Libyan Arab Jamahiriya is developing a settlements planning process as an essential means for guiding its development policy. It is updating the National Physical Perspective Plan (NPPP) to cover the period to 2010, incorporating the land needs of some 22 sectors, including urban development and housing. Malawi is strengthening its machinery for monitoring the implementation of the National Physical Development Plan to ensure institutional coordination at the central, district and local levels.

69. Morocco has commenced the preparation of a national land-use policy in order to reduce regional disparities, promote development and encourage public participation in development. In Nigeria, shelter programmes are incorporated in the Integrated Regional Development Programme. In the Philippines, under the Government's decentralizing policy, the capacity of the regional and local government agencies is being strengthened to formulate and implement viable housing policies, strategies and programmes for the urban lowest-income groups.

70. Qatar is preparing a structure plan for Doha and surrounding areas to direct the growth of urbanization resulting from the high demand for urban land, housing facilities and infrastructure. In the Republic of Korea shelter policies and programmes are directly linked to urban and regional plans and programmes which conform to the national settlements policy guidelines as specified in the Comprehensive National Development Plan.

71. Thailand has developed, under its regional cities development programmes, computerized systems for property registration and taxation, information on infrastructure, and budget control for application in intermediate cities. In Uganda, the NSS implementation will be undertaken in parallel with the Governments' strategy of decentralization of the administration.

72. Some countries are exploiting the potential of small and intermediate settlements. In Burkina Faso, a programme has been undertaken for strengthening the technical capacities of municipal authorities in two secondary cities. A technical manual entitled Town Planning and Urban Management in the Secondary Cities has been prepared, based on training workshops held in the past. Technical units have been established in 10 medium-sized municipalities with support from the National Directorate of Town Planning for the purpose of implementing the new policies in the field of urban management. In Burundi, structure plans have been prepared for four urban centres with a view to, inter alia, strengthening national institutions for the management of the urbanization process and the role of urban centres in economic development. China is extending infrastructure and services to all small and intermediate settlements and strengthening their management. Each township is required to prepare a development programme in which shelter is an important component. Haiti has commenced a project for decentralization of physical planning responsibilities to the five regions and has prepared planning schemes for the coordination of public and private-sector investments. India's approach lays emphasis on development of small towns with due regard to rural links and the scope for reducing migration to large cities. The Islamic Republic of Iran has undertaken extensive land development schemes in several cities and medium towns as well as in rural settlements. Kenya has a range of programmes for decentralizing urban development including the District Focus for Rural Development, Rural-Urban Balance strategy, and the Small Towns Development Projects.

73. In Malaysia, shelter is an important component in projects for regrouping of scattered settlements and the establishment of regional centres of development as well as in the National Rural Growth Centres Plan. In Pakistan, detailed urban development plans are being prepared for nine secondary cities in Sindh province incorporating a multi-sectoral investment package to secure capital funding for infrastructure development. It is also improving the capacity of the provincial government to assist cities to mobilize resources and improve management, operation and maintenance in infrastructure investments. In the Republic of Korea various policy tools including the provision of infrastructure facilitate the development of the economic bases in target regions. In Uganda, the NSS will be linked with the development of market towns.

74. Inclusion of a shelter component in integrated rural development programmes is becoming common in most countries. In India, shelter is integrated as part of rural employment schemes and in the Minimum Needs Programme. Sri Lanka implements a special accelerated integrated development programme annually in a selected district, with housing development by the people as the lead programme, The programme aims to meet basic individual and community needs especially in the fields of housing, water supply, roads, electricity, health, education, youth affairs and self-employment. In Uganda, people in the rural areas have formed themselves into building materials and construction cooperatives and building brigades to link house building with the rest of the rural development works. Viet Nam has established a National Centre for Planning and Rural Development to provide extensive training to expand technical knowledge on human settlements development to rural areas.

75. Some countries have reported taking new initiatives for the involvement of women in determining priorities and setting objectives. For example, in Ethiopia, gender-responsive development activities are being monitored by the Women's Unit in the Prime Minister's Office. In Ghana, a programme for decentralizing planning, administrative and management activities works directly with communities, especially women and youth, in order to strengthen the role of local governments as facilitators. India has decided to prepare a national plan for involvement of women and NGOs in the shelter sector. In Kenya, a representative of the national women's organization is a member of each District Development Committee.

Indicator No. 5. Identification of needs and resources

76. Several countries have taken action to assess national shelter needs and the resources required. Australia is undertaking an assessment of national shelter needs and has adopted specific criteria for identifying the most needy. Haiti has undertaken a review and analysis of the housing need, institutional efficiency, the land and housing markets, housing finance and the possibilities for establishing a coalition between the public sector, the private sector and NGOs in order to mobilize the resources to meet the need. In India assessment of shelter needs has been made by the National Building Organisation and the Planning Commission but the probability of mobilizing the entire resources needed is considered to be remote. Kenya completed the urban housing survey some years ago while the rural housing survey is still in progress. It has prepared an assessment of housing needs and resources required up to the year 2000. Malaysia has identified the ' hardcore" poor and has introduced "free housing" schemes and interest free loans in the sites-and-services schemes for this group. Maldives has undertaken a special study of the effective housing demand and construction capacity as part of investment-oriented development plans for selected islands.

77. Mongolia has undertaken a review of the human settlements sector including the current settlement patterns, housing demand and supply, and the construction industry. In Nigeria, the Housing Policy Council is assessing the overall shelter requirements as well as the availability of national resources. The Republic of Korea is gradually liberalizing the financial sector in order to mobilize funds from the capital market. Sierra Leone has made an assessment of shelter needs towards the creation of a policy framework to reflect relevant sector priorities, the levels of appropriate technology low-cost building- materials production an establishment of an effective mechanism for home-loan savings.

