UN-HABITAT's CONTRIBUTION TO WSSD

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Report of the Executive Director on the World Summit on Sustainable Development
(Johannesburg, 26 August - 4 September 2002

HSP/GC/19/2/Add.2 (advance and unedited version)

A. Introduction

The World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) marked the culmination of a process that had started in early 2001 with progress reports prepared by UN-system task managers on the implementation of Agenda 21 (the reports were compiled by the end of 2001 into a formal Report of the Secretary-General) and that involved four meetings of the Preparatory Committee. WSSD itself had 21,000 registered participants (9,000 government delegations including 104 heads of state and numerous ministers; 8,000 representatives of IGOs and NGOs; and 4,000 journalists). Presided by President T. Mbeki of South Africa, WSSD adopted two negotiated documents:

The Plan of Implementation (54 pages);
The Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development (4 pages)

In addition to the plenary, negotiation sessions and high-level round table discussions, WSSD provided the framework for exhibitions and over 500 side and parallel events at various sites. General world opinion was not impressed by the negotiated results of WSSD and its preparatory process (type-1 outcomes):

The negotiated texts barely confirm previous agreements, and with very few exceptions do not commit governments to new goals, targets and time frames (one such rare exception is the target to halve the number of people without access to sanitation by 2015, but this target is only a step forward from the re-lated Millennium Development Goal on drinking water, adopted two years ago);
There is general disappointment over the lack of implementation of Agenda 21 and related international agreements with calls for postponing any future summits until governments have demonstrated willing-ness and ability to implement agreements already reached.

Positive opinions expressed on WSSD relate mostly to awareness raising on the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable development and the broader involvement of NGOs and the business community in partnerships with governments and Inter-Governmental Organizations (IGOs) through tangible implementation initiatives (type-2 outcomes).

B. Outcomes for UN-HABITAT

4. UN-HABITAT, with special concerns and task-manager responsibilities for chapters 7, 21 and 28 of Agenda 21 (sustainable settlements, waste and sanitation, local authorities), has participated actively in the WSSD process. Its normative and operational mandate is reflected in the Type-1 outcome of the Summit (negotiated text). The Plan of Implementation contains important references to UN-HABITAT’s work in the sections on poverty eradication, changing unsustainable patterns of consumption and production, pro-tecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development, sustainable develop-ment in Africa, means of implementation, and institutional framework for sustainable development. The following commitments are of special interest (paragraph numbers refer to the current advance unedited text, the numbers will change in the final document):

Paragraphs 6 / 7 – halve the number of people without access to drinking water and sanitation by 2015;
Paragraph 10 – improve the lives of 100 million slum dwellers by 2020 (with references to land, ade-quate shelter and the role of local authorities);
Paragraph 65 – support African countries in their efforts to implement the Habitat Agenda and the Istan-bul Declaration (with references to sustainable urbanization, adequate shelter, basic services, govern-ance systems in cities and other human settlements, and national / local institutional capacities);
Paragraph 137 – strengthen UN-HABITAT (jointly with UNEP, UNDP and UNCTAD) in its role to build capacities at all levels for implementing Agenda 21;
Paragraph 149 – enhance the role of local authorities and partnerships involving local authorities and other levels of government as called for in the Habitat Agenda;
Further, there are numerous other references relevant to UN-HABITAT’s work, including the following: transport (20); waste management (21); water resource management (25, 60); coastal area management and land-based marine pollution (26, 32); disaster management (35, 59); lead pollution (50); capacity building in GIS, indicators, planning and management methodologies (119 bis – undeciens); and good governance and broad-based decision making (120, 121).

5. The Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development is a political statement agreed at the highest level and is not meant to repeat the much more detailed Plan of Implementation. But even at this general policy level, the Declaration contains explicit reference to UN-HABITAT’s areas of responsibility, placing them at the top of the agenda, effectively up-dating the WEHAB (Water, energy, health, agriculture, bio-diversity) list of priorities:

Paragraph 18 – “We welcome the Johannesburg Summit focus on the indivisibility of human dignity and are resolved through decisions and targets, timetables and partnerships to speedily increase access to ba-sic requirements such as clean water, sanitation, adequate shelter, energy, health care, food security, and the protection of bio-diversity.”

