World Habitat Awards

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

World Habitat Awards The Building and Social Housing Fou n d a t i o n Building and Social Housing Foundation (BSHF) is an independent res e a r ch orga n i s a t i o n Memorial Square that promotes sustainable development and Coalville innovation in housing through collaborative Leicestershire res e a r ch and knowledge transfer. LE67 3TU United Kingdom Established in 1976, BSHF works both in the UK ( ) and internationally to identify innovative Tel +44 0 1530 510444 Fax +44 (0)1530 510332 housing solutions and to foster the exchange of Email [email protected] in f o r mation and good practice. Web www.bshf.org BSHF is committed to promoting housing policy Charity Number 270987 and practice that is people-centred and en v i r onmentally responsible. All res e a r ch carri e d out has practical relevance and addresses a ISBN 1 901742 06 7 range of current housing issues worldwide. PRICE £5.00 PRESENTATION OF THE WORLD HABITAT AWARDS WORLD HABITAT DAY 2004 NAIROBI, KENYA Prepared by Diane Diacon and Silvia Guimarães © Building and Social Housing Foundation 2004 Extracts from this publication may be reproduced without further permission provided that the source is fully acknowledged. World Habitat Awards 2005 Entry Fo r m Please provide the following information relating to the entry that you are submitting. At the prel i m i n a r y submission stage this need only be in the form of a concise summary of the scheme, which contains the following informa t i o n Please note that entries can also be made directly on the BSHF website at ww w. b s h f. o r g BA CKGROUND INFORMATI O N • When did the project commence? • Who initiated the project? • What is the main purpose of the project? PROJECT DESCRIPTION • What are the key features of the project? • Who are the main beneficiaries of the project? • Describe briefly the costs and/or planned future funding of the project. • What has been the involvement of the local community in the project (if applicable)? PRESENTATION OF THE • What future plans (if any) are there for the project? IN N O V ATION AND TRAN S F E R WORLD HABITAT AWARDS • What are the key innovative aspects of the project? • To what extent has the project been transferred or adapted for use locally, nationally or internationally (if applicable)? SU P P O R TING INFORMATI O N You are asked to submit the following supporting information, where possible: • Photographs showing the key elements of the project. • A plan of the main features of the scheme. I CONFIRM that the information contained in this entry is accurate to the best of my knowledge and there ar e no restrictions or fees payable on the publication of any material submitted. Signed Date WORLD HABITAT DAY 2004 NAIROBI, KENYA 40 WORLD HABITAT AWARDS 2005 ENTRY FORM C o n t e n t s WORLD HABITAT DAY MESSAGE 1 Mr Kofi Annan, Secret a r y-General, United Nations CITIES – ENGINES OF RURAL DEVELOP M E N T 3 Mrs Anna Tibaijuka, Executive Direc t o r , UN-HABITAT THE WORLD HABITAT AWARDS 2004 5 Mrs Diane Diacon, Direc t o r , Building and Social Housing Fou n d a t i o n WORLD HABITAT AWARD WINNING PROJECTS 8 La Paz Pos t - e a r t h q u a k e Rec o n s t r uction Programme, El Salvador The Eldonian Village, Liverpool, United Kingdom 2004 HABITAT SCROLL OF HONOUR AWAR D S 24 RE C O M M E N D ATIONS OF THE INTER-REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON URBAN-RURAL DEVELOPMENT LINKAGE S 26 THE KENYA SLUM UPGRADING PROGRAM M E 28 SOURCES OF FURTHER INFORMATI O N 35 WORLD HABITAT AWARDS – AN INVITATION TO ENTER 37 A World Habitat Day Message The theme of World Habitat Day this year, countries. The fastest growing cities will be Cities – Engines of Rural Development, was se c o n d a r y and market towns, which are chosen to remind development policy- especially close to rural areas. This growth ma k ers at every level not to think of ‘urban’ can help to improve rural life and ease the and ‘rural’ as separate entities, but rather problems associated with mega-cities. But as parts of an economic and social whole. to do so, it will need to be well managed, with significant investments in Cities interact with rural areas in many communication, transport channels and ways. Migrants living and working in cities other infrastruc t u r e, and with concerted send money to families in rural areas. Cities efforts to ensure that all people have access absorb excess rural populations, and offer to adequate servi c e s . m a r kets for farm produce and other ru r a l pr oducts. They provide services and While there are obvious differen c e s amenities – such as