78. In Sri Lanka, under the implementation structure for the 1.5 Million Houses Programme, a grass-roots approach is taken to assessment of needs. People's committees for housing operating in the rural sector, and community development councils operating in the urban sector identify the needy families, select beneficiaries, disseminate information and monitor progress on shelter development and poverty alleviation.

79. Uganda undertook an extensive assessment of shelter needs and available resources through detailed surveys in a pilot district, research in four sample districts and in-depth studies on key issues such as land, finance, building industry and materials, the economy, disadvantaged groups, physical planning and the environment.

80. Defining adequate shelter is a necessary component of the assessment of shelter needs and availability of resources. Most countries are defining adequate shelter in general terms. Some countries are reviewing the standards for housing and planning as a way of defining adequate shelter. These include Afghanistan and Kenya. Bangladesh has identified adequate living area, safety, privacy, energy, water, sanitation and durable structure as key requirements for adequate shelter.

81. Some countries have set specific space standards for adequate shelter. For example, China has set the minimum average habitable area at 8 sq m per person. India has set minimum plot areas of 85 sq m to rural areas and 25 sq. m in urban areas as the first targets for achieving adequate shelter. The Republic of Korea has set 40 sq m as the minimum for a family of four.

Indicator No. 6. Participation and representation

82. The Global Strategy for Shelter strongly urges governments to adopt a participatory approach to the production and management of shelter and services. Many governments have taken steps to involve the private sector, NGOs and CBOs, some in the policymaking process and others in the policy-implementation process. In Australia, the Housing Council, which provides advice on housing issues to the Government, consists of Federal and state housing ministries, representatives of local government, financial institutions, unions, the building industry and welfare groups. The Council also operates as a -key forum for consultation between members. The Canadian Centre for Public-Private Partnerships in Housing, formed in 1990, encourages the production of affordable housing for low- and moderate-income households. It acts as a catalyst and source of advice to facilitate housing partnership prospects and is exploring new financing and tenure arrangements for housing. The Canadian National Housing Research Committee (NHRC), an ongoing committee made up of federal, provincial, industry, social and consumer representatives, identifies key areas for research demonstration, ensures relevant and regionally-sensitive research, minimizes duplications of effort, improves information dissemination, and promotes practical application of research findings. In Colombia, the national NGO, Fedevivienda, and private-sector representatives are members of the national housing policy-making body. In India, an extensive public-consultation process took place for the formulation of the draft housing policy and there are frequent consultations with NGOs and CBOs by government agencies in the planning and execution of shelter and services programmes. In Kenya, the national organization of shelter NGOs, the Shelter Forum, as well as two major NGOs, including the National Cooperative Housing Union, are represented on the Interministerial Committee on Human Settlements. In Malaysia, regular dialogue with the Housing Developers' Association and private-sector representatives and NGOs is held on policy and programme matters. In the Republic of Korea, community-based associations of tenants, consumers, and women's rights activists actively participate in housing policy formulation and implementation. In Thailand, the private sector and NGOs are involved with the government agencies in the formulation of shelter sector policies through their membership of the Housing Policy Subcommittee of the National Economic and Social Development Board Uganda undertook extensive discussions in different parts of the country between governmental organizations, NGOs and CBOs opinion leaders and the private sector. This process helped to create a national organization of NGOs and CBOs involved in shelter and services. The United Kingdom provides grants for the development of tenant-management cooperatives and estate management boards and to housing associations to enable them to be involved in policy-formulation at the local level.

83. At the level of policy implementation, many governments are encouraging the participation of a variety of actors. In Bangladesh, community groups and NGOs have been involved in government projects for urban upgrading and environmental improvement in Dhaka and Chittagong. CBOs and NGOs have also been involved in the construction of rural housing and the testing of housing-related credit systems within the framework of integrated rural development programmes. Bolivia has undertaken several activities for increasing public participation for the improvement of shelter and services. China is actively encouraging the private and non-governmental sectors in shelter and services production to supplement the public and cooperative-sector outputs.

84. In Nigeria, the Housing Policy Implementation Committee includes representatives of the private sector, professional bodies and the Federal Mortgage Bank. In Pakistan, community participation is being encouraged in decision-making and actual development activity in the reconstruction and rehabilitation in selected rural areas affected by floods. Communities and NGOs are involved in the preparation of post-flood condition surveys, design and construction of bridges, installation of handpumps, construction of community halls and shelters, and preparation of a disaster-preparedness plan integrated with village upgrading schemes and housing rehabilitation. Sri Lanka has developed the innovative concept of community contracts - an agreement between a government agency and the community of a given area to carry out construction of public utilities and infrastructure improvement in that area. Zambia is undertaking a food-for-work programme to upgrade infrastructure and improve sanitary conditions in the spontaneous settlements in Lusaka and other urban areas. The programme extensively involves NGOs, CBOs and the settlement residents. Zambia is also undertaking a training programme in community participation in seven local council areas for district council officers, community leaders and representatives from NGOs from selected settlements.

85. Cooperative housing has been encouraged in some countries to address the needs of the low income groups. In Senegal, a cooperation support office has been established to strengthen housing cooperatives and six cooperative housing projects have been executed. Other countries which have involved cooperatives in low-income housing include Colombia, the Philippines and the United Republic of Tanzania. Sri Lankan credit cooperative societies and cooperative rural banks are engaged in shelter development throughout the country.

86. In some countries, the formulation of national groups of NGOs and CBOs has emerged as strong lobby groups on behalf of the poor. In Australia, National Shelter is an umbrella organization representing housing concerns and advisory groups. In Kenya, shelter-related NGOs have organized themselves into a national organization, Shelter Forum, which undertakes the tasks of advocacy, extension and networking. In Malaysia, although there is no formal umbrella organization of NGOs, the National Consultative Council on Housing serves the same function. In the United Kingdom, a number of NGOs have together formed the NGO Homeless International, which cooperates extensively with NGOs and CBOs in developing countries.