6. UN-HABITAT’s responsibilities are also well reflected in the Type-2 outcome of WSSD (partner-ship implementation commitments). The “Coalition for Sustainable Urbanization”, developed by UN-HABITAT with more than 40 Habitat Agenda partners, posted on the official WSSD website, has been for-mally announced by the Executive Director in her plenary address, and has been launched in a half-day “corporate event” involving the full range of partners. The Coalition has been praised by partners as a co-herent cluster of mutually supportive initiatives linked by the common conceptual framework of “sustain-able urbanization”.

7. At the same time, individual components of the Coalition for Sustainable Urbanization have gained prominence in their own rights. Among them, and most importantly, the launch of the “Water for Asian Cit-ies” partnership between UN-HABITAT, the Asian Development Bank, the Government of the Netherlands, and Governments of Asian Countries has received much attention. With its agreed $10 million in grants and $500 million in fast-track credit, the initiative is expected to demonstrate the complementarity between ca-pacity building and lending operations, between the UN and development finance institutions.

8. Other noteworthy components of the Coalition for Sustainable Urbanization involve close opera-tional partnerships with global associations of local authorities (individually or through the World Associa-tion of Cities and Local Authorities Coordination - WACLAC) for strengthening local capacities for sus-tainable urbanization. These partnerships, involving also partner organizations such as UNEP, UNITAR, ILO, UNV and WHO, focus on thematic issues such as HIV-AIDS, or on modalities for capacity develop-ment such as demonstration/replication, training, best practices, and city-to-city cooperation. Prominent among these partnerships is the next phase of the “Sustainable Cities Programme” with funding from the Dutch Government and the “Partnership for Local Capacity Development” a result of joint work on city-to-city cooperation in which the international associations of local authorities place high expectations.

C. UN-HABITAT Activities in Johannesburg

9. A focused and coherent message was developed and agreed with Habitat Agenda Partners from the onset of UN-HABITAT’s preparations for WSSD in early 2002. This message was consistently promoted by all. It has two dimensions that parallel the two types of interrelated outcomes expected from the overall WSSD process (i.e. type-1, negotiated norms and policies; and type-2, partnership implementation commit-ments):

a) Sustainable Urbanization (policy framework):

There will be no sustainable development without sustainable urbanization
Local capacities are key for sustainable urbanization

b) Coalition for Sustainable Urbanization (11 partnership implementation commitments):

Millennium Cities Partnership
Local Capacities for Global Agendas
Partnership for Local Capacity Development
Model City-to-City Cooperation Partnership
Demonstrating Local Environmental Planning and Management
National Capacities for Up-scaling Local Agenda 21 Demonstrations
Local Capacity Building and Training for Sustainable Urbanization
Learning From Best Practices and Policies in Support of Sustainable Urbanization
Water for Asian Cities
Partnership for Sustainable African Cities
Partnership for Managing HIV/AIDS at the Local Level

10. Over the preparatory period UN-HABITAT and its partners have been relatively successful in ensur-ing that the key messages on “Sustainable Urbanisation” and the key thematic areas addressed by the “Coali-tion for Sustainable Urbanisation” are reflected in the negotiated text of WSSD. This political work resulted in the UN-HABITAT related text mentioned in section (2) above, and was completed by the end of Prep-Com-4 in Bali. Remaining negotiations in Johannesburg for the most part did not deal with text directly re-lated to the mandate of UN-HABITAT – with the important exception of the Political Declaration, which was drafted from scratch in Johannesburg. The extra-ordinary achievement of having “adequate shelter” mentioned as a priority concern in the Johannesburg Declaration was due to the constructive relationship between the Executive Director and her team, members of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to UN-HABITAT (CPR), and concerned government representatives.