universities and hospitals between urban and rural development that – that may not be available or feasible in req u i r e different interventions, ultimately rural areas. Cities are also the locus of most sustainable development cannot and global investment, raising demand for should not focus exclusively on one or the goods, labour and other inputs from rur a l ot h e r . On this World Habitat Day, let us are a s . recognize that cities have a cruc i a l contribution to make to rural development, In the next 25 years, virtually all population and let us pursue development in a gr owth will take place in the world’s cities, co m p r ehensive way that reflects that most of it in the cities of developing understanding. Mr Kofi Annan Secretary-General, United Nations A WORLD HABITAT DAY MESSAG E 1 Cities – Engines of Rural Development The United Nations has designated the first magnets for rural trade, and the gateway Monday of October each year as World to national and international markets. They Habitat Day. It is an occasion to reflect on benefit from rural demand for their output. the state of human settlements and the basic right to adequate shelter for all. The better the links between cities and their hinterlands, the easier it is for rural people The theme of World Habitat Day on to get jobs in cities, and thus ease the Monday 4th October this year is Cities – pr oblem of rural unemployment. It is Engines of Rural Development. We chose important that cities absorb excess rur a l this theme to underline the economic, la b o u r . But in the developing world, poor social and environmental interde p e n d e n c e development in urban areas has res t r i c t e d between urban and rural areas. Sustainable the options that would normally be open development can only be achieved in both to rural people. areas if they are considered holistically as part of the same, integrated system. A major hurdle to be overcome in developing countries is the fact that The links between cities and the countrys i d e secondary and tertiary towns are under- depend on the infrastructure connecting supplied and under-developed. This can be them. Improve the infrastruc t u r e network, remedied by improving the road, rail and and rural production increases, giving other vital communications networks people in the countryside better access to between them. Economic development in markets, information and jobs. Cities are small towns can have a positive impact on Dr Anna Tib a i j u k a Executive Director, UN-HABITAT 2 CITIES – ENGINES OF RURAL DEVELO P M E N T 3 The World Habitat Aw a r d s the surrounding rural economies through It is imperative, theref o r e, that if we are to The annual World Habitat Awa r d significant and lasting improvements, not a greater demand for rural produce from achieve sustainable economic and social competition was established in 1985 by the only to their housing but to many other urban residents who normally have a development nationwide Governm e n t s Building and Social Housing Foundation to aspects of their lives. Details of the two higher purchasing power. must integrate their country’s urban and id e n t i f y innovative and sustainable housing pr ojects are set out in the following pages. rural areas as a matter of policy. Stimulating solutions. The Foundation also works to In t e r mediate towns provide natural balanced development between urban and en s u r e that the ideas and approa c h e s His Excellency Hon. Mwai Kibaki, C.G.H., destinations for rural migrants seeking rural constituencies means stren g t h e n i n g developed in the winning projects are M.P., President of Kenya and Mrs Anna better opportunities. They also help national, regional and local planning bodies. widely shared, by organising study visits, Tibaijuka, Executive Director of UN- cushion the impact of major migration as well as publishing and disseminating HA B I T AT presented a cheque for £10,000 flows towards large cities. On this World Habitat Day, we call upon all in f o r mation in a range of forma t s . and a World Habitat Awa r d trophy to each those concerned about rural growth to of the two winners. In many poor countries, the scattered integrate urban development fully into their The winning projects receiving awards in na t u r e of rural settlements renders the plans and to bring a more holistic 2004 are FUNDAS A L ’s La Paz Pos t - The sterling silver trophies are individually pr ovision of infrastruc t u r e and services perspective to our common future: Cities Ea r t h q u a k e Rec o n s t r uction Programme in designed and crafted by students of 3D to rural areas ext r emely costly.