87. Women's groups are involved in policy-making in the shelter sector in different ways. In Australia, the National Women's Housing Caucus (NWHC) represents the housing needs of women in all tenures, particularly women on lower incomes. NWHC participates in the work of the Women's Housing Issues Working Party, a joint Federal-State body advising housing ministers on the housing needs of women. In China, women already participate in all the processes for planning, building and management of housing. In Ethiopia, a Women's Unit has been incorporated in the Prime Minister's Office to promote and monitor women's participation in development at all levels. In Kenya, the National Women's Organization is represented in almost all development-oriented committees. Nigeria is encouraging the involvement of women's groups in the shelter sector in consultation with the National Council of Women Societies. In the Republic of Korea, groups such as the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA), Women's Coalition, Women's Caucus of the Consumer Protection Board and National Association for Women's Legal Rights have been actively involved in housing issues at both national and local levels. In Uganda, women's organizations were active throughout the process of the formulation of the NSS.

Indicator No. 7. Institutional coordination

88. The enabling approach to shelter delivery calls for new institutional arrangements to achieve coordination between all levels of government and all non-governmental actors. Many governments are gradually approaching this task. The Lao People's Democratic Republic has undertaken a systematic identification of responsible institutions in the shelter sector in order to attain a sustainable process of integrated urban development. The technical capacity of these institutions have been strengthened through various types of training including digital mapping and financial management. Mozambique is strengthening the capacity of the public and private sectors to provide for planned coordination of urban development with a focus on poverty alleviation, and to contribute to facilitating access to adequate shelter. Qatar has undertaken a general overview and identification of existing responsibilities and working relations among the departments involved in physical development activities with a view to improving the institutional structure for managing physical development. Solomon Islands has established a coordinating committee for the housing policy formulation exercise.

89. Some countries have taken concrete steps to transfer financial and human resources to local administrations to enable them to discharge new responsibilities in shelter, infrastructure, services and overall settlements management. Australia has commenced a "Building Better Cities" programme, a partnership between federal, state and local governments to demonstrate in selected areas that housing can be provided in more efficient and affordable ways and linked with social facilities, transport and infrastructure. In Bulgaria, the new law for local authorities aims at a better division of responsibilities among the different ties of administration. Ethiopia has created 14 regional authorities within a federal structure with full responsibility for local development. Nigeria has established a new revenue-allocation formula which has increased the proportion of financial allocation to local governments. In the Republic of Korea, revenue-sharing between central and local governments is undertaken in accordance with a specified formula. In addition, central government funds are transferred to local authorities for the construction of low-cost rental housing units for the poorest segment of the community. The United Arab Emirates is providing institutional support to Dubai Municipality through human-resource development, improvements to the urban environmental situation and the preparation of a strategic development plan. In the United Kingdom, local authorities perform a key coordinating role in the housing sector and the Government is encouraging them to move away from their traditional role as direct providers and to adopt more of an enabling role, assessing the needs of the area and using their housing and planning powers to stimulate activity by the private sector and housing associations to meet these needs.

90. Some countries have established new institutional and coordination mechanisms. For example, Angola is improving the institutional mechanism for addressing the issue of the management of its housing stock estimated at 130,000 units, a substantial portion of which is in a state of decay due to lack of maintenance, absence of policies and of an effective management system for housing development and improvement. The new institutional mechanism will coordinate the functions of the State Secretariat for Urbanization and Housing, the Peoples Bank of Angola, Ministry of Finance and the Registry. The British Virgin Islands is creating a new institutional framework for integrating town-planning activities with the different ministries and translating sectoral priorities into an overall development plan. Finland is streamlining the institutional framework in the housing sector by the integration of the former National Housing Board with the recently established National Housing Fund and the transfer of some of its functions to provincial governments and municipalities. Honduras has set up a new institution, FOSOVI, for coordination of shelter activities with those in other sectors of the economy.

91. India is strengthening coordination at the metropolitan level through strengthening local governments and district urban development agencies. In Kenya, the Provincial Monitoring Team coordinates activities at the local level. Malaysia has set up centralized processing units at the federal and state levels and prepared guidelines for facilitating coordination and speedy issue of approvals to development proposals. Myanmar has expanded the Housing Department to a Department of Human Settlements and Housing Development. Nepal is strengthening its capacity for increasing housing production through institutional reform and training in planning and management of the sector. Sri Lanka has set up an extensive coordinating and implementing machinery for the 1.5 Million Houses Programme extending from the central-government level, through district committees to people's committees. The United Arab Emirates has established new coordination mechanisms through systematic deregulation of authority and has introduced legislation and systems for environmental protection. It has also reactivated the Physical Planning Agency for coordinating development of housing, infrastructure and social facilities.

Indicator No. 8. Human-resources development

92. The implementation of enabling strategies requires broad-based training programmes involving updated educational curricula, and new and improved in-service training programmes targeted to specific key roles in the public and private sectors and community groups. Countries have taken different types of action varying from broad training programmes to specific courses. For example, in Afghanistan, technical educational institutes are reviewing curricula in housing in order to introduce their participatory approaches in the production process. Australia has decided to develop a national housing training strategy. Bahrain has introduced training programmes in micro-computer technology for human settlements planning and management and implementation of the recently completed national land-use plan. Bangladesh has undertaken a training programme for agencies involved in implementing drainage, environmental and municipal service improvements for low-income neighborhoods in Dhaka and Chittagong.