11. During the ten days of the Johannesburg Summit itself, the work of the UN-HABITAT secretariat focused primarily on delivering the UN-HABITAT message, making best use of a variety of special oppor-tunities presented by the Summit. These opportunities included plenary statements by the Executive Direc-tor, side and parallel events organized by UN-HABITAT, events organized by UN-HABITAT partners, press conferences, book launches, exhibitions, bilateral meetings, etc. Below is an overview:

The Executive Director addressed close to 20 events during the 10-day Summit. This included two statements in the plenary and participation in a high level round table with heads of state;
The Executive Director gave two official press briefings and close to 20 one-on-one interviews;
UN-HABITAT organized with various partners a dozen side and parallel events including:
a “corporate event” on the Coalition for Sustainable Urbanization;
a partnership event on Sustainable African Cities;
several partnership events on Water for Cities;
a meeting of the UN Advisory Committee of Local Authorities (UNACLA)
UN-HABITAT organized a major exhibition on water and sanitation;
UN-HABITAT launched three publications:
Sustainable Urbanization: Achieving Agenda 21 (based on the outcome of the First World Urban Forum, in cooperation with the British Department for International Development (DFID), provid-ing the unifying framework for the Coalition, 1000 copies distributed in Johannesburg and 2000 copies now being distributed world-wide);
Coalition for Sustainable Urbanization: Partnership Commitments for Implementing Agenda 21 (prepared with more than 40 Habitat Agenda partners, following the First World Urban Forum, 500 copies distributed at WSSD, 500 copies distributed world-wide);
Sustainable Urbanization: Bridging the Brown and the Green Agendas (260 pages, in cooperation with DFID and the Development Planning Unit, DPU);

UN-HABITAT staff participated as chairperson, keynote speaker or speaker in numerous events organ-ized by partners such as the following:

Several meetings during the “Local Government Session” organized by the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI);
Event organized by the Global Lead Network;
Official Side Event organized by UNITAR; and
WHO launch of “Healthy Environment for Children”.

D. Follow-up

12. Only time will tell whether WSSD has been a real success. As far as UN-HABITAT is concerned, initial assessment indicates that the Habitat Agenda has done quite well in the WSSD process, considering the generally acknowledged limitations of this process. UN-HABITAT made good use of the worldwide momentum created by the WSSD process, of the worldwide sense of urgency to address sustainable devel-opment in all its dimensions, and of the heightened spirit of partnership that emerged. Accordingly, UN-HABITAT and its partners successfully used the WSSD process to make significant progress in three areas:

Focusing more sharply on what must be done in human settlements policies to achieve sustainable de-velopment. This has resulted in the policy framework of “Sustainable Urbanization” developed, agreed, published, and applied to partnership implementation agreements.
Building awareness of the important role of cities and other human settlements for sustainable develop-ment. This has resulted in enhanced recognition of the issue globally and among Habitat Agenda part-ners who are using “Sustainable Urbanization” as a unifying framework for joint normative and opera-tional activities.
Using the momentum, heightened interest in sustainable development and partnership spirit to develop implementation initiatives, complete with concrete work plans, agreed responsibilities, and funding commitments. This has resulted in the “Coalition for Sustainable Urbanization” and its component ini-tiatives (e.g. the Water for Asian Cities Programme).

13. UN-HABITAT’s participation in the WSSD went according to a plan developed, refined and im-plemented over the eight months preparatory period in close and systematic collaboration between UN-HABITAT’s senior management and professional staff, the Committee of Permanent Representatives to UN-HABITAT, and the full range of Habitat Agenda partners. Follow-up, in broad terms, is part of a simi-lar broad-based plan with three basic components:

Follow-up on the WSSD political outcome for UN-HABITAT, especially the recognition of “adequate shelter” as a thematic priority and “framework for action” at par with the other “WEHAB” areas (para-graph 18 of the Johannesburg Declaration);
Administrative and managerial follow-up to enable UN-HABITAT fulfil its WSSD mandates and com-mitments, especially with respect to institutional structures and capacities; and
Operational follow-up, including the further development and implementation of the “Coalition for Sus-tainable Urbanisation” and its component initiatives.