Recommended publications
  • UN-Habitat Supporting Brazil Favela Peace Programme Reprinted and Translated Articles Should Communities Making New Be Credited “Reprinted from Urban World”
    urban WWORLDORLD February - April 2011 Cities and Land Rights Volume 3 Issue 1 Volume urban CONTENTS WORLD OPINION IN-FOCUS www.unhabitat.org © 2011 UN-HABITAT 21 Africa 4 Message from the UN-HABITAT A big boost for energy efficient P.O.Box 30030, GPO Executive Director Nairobi 00100, Kenya buildings in East Africa Tel. (254-20) 762 3120 Fax. (254-20) 762 3477 COVER STORY A field trip to remember for E-mail: [email protected] Mozambique architecture EDITOR: Roman Rollnick students CITIES AND LAND RIGHTS EDITORIAL BOARD African Development Bank Anantha Krishnan 5 Land and climate change Christine Auclair boosts Lake Victoria urban Andre Dzikus in a new urban world Edlam Abera Yemeru water programme Eduardo López Moreno Mohamed El Sioufi Jane Nyakairu Helping young people in Lucia Kiwala Mariam Yunusa 8 African ministerial meeting Zanzibar Mohamed El-Sioufi adopts new action plan Naison Mutizwa-Mangiza World Water Week Oyebanji Oyeyinka (Chair) Remy Sietchiping Raf Tuts 22 Asia-Pacific EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS: Flossie Mbiriri, 10 Five years into the Global Japanese generosity Tom Osanjo Land Tool Network (GLTN) COVER DESIGN – a perspective from our Housing support in Andrew Ondoo partners around the world Sri Lanka ADVERTISING Eirik Sorlie To advertise in Urban World, please contact: Thanks to BASF, a new major [email protected] water project for schools 15 Land governance for rapid SUBSCRIPTIONS urbanization Contact: 23 Latin America and the Clarissa Augustinus and [email protected] Caribbean Eirik Sorlie REPRINTS UN-HABITAT supporting Brazil favela peace programme Reprinted and translated articles should Communities making new be credited “Reprinted from Urban World”.
    [Show full text]
  • World Habitat Day 2010 Better City, Better Life
    Century Square, Pudong, Shanghai, China. Photo © Shutterstock World Habitat Day 2010 Better City, Better Life “With half of humanity now living in an urban environment, the world is at the dawn of a new urban era. Expo 2010 in Shanghai, under the theme “Better City, Better Life”, is the first global exposition dedicated to the potential and the problems of urban living in the 21st century.” – UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, 2009 “While liveable cities depend upon rational economics, that is just one leg of the stool. If our cities are to be truly sustainable and harmonious, we must improve the lives and well-being of everyone, especially the urban poor. We must not continue to consume natural resources at rates that deny opportunity to our children and grandchildren.” – UN-HABITAT Executive Director Anna Tibaijuka, 2009 2 Shanghai, China. Photo © shutterstock.com Introduction We are pleased to announce that the ills that afflict our daily lives, the global observance of World especially in the developing world. Habitat Day this year will be held The exhibitions will display our at the Shanghai World Expo knowledge, many best practices, 2010. Hosted by China’s Ministry and our unity of purpose in bringing of Housing and Urban Rural the new World Urban Campaign for Development and the Shanghai better, more sustainable cities to a Municipal Commission of Urban and wide global audience. Rural Construction and Transport, the celebration of World Habitat The Better Cities, Better Life theme Day will be a major concluding highlights our vision of a sustainable highlight of the Expo at which the urban world that harnesses United Nations has its own pavilion.
    [Show full text]
  • Sukkot 5772 by Jane Eisner
    Sukkot 5772 By Jane Eisner When I grew up, Sukkot felt like an after-thought following the intensity and purpose of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. No one in my Reform community in a lower-middle-class suburb of New York City ever built a sukkah; instead, we decorated the one at the synagogue—stringing together dried cranberries and making endless links with colored construction paper—and then sat in the finished project a couple of times through the week, as long as the weather held. Only years later, when I had my own family and my own backyard, did my husband and I put up our own sukkah. It is his design—unique and surprisingly sturdy—and when the children were little they would camp out together until the cold, uncomfortable ground drove them inside for hot chocolate and a warm bed. That’s the blessing of Sukkot in my community. There’s a warm bed to go to when the night air becomes inhospitable; there’s a dry table inside if rain leaves giant puddles on the outside furniture and the s’chach droops so low that relaxed dining is impossible. We enjoy the sukkah best when it is just an alternative to home—a symbolic reminder, an echo of the past. But what if it is the present? What if a temporary shelter like this is actually home? For too many people on the planet, “home” is a temporary notion—a series of flimsy, unreliable shelters—as fragile forever as our sukkah is meant to be for a week.