93. In Burundi, extensive training has been given to personnel of the National Housing Promotion Agency and, in particular, in issues such as credit operations, audit measures, plot and house design, selection of beneficiaries, coordination and supervision of construction works, management of credit portfolios and cost recovery. Canada used policy changes in its Rural and Native Housing Programme with the introduction of a self-help option and greater community involvement in programme delivery. In the area of research and training, Canada has created two centres of excellence in shelter and human settlements issues. These are the Urbanization and Development Centre of the Institut National de Recherche Scientifique (INRS) in Montreal, and the International Centre for Human Settlements at the University of British Columbia. Ecuador has undertaken a series of seminars, courses and training programmes to provide basic training for improving living conditions.

94. India has set up a Habitat School and a number of building centres to provide appropriate training at the local level. Kenya has organized a series of national-level seminars for all interested groups, including the private sector and NGOs, on various subjects including slum upgrading, security of tenure in squatter settlements, savings and loans, low-cost housing technologies and disaster management in the shelter sector. In addition, the Government Training Institute has commenced training courses for local authority staff. Nigeria has expanded vocational training centres and set up training programmes for local contractors. Thailand has commenced training in real-estate development to encourage the private-sector role in shelter development. The United Kingdom is introducing a system of vocational training qualifications which, together with the existing system, will help raise efficiency and the standards of performance in the construction industry. Zambia has undertaken a special training programme in the field of quantity surveying to strengthen the capacity of the National Housing Authority for its management of the increasing level of investment in shelter development.

95. A few countries have taken measures to meet women's special needs in training programmes. For example, in Kenya, NGOs train women's groups in shelter-related skills in on-the-job training programmes. In Nigeria, training in building-materials production is being provided as part of the National Better Life for Rural Women Programme. In Sri Lanka, a programme has been launched to form women's societies in low-income urban housing settlements to provide training in income-generating activities among women.

96. Many governments are providing encouragement to private-sector actors in shelter production. Australia has established the Housing Industry Development Council with the aim of assisting the housing industry to be more efficient, flexible and concerned with quality, to be in a position to produce a greater range of housing products and to be more responsive to changing patterns of demand. The Council comprises representatives of industry, unions, manufacturers and the three levels of governments. China is encouraging private- sector activity in the shelter sector through tax incentives. Nigeria also has a range of incentives including allocation of government land and access to the National Housing Fund. Nigeria has approved a new salary structure which will encourage professionalism within the civil service. The Republic of Korea provides incentives to private construction firms to train their employees. These include tax deductions, wage subsidies and cash subsidy to trainees. Sri Lanka is formulating modalities for motivating private developers to participate actively in the 1.5 Million Houses Programme.

Indicator No. 9. Land management

97. The Global Strategy urges governments to stimulate the supply of sufficient and affordable serviced land and to recognize the practical importance of informal land markets. Only a few countries have reported action or practical measures and incentives to release land. For example, Ethiopia is distributing State land free of cost to shelter builders. Malaysia is releasing state land to private developers for housing development as either private or joint schemes. Individual groups are also provided State land for housing. It is also using ex-mining areas for housing development. In Nigeria, land under government control is allocated to private developers for the large-scale development of housing. In the Republic of Korea, nearly half of the residential land developed in recent years was provided through land acquisition by public entities such as municipal governments, the Korea Land Development Corporation and the Korea National Housing Corporation. In the United Kingdom, it is the function of the planning system to provide an adequate and continuous supply of land for housing, and local planning authorities are advised to maintain a five-year supply of house-building land.

98. Many countries have taken initiatives to improve land-information systems. For example, Anguilla has commenced the establishment of a land-data management system as the first stage in the development of an Integrated National Spatial Development Strategy. This programme includes the preparation of local area plans to guide and coordinate development activities, and revised and updated legislative instruments to ensure proper building control and environmental protection. Antigua and Barbuda is establishing a geographical information system (GIS) as the basis for the preparation of a National Spatial Development Strategy. The Strategy will identify areas for development and for environmental protection. The British Virgin Islands is setting up a land-information system and automated mapping facilities to strengthen the Government's capacity in planning and development control. Grenada is preparing a National Spatial Development Strategy based on maps produced through satellite imagery, and is updating legislation for promoting and controlling development and for environmental impact assessment.

99. Jamaica has commenced the preparation of a National Spatial Development Strategy together with the establishment of a land- information system. Kenya has commenced setting-up a computer-based land-information system with a view to improving information on land available for shelter development. Malaysia has developed a computerized system for all functions in the Land Survey Department. Pakistan has established a computerized urban database for Karachi which has been used to design a land-use demand and supply model which assists planners to forecast land allocations using varied policy assumptions. Infrastructure and financial models support the overall planning process, thus enabling policy-makers to adopt alternatives to informal land-supply mechanisms. The Republic of Korea has recently set up a computerized land-information system to manage the country's land resources more effectively. The system maintains and updates some key information for land-management and land policy monitoring, including price/value, land-use and other attributes. Singapore has setup a land-information system which brings together topographical data with land-use and infrastructure information. Thailand is setting up a computerized land-information system in the Lands Department.

100. Some countries are preserving housing and land rights of the poor in the many settlement-upgrading programmes. For example, Kenya is operating a system for conversion of temporary occupation licences to long-term leases. In the Republic of Korea, the Redevelopment Act protects low-Income tenants' rights to housing and residential land. In redevelopment projects, existing tenants are given the choice of a minimum housing unit or a cash grant, and in some cases a parcel of land within the project.

101. Some countries have made special provision for providing security of tenure to women. For example, in Ethiopia, security of tenure of women is secured by law. In India, joint ownership by men and women is prescribed in most states.

Indicator No. 10. Infrastructure management

102. Providing infrastructure at a scale commensurate with demand is one of the key enabling actions to be taken by governments. Several countries have increased expansion of public investment in shelter-related infrastructure networks.

