Remarks during Interactive Discussion on Human Settlements

As our panelists have pointed out, human settlements issues present a unique set of challenges. We believe the Secretary General’s “State of Implementation” reports offer a mixed picture of success. For example, while East Asia and some countries are making impressive progress in reducing slums, the growth of slums elsewhere is expected to continue.

Some of the challenges we all face are the same as those for water and sanitation issues -- such as the need to get the policy framework for development right. Governments must take the lead in creating an environment that will encourage local action, ownership, and support investment.

However, there are some unique challenges to reaching the JPOI goal of improving the lives of 100 million slum dwellers by 2020 that may be worth considering.

The first is action at the local level. Improving the lives of slum dwellers will depend largely on the ability of local actors to plan, finance, implement, and manage the infrastructure and system improvements needed to deliver essential services. Capacity building is critical.

Along with the local level, action is needed at the national level. Improving the lives of slum dwellers requires that governments internalize the internationally agreed to goal on human settlements and make it part of national development plans and strategies. Issues such as secure tenure and inheritance laws must be part of these discussions.

Third is financing. New financing techniques need to be explored, in local/national capital markets, international capital markets, and multilateral institutions.

Finally, we need to build on what works. To achieve internationally agreed goals on water, sanitation, and human settlements, we need to find ways to broaden and multiply our efforts by disseminating best practices and replicating proven approaches so that local actors can use them to meet growing demands.  Thank you.