14. Regarding political follow-up, the outcome of WSSD has been reported to the UN-HABITAT Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR) one week after the Johannesburg event. The CPR in turn has communicated to the Permanent Representatives in New York the significance of including, in para-graph 18 of the Political Declaration, “adequate shelter” alongside the other “WEHAB” thematic priority areas. In its communication, the CPR suggests specific language for any GA resolution on UN-HABITAT so as to recognize the importance of urbanization issues such as adequate shelter, water and sanitation for the achievement of sustainable development. Also, the Executive Director has taken up the issue in her speech to the 57th Session of the General Assembly on UN-HABITAT and the Secretariat has addressed the issue in WSSD follow-up arrangements and mechanisms such as the “open ended working group” estab-lished by the High Level Committee on Programmes (HLCP) and the “task group” formed within the Pro-gramme Group of the UN Development Group (UNDG). Further, UN-HABITAT uses the WSSD outcome to update its work under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), such as Target 10 on water and sani-tation.

15. Regarding administrative and managerial follow-up to facilitate UN-HABITAT’s WSSD mandates and commitments, the Executive Director has taken important decisions, including the following:

Signing of a memorandum of understanding with UNDP to place UN-HABITAT officers in UNDP country offices to ensure that issues of slum upgrading, adequate shelter and sustainable urbanization will be better incorporated and coordinated in macro-economic planning and local investment frame-works such as the Poverty Reduction strategy Papers (PRSPs) and the Country Development Frame-works (CDFs);
Establishment of a new sub-programme in the UN-HABITAT work programme to revive the Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation as per GA resolution 56/206. Donors have provided grants to sup-port preparatory activities;
Establishment of a fully fledged Water, Sanitation and Infrastructure Branch, with eight professionals, to rise to the challenge of delivering the water and sanitation targets agreed in Johannesburg;
Creation of a Water and Sanitation Trust Fund, with an initial UN-HABITAT investment of $1 million, to make available quick disbursing funds in the area of water and sanitation.

16. Regarding operational follow-up, the component initiatives of the “Coalition for Sustainable Ur-banization” are being developed further and implemented. New partners and new initiatives are joining the Coalition. Synergy and cohesion under the unifying framework of “Sustainable Urbanization” will be re-viewed in the context of the World Urban Forum. Through this the concept of “Sustainable Urbanisation” is being further developed enabling UN-HABITAT and its partners to enhance over time their important con-tribution to socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable development. Following are some ex-amples:

Local Capacities for Global Agendas - UN-HABITAT and UNEP are continuing to develop local ca-pacities for a two-way link between local development priorities and opportunities, and the global norms established in UN-HABITAT’s global campaigns (e.g. participation, accountability, security) and UNEP’s environmental conventions (e.g. climate change, land-based marine pollution, biodiversity). Strategies are being developed with the international Local Government community (through WACLAC and UNACLA) in international meetings such as the WUF and the annual partners meeting of the Sustainable Cities Programme.
Partnership for Local Capacity Development – This partnership implementation commitment is the primary joint instrument of UN-HABITAT and the international Local Government community (through WACLAC and UNACLA) to promote local capacity development. It builds on the joint achievements on city to city cooperation (C2C) in response to resolution 18/10 and 18/11 of the Com-mission on Human Settlements that were endorsed at I+5, the World Urban Forum (WUF), and the Lo-cal Government Session of WSSD. C2C was the theme of the 2002 World Habitat Day and will it be addressed in the GC-19 dialogue on “Decentralisation and Local Authorities Development”.
Demonstrating Local Environmental Planning and Management (EPM) – Major donors are now com-mitted to support the new Phase of the joint UN-HABITAT/UNEP Sustainable Cities Programme, de-signed to broaden EPM demonstrations undertaken by local authorities and their local partners. Through expanded and more systematic collaboration with related international initiatives such as the UNDP Public-Private Partnership for the Urban Environment (PPPUE) and the ILO Advisory Support Information Services and Training (ASIST) the Programme is addressing new issues such as sustainable mobility and improved basic urban services for the poor and marginalised groups.
National capacities for up-scaling Local Agenda 21 demonstrations - Based on the large number of joint Local Agenda 21 demonstrations, UN-HABITAT and UNEP are now documenting lessons of ex-perience in collaboration with local and central governments and national urban training institutions. This is aimed at building national capacities for effectively replicating the demonstration activities and for multiplying the positive impact of the investments made in connection with these demonstrations.
Learning from Best Practices and Good Policies in Support of Sustainable Urbanisation - Two new partners have joined this partnership, ComHabitat and the Universal Forum of Cultures - Barcelona 2004. ComHabitat increases the outreach of the partnership to policy makers and grassroots leaders in 54 Commonwealth countries while the Universal Forum on Cultures - Barcelona 2004 help identify and document new practices and emerging policy responses as well as offer new opportunities for bringing lessons learned to the attention of the general public.
Water for Asian Cities – UN-HABITAT is establishing strategic partnerships with the World Bank and the regional development banks, promoting pro-poor investments in water and sanitation in developing country cities to support the implementation of WSSD commitments and achievement of the Millen-nium Development Goals (MDGs). These partnerships are expected to lead to significant new invest-ments through the regional programmes of UN-HABITAT, the Water for African Cities Programme and the Water for Asian Cities Programme (to be launched in March 2003 in Osaka). UN-HABITAT is also collaborating with the World Bank-Netherlands Water Partnership (BNWP) to develop a pro-poor governance framework in the area of water and sanitation. Further, collaboration is under way with the Water and Sanitation Programme (WSP) of the World Bank and its partners in the area of small-scale service providers, and with the World Bank Institute on “Water Journalism”.
Partnership for Sustainable African Cities – This partnership promotes the sharing of experience and know-how for broad-based planning and management of African Cities. Following the launch of the Programme at WSSD, sustainable urbanisation has been included in the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) with UN-HABITAT as the task manager. A concrete follow-up to the Johan-nesburg commitments at the national level was the launch of South Africa Cities Network, on the 2002 World Habitat Day. To further operationalize the Programme, preparations are underway to convene a ministerial meeting during the GC-19.
Partnership for Managing HIV/AIDS at the Local Level - Adequate shelter for HIV/AIDS orphans is being promoted by a Rockefeller Foundation - UN-HABITAT partnership. UNDP and UN-HABITAT have launched a new UMP partnership on HIV/AIDS in eight selected cities throughout the world. There is also a new partnership with SAfAIDS (Southern Africa AIDS Information and Dissemination Services, Harare) in Blantyre, Malawi, and with UN-AMICAALL (Alliance of Mayors Initiatives for Community Action on Aids at the Local Level) for the Launch of National Chapters of the Alliance of Mayors on HIV/AIDS in Kenya and Malawi
Weihai Conference on Sustainable Urbanisation Strategies – This initiative of UN-HABITAT, the Chi-nese Ministry of Construction and the city of Weihai is a direct follow-up to WSSD and will support in-ternational exchange of experiences on sustainable urbanisation strategies, including the implementa-tion of the “Water for Asian Cities Programme”. It will take place in September 2003.
Future World Urban Forums in Europe, America and Asia – The World Urban Forum (WUF) has an important role to play in the follow-up to WSSD by reviewing progress of the partnership initiatives and ensuring synergy and cohesion under the unifying framework of “Sustainable Urbanization”. The WUF will be held once every two years. The first meeting of the WUF was held in Africa (Nairobi, 2002), the second will be held in Europe (Barcelona, 2004), the third in America (Vancouver, 2006), and discussions are under way for holding the fourth WUF in Asia.