103. Indonesia is expanding the equitable distribution of essential urban infrastructure and promoting efficiency in the rehabilitation, construction, maintenance and operation of infrastructure systems by strengthening governmental, private-sector and community-level capacity. Sound investment and management practices have been established in 30 local governments and monitoring procedures have been set up in six provincial governments. Nepal has established a Town Development Fund Board as an autonomous financial intermediary to provide municipalities with long-term development finance for priority infrastructure and revenue-earning projects. Nigeria's Infrastructure Development Fund makes loans available to state and local governments for infrastructure development. In the Republic of Korea, investment in residential infrastructure has tripled in recent years under the national plan for the construction of 2 million housing units between 1988 and 1992. Thailand is investing in improving the road network and mass transport system in Bangkok.

104. Some countries are expanding the provision of a range of infrastructure and services. For example, in Bangladesh, as part of the preparation of the multi-sectoral development plans (structure plan, master plan and detailed area plan) for the cities of Dhakka and Chittagong, the Government has prepared multisectoral infrastructure master plans and priority programmes for sub-sectors including transport, drainage and flood control, and solid-waste management. Benin has developed a programme to provide basic communal infrastructure for low-income populations in 40 disadvantaged locations of the country. The facilities include primary schools, maternity homes, social centres, health centres, workshops and storage facilities. The programme has been able to mobilize people's participation and has achieved partial cost recovery. A special handbook has been compiled on the simple but appropriate infrastructure designs used for the programme. The Lao People's Democratic Republic is introducing a range of shelter-related infrastructure networks in the Sihom neighbourhood in central Vientiane which is home to some of the poorest population groups. The works include a network of primary, secondary and tertiary drainage, improved primary access roads, water and electricity supply systems and unproved garbage collection. The programme includes a primary school and a credit system for self-help construction and improvement of low cost housing. Niger is undertaking a programme of introducing basic infrastructure in the Yantala area of Niamey, the capital city. Activities include roads, drainage and sewerage facilities, credit facilities for landowners, and cost recovery mechanisms for the construction and maintenance of infrastructure. Sri Lanka has implemented pilot projects for low-cost incinerators, toilets and water-supply systems in an effort to develop cost-effective alternatives in low-income housing projects. Sri Lanka is also implementing the Urban Basic Services Programme in 14 urban local authority areas with a view to increasing access by poor families to water supply and sanitation, and to promoting health, nutrition, pre-schooling, income-generation and community participation.

105. In the field of solid waste, Afghanistan has formulated a comprehensive plan for solid-waste management in Kabul. A review was undertaken on the nature of waste generation, its organic content and the efficiency of the collection and disposal equipment. Canada has introduced a Waste Management Challenge to the residential construction industry in order to encourage better waste-management practices. Present estimates are that approximately 16 per cent of Canada's total landfill waste volume is the direct result of building and renovating homes. Up to 8 per cent of the total costs of residential construction may be attributed to the disposal of waste. The new- programme offers waste-management seminars, guidelines for the development of waste-management plans, a directory of resources and public recognition of participant builders and renovators. Maldives has analysed current and projected solid-waste management requirements, including environmental protection for the capital city, Male. Proposals for implementation include container-based collection, barge transport and landfill disposal. Viet Nam undertook a technical review of the overall solid-waste situation in Hanoi and has introduced the forced-air composting process in the treatment of refuse which will also produce organic fertilizer.

106. In the field of low-cost sanitation, Mozambique has established a national unit which advises communities on sanitation and the construction of appropriate and affordable latrines in peri-urban areas. The programme includes training of artisans in production techniques and the creation of small enterprises to manufacture latrine and other building components in the urban areas throughout the country.

107. The incorporation of low-cost technology information in formal and in-service professional training curricula is being done in some countries. In India special low-cost houses, using locally- available materials, are designed by the Habitat Polytechnic.

108. Sustainable programmes for infrastructure maintenance are being pursued by a number of countries. For example, in Chad, a programme has been prepared for short-term and long-term interventions with regards to the construction and maintenance of infrastructure. China is formulating a programme for the rehabilitation of infrastructure, housing and services in historic cities and organized a four-day national seminar on preservation strategies to be applied in 34 historic towns.

109. Some countries have taken action towards improvement of the capacity of local governments to generate and collect infrastructure revenue. For example, in Ethiopia, a revenue-sharing arrangement has been set up between the central- and 14 local-government bodies. Myanmar has improved the capacity of local authorities through improved collection of development and user charges, property taxes and betterment charges. Nigeria has a programme of urban prioritization studies which assists local-government bodies to prioritize their urban infrastructure development and maintenance needs and identify ways of enhancing their revenue. In Thailand, in addition to normal taxes, local authorities levy a flood-protection tax.

110. Encouragement of the private sector and community organizations to finance and operate infrastructure systems is a new approach being undertaken in several countries. For example, in India, the private sector is expanding its role in solid-waste management, transport and provision of local services. In Malaysia, the Government is encouraging the privatization of the infrastructure system. The Republic of Korea is encouraging the private sector to finance and operate infrastructural systems with the objectives of efficiency as well as better service to the general public. Thailand is promoting economic growth through reducing the size and cost of the public sector by involving the private sector in the provision of public services, initially in six municipalities. Major road networks are being improved and extended in order to facilitate private-sector activity in housing development. Uganda has launched a programme of assisting communities and local authorities in strengthening and promoting community-improvement programmes at the village or neighborhood level. The programme specifically deals with community management strategies, construction of service and facilities, housing improvements, environmental awareness and protection and income generation. The United Kingdom has gone far in privatizing infrastructure. Existing authorities responsible for water and sewerage in England and Wales were merged into 10 new companies and then company shares sold to the public. Electricity generation and supply have also been privatized.