    [Show full text]
  • Adequate Shelter
    World Habitat Day World Habitat Day is observed every year on the first Monday of October throughout the world. It was officially designated by the United Nations and first celebrated in 1986. The purpose of the day is to reflect on the state of our cities and towns and the basic human right to adequate shelter. This year, it will be celebrated on Monday, 6 October 2014. The purpose of World Habitat Day is to reflect on the state of our towns and cities and the basic right of all to adequate shelter. It is also intended to remind the world that we all have responsibility to shape the future of our cities and towns. This year, the United Nations chose the theme Voices from Slums. The campaign aims to recognise lives in slums and give a voice to slum dwellers to improve their living conditions. Habitat Scroll of Honour The Habitat Scroll of Honour awards have been given out by the United Human Settlements Programme (UNHSP) since 1986. The award acknowledges initiatives that make remarkable contributions to fields related to human habitats. Previous World Habitat Days Year Theme Venue 2014 Voices from Slums 2013 Urban Mobility 2012 Changing Cities, Building Opportunities Islamabad, Pakistan 2011 Cities and Climate Change Aguascalientes, Mexico 2010 Better City, Better Life Shanghai, China Planning our urban future Washington, D.C. 2009 2008 Harmonious Cities Luanda, Angola 2007 A safe city is a just city The Hague, Netherlands Development, (SEDESOL) on "Rescue of Public Monterrey, Mexico Spaces Programme" Previous World Habitat Days Year
    [Show full text]
  • New Urban Agenda
    NEW URBAN AGENDA www.habitat3.org #NewUrbanAgenda #Habitat3 NEW URBAN AGENDA © 2017 United Nations A/RES/71/256* New Urban Agenda English 2017 ISBN: 978-92-1-132731-1 The New Urban Agenda was adopted at the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) in Quito, Ecuador, on 20 October 2016. It was endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly at its sixty-eighth plenary meeting of the seventy-first session on 23 December 2016. This publication is not subject to copyright, and it may be freely reproduced provided acknowledgement is given to the United Nations. An electronic version of this publication, as well as other documents from the Habitat III preparatory process and the Conference itself, are available for download from the Habitat III website at www.habitat3.org This is a United Nations publication issued by the Habitat III Secretariat. Cover: Quito urban pattern The printing of this publication was supported by the Government of the Republic of Ecuador. ii FOREWORD FOREWORD The New Urban Agenda represents a shared vision for a better and more sustainable future – one in which all people have equal rights and access to the benefits and opportunities that cities can offer, and in which the international community reconsiders the urban systems and physical form of our urban spaces to achieve this. In this unprecedented era of increasing urbanization, and in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement, and other global development agreements and frameworks, we have reached a critical point in understanding that cities can be the source of solutions to, rather than the cause of, the challenges that our world is facing today.
    [Show full text]
  • Unitednations Nationsunies
    United Nations Nations Unies T HE PRESIDENT OF THE GEN ERAL ASSEMBLY LE PRESIDENT DE L’AS SEMBLEE GENERALE 7 October 2002 Statement of H.E. Mr. Jan Kavan, President of the 57th Session of the General Assembly, on World Habitat Day Seven October is a day to reflect on the state of human settlements and the basic right to adequate shelter. This year's theme "City to City Cooperation" of the World Habitat Day highlights the importance of different links and networks between cities in this globalizing world. The observance of this day allows us to focus on the overall increasing role of cities, which are becoming the main engines of economic growth and social development in the developing world as well. It is expected that during the next 30 years the populations in cities will double, particularly in Asia. It is therefore necessary to be prepared for the challenges of the future and to fulfill the overall objective of sustainable development. Two years ago the international community agreed on targets relating to shelter and humane settlements as stated in the Millennium Declaration. Indeed "City to City Cooperation" can be perceived as one of the strategies, which can lead to the improvement of lives of 100 million slum dwellers by the year 2020. Partnerships between cities, as a means of fostering sustainable urbanization, through exchange of knowledge and best practices, are increasingly recognized as a promising and cost effective way to urban planning and development. Therewithal, the decentralized approach, which enables direct participation of the local inhabitants, is a very good example of development cooperation.
