Co-operation with United Nations and other organizations in the field of human settlements

UNITED NATIONS

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL

•

I' \ ,t;, . '

~b ^{I ' { '}

ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA

Mee~ing of Intergovernmental Regional Commi ttee on Human Settlements

M.dis Ahana, EthioI,ia, 28 July - 1 Auguet 1980

CO-OPERATION WITH UNITED NATIONS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE FIELD OF RUMAN SETTLEMENTS

TllBLE OF CONTENTS

Paragraphs Page

I. Baokground and explanation - - _ - _

II. Areas of co-operation - - - -

1- 11 12 - 18

1 - 2 2 -

4

E/CN.14/HUS/47

CO-OPERATION WITH UNITED NATIONS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE li'IELD OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS

I. Backgroun~·and explanation

1. At ita first mee ting the Intergovernmental Committee on Human Se ttlements by its resolution 2(1) adopted the work programme and the 1980 - 1983 medium-

term plan as spelled out in document E/CN.14/HUS/30.

2. In resolution 3(1) the Committee noted with concern the shortage of

resources now available for the implemontation of that part of the work programme whioh related _{~o hu~an} settlements in the region, and consequently reccgnized the urgent need to taking steps to ensure the more effective mobilization ofthoffi

r-e sour-cea.,

3. The Committee also endorsed the terms ef Conference of Ministers

reselu t16n 316 (XIII) of which invited Sta tes members of the Commission and the appropriate organs of the United Nations system to assist the Executive Secretary in provi~ing the required resources for the operation of the unit to serve the Intergovernmental Regional Committee on Human Se ttlements •.

4. The Committee also appealed for the rapid implementation of General Assembly resolution 32/162 concerning the deployment of resources to the regional

commissions, and for special atteI\tion to. be paid to the urgent needs of the African region for staff and other resources to be redeployed from the United Nations sys tern.

5.

Finally, the Intergovernmental Regional Committee on Human Settlements requested the specializeil. agencies, donor countries and other teohnical assistance agencies to strengthen their contribution in support of the human settlements unit both at the secretariat and at the SUbregional levels.

6. Each of these decisions, resolutions, and suggestions of the Regional Committee on Human Settlements basically derives from and strengthens General Assembly resolution 32/162 concerniI\g institutional arrangements for inter- national co-operation i~ the field of human settlements.

7. Since the area of human settlements is a sort of umbrella combining many related specialized fields, such co-operation is imperative. The specific goals of these related scientific fields represent the u.ain focus of the terms of reference of every specialized agency of the United Nations. environment, habitat, agriculture, agronomy, population,health, industry, labour organiza- tion, telecommunications, education, information and training. .

8. Because of the all-inclusive and integrated nature of issues relating to human settlements, the solution of problems of human settlements improvement must depend on the achievements and concern of the various related component fields.

E/CN.14/HUS/47

Page 2 '

9. Therefore, a programme for human settlements in either urban or rural areas must take into consideration and subseQuently integrate the sectors of

the environment, health, habitat, construction materials, telecommunications, ( agriculture, production techniQues, management, training, etc, As each of

these areas already falls under the jurisdiction of a particular United Naticns agency, the body responsible for implementing human s~ttlements programmes will not be able singlehanaedly to take charge of these areas or to replace the agency concerned.

10. The action programmes of the unit responsible for implementing human settlements policies do not duplicate those of United Nations specialized agencios; rather, their objectives are complementary and their actions of aeo8ssity go hand in hand.

11. This complementarity of objectives and activities thus lies behind the great need for co-operation among the different agencies responsible for

total or partial implementation of human settlements progr.ammelOl'"

II. Areas of co-operation

12. The field of activities and functicns of the Intergovernmental Committee on Human Settlements, as defined in General Assembly resolution 32/162 is as follows.

( a) (b) ( 0) ( d) ( e) ( f) (g) ( h) ( i) ( j) ("') ( 1) ( m)

Settlement policies and strategies;

Settlement planning;

Institutions and management;

Shelter, infrastructure and services;

Land;

Identification of the problems and possible solutions;

Formulation and implementation of policies;

Education and training;

Identification, development and use of appropriate technology, as well as limitation of hazardous technology;

Exchange of ,information, including audio-visual information;

Implementation machinery;

Assistance in the mobilization of resources at the national and international levels;

,

^'

Promotion of the establishment of an international information pool on building materials, plants and eQuipment.

13. Human .settLemerrt s programmes that emerge from this list call for a planned, integrated and synchronized action in all major fields in the creation of a buil t-up area which meets economic, social and cultural criteria. Each field should utilize its own techniQues and their own resources. For example, economic reQuirements call for the participation of specialists in the fields

E/CN.14/HIJ'S/47 Page 3

of geography, economics, education, health, production infrastructure and

oquipment, transport and marketing, etc.

14. The TntergovornJ1'ental Regional Committee should "0t overlook the mul ti- disciplinary nature of human settlements programmes and activities, but instead should pledge its support and assistance in ensuring Lhat the multi-

disciplinary nature is safeguarded and PUo into practice in the field in establishing and implementing national, subregional and regional human settlements programmes. Hence, the various United Nations and non-United Nations agenoies must be involved at every stage of f'Lc Ld activities. 'I'be participation of donor countrles and various other technical assistance and financing crganizations may also be required. ECA will not have enough

reScurces of its o wn to carry out properly at onoe all the sectoral components of a human settlements programme in the framework of an economic development programme, for example. When the Commission receives a request it should be able to bring toge ther specialists in the necessary fields, orga.nize and pI an their sectoral aotivities, gather the necessary data and draw up a timetable with the assistance of the various technical divisions of the Commission

seore tariat.

15. In order to do this, the Intergo~"rnmentalCommittee must establish operational machineries to institutionalize co-operation with other United Nations organillations and teohnical end financing instituticns outside the Uni ted N"tions. The machineries for mutual co-operation and assistance should systematize the procedures for co-operaticn So that the support frcm and parti participation of suoh agencies in the mobilization of the resouroes required for projects and activi ties to assist Governments in the region become less ri3ky and less the ore tical. Moreover, such a system would oonsiderably reduce the amount of time needed to respond to a. member State's request.

16. These machineries might take the form of standard co-operation agreements, joint budget committees, bilateral or multilateral financing agreements, or joint committees for project identification, planning, evaluation and/or i mplementa ti on.

17. There are currently co-operation agreements in existence between ECA and other United Nations organizations such as UNIDO, UNEP, UNDP, etc. Disoussions with yet other organizations, such as UNESCO, are in progress. However, these agreements tend towards comprehensive and sectoral approaches to aotivities pertaining to economic or sooial development.

18, What is nt'-w needed is e convention or s,Jries cf' C'(')nvc-nticna for

simultaneous acticn in respect of specific assistanoe projects ccning _fro~

thE) GOVernments of member Sta tsa, To this end the Intergovernmental Regional Committee should take decisions enabling ECA to:

(a) contAct those organizaticns with which it has signed comprehensive agreements with a view to incorporating, where appropriate, a human 8ettlaments component;

,.

E/CN.14/HUS/47

Page 1\ .

include the human settlements component in any agreements that may be concluded with other org anLaa td ons in the future;

(c) initiate discussions with all relevant organiz" tions and insti tutions with" .view to reaching agreements to aystematizeco-operation

procedures in the implementation of specific projects originating from the Governments of mem1er Sta.tes.

These decisions must also determine the responsibilities of the member States and the relevant organizations or institutions.

"

, •