Indicator No.11. Housing finance

111. Shelter development requires a steady flow of long-term finance, and shelter-finance reform has to be seen as part of a broad effort to develop and reform the financial sector. A number of countries are undertaking a review or reform of shelter-finance systems. Angola is undertaking a review on the establishment of a fund for housing development as part of a major review of the financial and management aspects of the housing sector. In Burundi, the Urban Housing Promotion Fund has been established to mobilize finance for housing and to take over the credit functions of ECOSAT, the housing promotion agency. China is establishing a special housing fund based on public as well as private funds. Finland's National Housing Fund has introduced a new lending system based on the graduated mortgage system. Kenya is investigating the use of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) to finance housing for NSSF members.

112. Nigeria has overhauled its entire housing-finance system and a two-tier system has been established with the Federal Mortgage Bank at the apex and a network of private mortgage institutions as the second tier. A National Housing Fund has been established to which all financial institutions, insurance companies and all workers are required to contribute. The Republic of Korea has undertaken extensive reviews of its housing-finance system. Private funds have been mobilized by adjusting the interest structure and allowing the banking institutions, to develop home-ownership related savings schemes.

113. The United Republic of Tanzania has rehabilitated the Tanzania Housing Bank to enable it to attract institutional sources of funding. It has also undertaken an assessment of the informal housing mechanisms to cater to the needs of low-income households. Zambia has undertaken a review of the operational procedures of the Zambia National Building Society (ZNBS) and has established the Zambia Housing Development Fund (ZHDF) to work in partnership with ZNBS. ZHDF became fully operational during 1992.

114. Some countries are taking action to increase the stock of rental housing. Angola is reviewing the status of rental housing and developing a methodology for systematically carrying out an inventory of the housing stock. Bulgaria is increasing the relative share of rental dwelling stock and introducing changes in the relevant legislation. Denmark has made legislative changes to increase activity in rental housing. Ethiopia is mobilizing finance through the rental housing administration agency. Finland is gradually relaxing rent control. India is providing financial assistance for rental housing and undertaking reform of rent control. The Republic of Korea is expanding its rental housing programme aimed to meet the shelter needs of the lowest income group.

115. Some countries are mobilizing finance for the improvement of existing housing. For example, India is implementing a national programme for shelter upgrading for the urban poor. The National Council of Churches of Kenya is establishing a revolving fund based on community savings to provide credit through small loans to build improve or extend houses. In the Republic of Korea, under the Residential Environment Improvement Law, property owners can received loans on easy terms to upgrade substandard units.

116. Some countries have developed forms of mortgages appropriate to particular types of households. For example, Canada has introduced two new legislative changes in 1992 to facilitate home-ownership by reducing the equity requirement for credit for first home-buyers, and by enabling home-buyers to withdraw funds from the Registered Retirement Savings Plan to make the downpayment. Innovative changes are underway in mortgage and housing insurance procedures to assist the growing population of seniors. Finland has introduced a new instrument called right of occupancy housing which enables the poor with lower than normal levels of investment to become owner-occupiers. Sri Lanka has developed a range of mechanisms to serve the poor. Needy families with nil repayment capacity are provided with a non-recoverable grant, those with limited repayment capacity are provided with a loan and a grant. A group loan scheme has been launched to facilitate both urban and rural low-income families to provide a group guarantee for housing: This scheme promotes house-building on a cooperative basis. Revolving funds at the community level have become common in many countries to cater for low-income families.

117. Some countries have included cost recovery as a key component of housing investment and infrastructure management. As one of the actions for efficient implementation of its Rural Low Cost Housing Programme, Malawi is establishing village housing development groups and cooperatives in 24 districts and conducting promotion and training activities in credit systems and loan-recovery procedures. Niger has introduced the cost-recovery principle in the provision of infrastructure and housing through the establishment of revolving funds. The Republic of Korea has achieved a loan-recovery rate of 99 per cent.

Indicator No.12. Building materials and technology

118. The Global Strategy for Shelter urges governments to take special actions to support local production and use of indigenous materials, and encourage small-scale building-materials production. To this end, governments have taken action in assessing raw materials, strengthening research and training activities and strengthening small-scale industries.

119. With regard to surveys and the assessment of raw-material resources, in Afghanistan, the geological survey is the basis for assessing suitability of certain raw materials for shelter construction. Australia has set up a National Resources Assessment Commission, an independent body which investigates major resource issues. Costa Rica has expanded the use of bamboo as a material for low-cost housing. Nepal has undertaken an assessment of raw-material resources and is expanding the production of improved building materials including. stabilized-earth blocks, steel door and window frames, concrete elements for low-cost toilets, and improved roofing materials. In addition, alternatives to the use of timber as a building material are being sought. Tunisia has undertaken an evaluation of materials and construction technologies appropriate for self-help builders.

120. Many countries have strengthened their research and training activities for the development of local building materials and the construction workforce. Some building research institutes are focusing on specific matters in order to develop new materials, or improve the quality of and reduce the cost of existing materials. China is introducing precast reinforced-concrete components and concrete hollow blocks in shelter construction through out the country. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is strengthening the facilities and capabilities of the Construction Design and Calculation Centre (CDCC), the controlling body for all the design institutions in the country, through the introduction of computer-aided methods for planning, analysis and drafting. In India, public agencies are required to devote at least 1 per cent of their budget for research and development. The wide network of building centres in the country is assembling and disseminating information on local building materials and construction technologies. The Islamic Republic of Iran is strengthening its research capabilities of the Building and Housing Research Centre in Tehran in the areas of small-scale cement production, improved lime production, quality control in construction and mitigating losses caused by building fires. Malaysia is promoting industrialized building technology, modular coordination and the use of local construction materials. Nigeria's Building and Road Research Institute is providing training of trainers courses in the production of stabilized-laterite bricks. In Viet Nam, the Institute of Building Materials has established a small-scale production and research capacity for fibre-concrete roofing sheets and tiles. Three pilot plants for experiments on and test production of fibre-concrete roofing tiles and one pilot plant for the production of roofing sheets have been established. Early indications show that the technology can be quickly adapted and disseminated throughout the country. Yemen has strengthened the capacity of its building-materials laboratory and improved the quality control of locally-produced materials. It has also prepared a new legislative framework for regulating standards, quality control, production processes and the use of building materials.