    [Show full text]
  • World Habitat Award Finalists 25
    The Building and Social Housing Foundation Building and Social Housing Foundation (BSHF) is an independent research organisation Memorial Square that promotes sustainable development and Coalville innovation in housing through collaborative Leicestershire research and knowledge transfer. LE67 3TU United Kingdom Established in 1976, BSHF works both in the UK ( ) and internationally to identify innovative Tel +44 0 1530 510444 Fax +44 (0)1530 510332 housing solutions and to foster the exchange of Email [email protected] information and good practice. Web www.bshf.org BSHF is committed to promoting housing policy Charity Number 270987 and practice that is people-centred and environmentally responsible. All research carried out has practical relevance and addresses a ISBN 1 901742 21 0 range of current housing issues worldwide. PRICE £5.00 PRESENTATION OF THE WORLD HABITAT AWARDS This publication is printed on paper made from ECF (Elemental Chlorine Free) pulp supplied by WORLD HABITAT DAY 2006 ISO 14001-certified manufacturers. NAPLES, ITALY AND KAZAN, RUSSIA PRESENTATION OF THE Prepared by Silvia Guimarães, Jennifer Neville and James Robinson © Building and Social Housing Foundation 2006 Extracts from this publication may be reproduced without further permission provided that the source is fully acknowledged. WORLD HABITAT AWARDS WORLD HABITAT DAY 2006 NAPLES, ITALY AND KAZAN, RUSSIA Contents WORLD HABITAT DAY MESSAGE 1 Mr Kofi Annan, Secretary-General, United Nations CITIES: MAGNETS OF HOPE 3 Mrs Anna Tibaijuka, Executive Director, UN-HABITAT
    [Show full text]
  • CPY Document
    FRANK T. MARTINEZ CITY OF LOS ANGELES Office of the City Clerk CALIFORNIA CITY CLERK Council and Public Services KAREN E. KALFAYAN Room 396, City Hall Executive Offtcer Los Angeles, CA 90012 Council File Wormation- (213) 978-1043 General Wormation- (213) 978-1133 When making inquiries Fax: (213) 978-1040 relative to· this matter refer to File No. HELEN GINSBURG ANTONIO R. VILLARAIGOSA Chief, Connell and Public Services Division 05-2097 MAYOR October 25, 2005 All Councilmembers All City Departments All Boards and Commissions RE: DECLARING OCTOBER 3, 2005 AS WORLD HABITAT DAY AND ENDORSING THE UNITED NATION'S MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS OF POVERTY REDUCTION At the meeting of the Council h~1d OCTOBER 11, 2005, the following action was taken: Attached resolution (Garcetti- Greuel) adopted................ X FORTHWITH ...................................................... ------ Mayor concurred . ... 10/21/05 Ordinance adopted .............................................. ______ Ordinance number ............................................... ------- Publication date ............................................... ______ Effective date ................................................. ______ Mayor approved ................................................. ----~- Findings adopted ............................................... ______ Negative Declaration adopted ................................... ______ Categorically exempt ........................................... ______ Generally exempt .............................................. ·------
    [Show full text]
  • FINAL REPORT UN-Habitat Urban October & Urban Circuit 2019
    FINAL REPORT UN-Habitat Urban October & Urban Circuit 2019 The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) Every year, UN-Habitat celebrates Urban October, which begins with was created in 1978 as a result of the first United Nations Conference World Habitat Day (on the first Monday of October) and ends with on Human Settlements (Habitat I). With its HQ based in Nairobi, the World Cities Day (31 October). It aims at encouraging all urban actors capital of Kenya, it is the United Nations agency that works for social, from various sectors to engage in and debate on the rationale and the economic and environmentally sustainable urban development and implementation of the New Urban Agenda and the SDG11. Every Urban promotes adequate housing for all. UN-Habitat has been operating in October two themes are selected for sharing related knowledge and Brazil for more than 20 years, with offices in the cities of Rio de Janeiro experiences to promote a better urban future. In 2019, World Habitat Day and Maceió, acting through projects in several urban themes in cities all theme was “Frontier Technologies as an innovative tool to transform over the country. Waste to Wealth” and for World Cities Day the theme was “Changing the world: Innovations and a better life for future generations”. UN-Habitat actively participates in global agendas, such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, structured in 17 Sustainable In order to celebrate these days and raise awareness on these themes Development Goals (SDG), and is mainly responsible for SDG 11, that in a more effective and comprehensive way, UN-Habitat office in Brazil aims to “make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”.