121. Several countries are strengthening local small-scale industries in the building-materials sector. Afghanistan has undertaken a project for assisting local communities in improving supplies of roofing timber and local brick production in connection with the rehabilitation and resettlement work in 75 locations. Many of the projects have included a food-for-work component provided through the World Food Programme. China is encouraging local small-scale industries to become the major producers of building materials. Kenya is supporting the small-scale building-materials producers in the informal sector in several ways, including the development of the national standard specification for fibre-cement roofing (FCR) tiles and stabilized-soil blocks to facilitate acceptability of products. Malawi has stepped up training small-scale entrepreneurs in low-cost building-materials production and house-building technologies, and is assisting them to obtain small business loans to establish themselves. In order to strengthen small-scale industries, Zambia has reviewed national and regional experience in the field of low-cost building-materials and construction techniques and has trained local officials and artisans in building materials production and technology for low-income housing. It plans to build 10 demonstration houses and train small-scale entrepreneurs, produce training manuals and disseminate the new technology.

122. Some countries are selecting technologies and building materials that encourage the participation of women in the construction sectors. For example, the use of stabilized-earth blocks and various types of roofing tiles are being popularized. These can be produced and used with simple equipment. Some governments are encouraging women to other ways. For example, in Kenya, several women's groups belong to the national umbrella body of small-scale producers of construction materials.

Indicator No.13. Targeting of subsidies

123. A few countries have reviewed current subsidy policies for shelter and infrastructure. Afghanistan is reviewing its subsidy priority in the shelter sector to target the very needy families. China reviewed the subsidy system in order to formulate the policy on sale of houses and raising of rents. Denmark has revised the Housing Allowance Act to improving the targeting of rent subsidies. India has reviewed the different forms of capital subsidies, differential interest rates and subsidies in the cost of land and infrastructure and has refined their application for increasing affordability levels and providing grants for shelter upgrading. In the Republic of Korea reviews undertaken by the public agency as well as the Korea Consumer Protection Board have indicated that current subsidies are costly, inefficient and inequitable in their distribution even though the overall housing condition of the less advantaged sections of the population has improved markedly over recent years. In the United Kingdom, the Government's policy is that housing associations, which are voluntary, non-profit making, private-sector bodies, should be the main providers of new subsidized housing.

124. Some countries are increasing access to shelter by the poor through cross-subsidy schemes. For example, in Guinea, under the implementation of the new housing policy the pricing of plots in the urban expansion programmes are based on a two-tier system which provides provisions for cross-subsidy in favour of the low-income sector.

Indicator No.14. Monitoring of the shelter sector

125. The Strategy recognizes that regular monitoring of the performance of the shelter sector is a critical component of NSSs. Most industralized countries already have efficient systems for monitoring the shelter sector. For example, Canada's Housing Market Analysis Centre monitors, analyses and forecasts economic changes and trends in the housing industry that can impact on its affordability and accessbility of housing. In 1991, some 100 publications providing analysis and forecasts of local and national housing markets were issued by the Centre. Some countries have applied selected shelter sector performance indicators from those provided by UNCHS (Habitat) pursuant to Commission resolution 13/9. These include Afghanistan, Congo, Fiji, India, Kenya and Uganda. Some others have participated, at the government level, in the UNCHS(Habitat)/World Bank Housing Indicators Programme. These include China, Finland, Hungary and the Phillippines. Congo undertook an assessment of the urban shelter situation by using selected indicators as well as satellite imagery. The indicators related to institutions, housing finance, infrastructure, land and the building industry. The application of the indicators analysed the bottle-necks to shelter production and provided guidelines for realistic improvements. The draft NSS, which resulted from this exercise, was discussed during a national policy seminar held in May 1992 and subsequently was adopted by the Government.

126. Several countries have made initial progress in establishing a national database on the shelter sector. India's National Building Organization is expanding its existing housing database. Kenya has commenced the exercise by initially developing a city database. Malaysia is developing a Housing Information System and has already developed a fully operational information-management system for the Ministry of Lands and Cooperative Development. Myanmar is developing a computerized urban database to provide an improved mechanism for housing delivery with emphasis on lower-income populations in resettlement areas as well as inner-city areas. Namibia, as part of its NSS formulation exercise, is developing a housing database and identifying key indicators for monitoring the performance of the shelter sector. The Philippines has set up a database and a system for gathering and disseminating housing data. Tunisia has developed a computer system for rapid data classification and retrieval in the housing sector, particularly, for strengthening the implementation of the National Programme of Integration of Rudimentary Dwellings.

III. Action by the United Nations System

127. Several United Nations organizations and agencies, multilateral and bilateral organizations, and NGOs have taken actions which promote the improvement of shelter and services. A brief description is provided below. A more detailed account is provided in document HS/C/14/12 on cooperation with United Nations organizations.

128. The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) reviewed progress made at the regional level in the implementation of the Strategy. It also organized a number of seminars and workshops on human settlements issues including the urban economy and productivity, urban environment, and promotion of component building in the informal sector. It issued a publication on metropolitan fringe development focusing on informal land subdivision. A ministerial meeting on urbanization in Asia and the Pacific is planned to be held in September 1993.

129. The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) in cooperation with the Government of Yemen and the Islamic Development Bank, organized the Symposium on Low-cost Housing in the Arab Region at Sanaa' in October 1992. This Symposium reviewed both the technical and the financial aspects of low-cost housing in the Arab Region.