    [Show full text]
  • Global Observance of the Annual World Cities Day 2020
    EXPRESSION OF INTEREST 30 August 2019 Global Observance of the Annual World Cities Day 2020 Introduction The United Nations has designated every 31st of October as World Cities Day (WCD). UN-Habitat is the coordinating agency in the United Nations system to organize the annual Global Observation of World Cities Day, together with the host city. UN-Habitat is inviting cities to express their interest in hosting the global observation of the 2020 World Cities Day. World Cities Day was established on 27 December 2013 by the General Assembly in its resolution A/RES/68/239, in which the General Assembly “decides to designate 31 October, beginning in 2014, as World Cities Day, invites States, the United Nations system, in particular UN-Habitat, relevant international organizations, civil society and all relevant stakeholders to observe and raise awareness of the Day and stresses that the costs of all activities that may arise from observing the Day should be met from voluntary contributions”. The WCD has been strongly supported by the People’s Republic of China through the Ministry of Housing and Urban- Rural Development and the Shanghai Municipality. Background WCD is expected to promote the international community’s interest in global urbanization, push forward cooperation among countries in meeting opportunities and addressing challenges of urbanization, and contributing to sustainable urban development around the world. The general theme of World Cities Day is Better City, Better Life, while each year a different sub-theme and a location for its global observance is selected, to either promote successes of urbanization, or address specific challenges resulting from urbanization.
    [Show full text]
  • The Global Campaign for Secure Tenure
    United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN(UN--HABITAT)HABITAT) UN-HABITAT The Global Campaign for STSecure Tenure From HABITAT Agenda to the Millennium Development Goals Farouk Tebbal Global Manager of the Global Campaign for Secure Tenure Global Campaign for Secure Tenure launch in Rio de Janeiro, 7 October 2003 What is the GCST : UN-HABITAT an entry point to the implementation of The Habitat Agenda •The granting of secure tenure is one of the most important catalyst in stabilising communities •an advocacy instrument of the United Nations • gives a voice to the hundreds of millions of people living in slums •encourages negotiation as an alternative to forced eviction, •promotes legislative reforms, sustainable and affordable shelter policies Global Campaign for Secure Tenure launch in Rio de Janeiro, 7 October 2003 The Global Campaign for Secure Tenure UN-HABITAT essential elements of sustainable shelter strategies 1 - protection of housing rights 2 - secure tenure, 3 - gender equity, 4 - partnership, 5 - access to land and finance 6 - negotiated resettlements (no forced eviction) Global Campaign for Secure Tenure launch in Rio de Janeiro, 7 October 2003 A brief history of the Campaign UN-HABITAT Introduction at regional level • Global Campaign in Latin America , Santiago , Chile 2000 • Global Campaigns in Developed and Transitional Economies 2000 Global Campaign for Secure Tenure launch in Rio de Janeiro, 7 October 2003 A brief history of the Campaign UN-HABITAT Introduction at national level •In Africa: •In South Africa on October 1st 2000 :increased pppopular awareness of issues and led to partnerships between civil society and government •In Namibia during World Habitat Day in 2002:concrete policy and legislative outcomes:bill to go before parliament on flexible land tenure, which will ensure security of tenure for the slum dwellers.
    [Show full text]
  • National Observance of World Habitat Day, 5Th October 2020
    NATIONAL OBSERVANCE OF WORLD HABITAT DAY, 5TH OCTOBER 2020 Introduction World Habitat Day (WHD) is an international day observed on the first Monday of October every year. This day was designated by United Nations General Assembly through Resolution 40/202A of 17 December 1985. The day accords United Nations Member States an opportunity to share and reflect on their experiences, successful initiatives, and challenges encountered in their efforts to provide shelter and related basic services in a sustainable manner. It is also intended to remind the world of its collective responsibility in shaping the future of cities, towns, communities and the entire human habitat. In addition, it provides a forum for governments and stakeholders to take stock of achievements and actions aimed at improving housing and human settlements. World Habitat Day Theme Each year, WHD takes on a new theme and this year’s theme will be Housing for All: A Better Urban Future. This is in recognition of the fact that housing is a fundamental human right which is central in our battle against the spread of diseases including COVID-19 virus especially in our slums and informal settlements. It is for this reason that the Government of the Republic of Kenya has prioritized the cleaning of our human settlements through the National Hygiene Programme with special focus on Slums and informal settlements. The Covid -19 pandemic offers new opportunities for all stakeholders to participate in the process of ensuring that our human settlements are clean and have basic services as we continue working towards sustainable transformation of our cities and communities and hence safeguard a better urban future.
    [Show full text]