130. The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) reviewed shelter and human settlements issues within the framework of a review of Africa's economic and social performance in 1991 and prospects for 1992. The issues considered included the environment, population growth, transport, natural resources and information for development.

131. The Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) organized five workshops and seminars on housing reform in the Central and Eastern European countries. The first workshop, held at Bucharest, was on rent policies, the second workshop, held at Bratislava was devoted to housing finance, and the third workshop, which dealt mainly with public/private partnership, took place at Berlin in October 1991. The fourth workshop, on social housing was held at Budapest, and the fifth, on land management, was held at Bucharest, in October 1992. Each workshop was attended by experts from Western and Eastern European countries and by representatives of ECE and UNCHS (Habitat).

132. The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) organized a Regional Meeting of Ministers and High-Level Authorities of the Housing and Urban Development Sector in Latin America and the Caribbean at Santiago, Chile, from 16 to 20 March 1992. In this activity, ECLAC collaborated with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development of Chile, the United Nations Development Programme, the Inter-American Development Bank, and UNCHS (Habitat). ECLAC also undertook a review of human settlements conditions and trends in the region, and developed sectoral data systems. It also undertook studies on urban management in medium-sized cities, housing finance and metropolitan management.

133. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in addition to providing funding for a large number of technical cooperation projects for execution by the Centre, is providing the core funding and substantive monitoring of Urban Management Programme (UMP) and is placing increasing emphasis on the urban development and the human settlements sector in its programme of assistance to developing countries. It has supported the development and testing of the housing indicators in a number of countries and is working towards incorporating one or more indicators on adequacy of housing in the determination of the Human Development Index. UNDP has also supported the UNCHS (Habitat)/FINNIDA Support Programme for preparing National Shelter Strategies in Costa Rica and Nicaragua

134. The International Labour Organization (ILO) collaborated with UNCHS (Habitat) on a study on "The relationship between underemployment and employment and shelter provision". The report of the study is contained in document HS/C/14/2/Add.2.

135. The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), in collaboration with UNCHS (Habitat), organized a consultation on the wood industry in February 1991 at Vienna and the second consultation on building materials in November 1991 at Athens. The First Global Consultation on the Construction Industry, being jointly organized by UNIDO and UNCHS (Habitat), is to be held at Tunis, in May 1993. The Consultation will focus on the current constraints to improving the performance of the construction industry in developing countries (such as the chronic shortage of building materials, low labour productivity, lack of managerial and technical skills, and low capitalization of construction enterprises), and will search for new initiatives to strengthen the construction sector in developing countries. An inter-agency meeting was held at Tunis from 24 to 27 February 1992 to begin preparatory work for the Global Consultation.

136. The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) Agenda 21 includes a Human Settlements Programme which contains programme action areas directly relating to the objectives of the Global Strategy for Shelter. These areas are adequate shelter for all, human settlements management, land-resource management, environmental infrastructure, construction and human-resource development and capacity-building. The Programme sets out a number of activities to be undertaken by the United Nations system as well as by Member States.

137. The International Steering Committee for Cooperative Action for the International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade (IDWSSD) held the International Conference on Water and the Environment in Dublin in January 1992. The Conference made substantive inputs towards the formulation of the UNCED Agenda 21 chapter on water.

138. World Health Organization (WHO). The joint WHO/FAO/UNEP/UNCHS Panel of Experts on Environmental Management for Vector Control (PEEM) met at Harare, in 1992, for their Collaborating Centre Steering Committee meeting. The meeting resolved a number of proposals which would be further developed to achieve the goals set by the PEEM medium-term programme 1991-1995. These included:

	UNITED NATIONS	HS

	Commission on Human Settlements	Distr. GENERAL HS/C/14/3 14 December 1992 ORIGINAL: ENGLISH

Fourteenth session Nairobi 26 April - 5 May 1993 Item 5 of the provisional agenda Global Strategy for Shelter to the Year 2000
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GLOBAL STRATEGY FOR SHELTER TO THE YEAR 2000
Report of the Executive Director

CONTENTS
				Paragraphs
Introduction				1-6
I.	Action by the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat)			7-42
	A.	Promoting wider understanding of the links between shelter, the living enviroment and sustainable development		9-12
	B.	Provision of substantive support to Member States		13-21
		1.	Technical cooperation	14
		2.	Special advisory services	15-17
		3.	Subregional seminars on national shelter strategies	18
		4.	Monitoring national shelter strategies	19
		5.	Shelter sector performance indicators	20-21
	C.	Research and development		22-31
	D.	Dissemination of information on the Global Strategy for Shelter		32-33
	E.	Women in shelter and services development		34-35
	F.	Cooperation with NGOs		36-41
	G.	Cooperation with other organizations		42
II.	Action by Member States towards national shelter strategies			43-126
	Indicator No. 1. Political commitment to shelter			47-58
	Indicator No. 2. Sustainable development policies			59-64
	Indicator No. 3. Macro-economic strategies			65-66
	Indicator No. 4. Links between shelter objectives and settlement management			67-75
	Indicator No. 5. Identification of needs and resources			76-81
	Indicator No. 6. Participation and representation			82-87
	Indicator No. 7. Institutional coordination			88-91
	Indicator No. 8. Human-resources development			92-96
	Indicator No. 9. Land management			97-101
	Indicator No. 10. Infrastructure management			102-110
	Indicator No. 11. Housing finance			111-117
	Indicator No. 12. Building materials and technology			118-122
	Indicator No. 13. Targeting of subsidies			123-124
	Indicator No. 14. Monitoring of the shelter sector			125-126
III.	Action by the United Nations system			127-138
IV.	Action by bilateral and multilateral agencies and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations			139-161
V.	Global Strategy for Shelter to the Year 2000 plan of action for 1994-1995			162-164
Conclusion				165-167
Notes
Annex: Formulation of National Shelter Strategies: Examples of assistance provided by the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat)