UNIDO also contributed to the conference on sustainable urban development held in Berlin.

Indeed, international development cooperation had been enhanced through city to city collaboration and consultation among associations of cities.

Through the Cities Alliance Programme the environmental component will be strengthened in city development activities and urban poverty reduction strategy papers.

Colombia has continued improving sectoral management and the urban policy, quot Cities and Citizenship quot , focuses on inter ministerial coordination and the implementation of strategies for urban development by local authorities.

(e) Mega cities and urban development.

Mega cities and urban development

The strategy of the Government on regional and urban development focuses on the preparation of urban development plans, human resources development, the establishment of an Urban Regional Development Joint Commission and Technical Committees, and the creation of the Financial System for Urban Development.

Knowledge for Urban Development

The Urban Challenge in Africa Growth and Management of its Large Cities

It was an opportunity to hold in depth discussions on cooperation in the work of the United Nations on mega cities and urban development.

The National Urban Development Programme focuses on four operational areas the One Hundred Cities Programme, aiming at strengthening the capacity of cities to receive investments and promote development the programme for the consolidation of metropolitan areas the promotion of regional planning and the strengthening of the legal framework for urban development as well as the programme for the promotion of social and private sector participation in urban development.

The Cities Alliance provides small grants that support the formulation of city development strategies and citywide slum upgrading initiatives.

Cities and Sustainable Development

(a) Regional planning and urban development to achieve a coherent allocation of resources and investments on development

Municipal funds to support sustainable urban development could be established.

The first segment was devoted to the involvement of cities in international policy, city to city cooperation and exchange between cities and local governments on the achievements of sustainable urban development through municipal cooperation.

(b) Development of green spaces in urban areas area of city parks .

Shanghai was a very intriguing city it's exploding on a level that I don't think any city has experienced.

UN Habitat also signed agreements with the Asian Development Bank, the Inter American Development Bank, and the African Development Bank for joint projects and programmes for water, sanitation, housing and urban development, focusing on improving the living conditions of the urban poor.

Adoption of the report of the session.

1992 South East Asia regional coordinator Urban research in the developing world towards a research agenda for the 1990s and author of research paper on urban research in Indonesia.

In implementing the Habitat Agenda, UNU will continue work in the dissemination of research methods and tools relevant to urbanization and urban development.

Several United Nations system organizations are working together to help eradicate poverty in urban areas, to promote sustainable urbanization and to enhance industrial development.

Some proposals have suggested the alternative of a Jerusalem converted into an international city.

The challenge instead is to plan, develop and manage cities in the interest of those who live there.

Cities were the centre of attention for all policies. Sustainable development in cities was the basic challenge of the Millennium Development Goals.

And now, out of typically 46 cities, 33 of those mega cities are in the developing world.

In implementing the Habitat Agenda, the Bank apos s efforts will focus on supporting the provision of basic urban services, urban environmental improvement, strengthening urban finance and reducing urban poverty in developing countries.

It will also help to strengthen the city's economy.

Property Rights and Sustainable Urban Development

Segment 2 Localizing the Millennium Development Goals to cities

Rapporteur Ms. Edna Deimi Tobi (Nigeria)

Urban policy gives priority to the promotion of coordinated urban management through the establishment of quot agreements quot between concerned parties at the urban, regional and national levels the execution of urban macro projects and the establishment of information systems and indicators for urban management.

The world's population is becoming increasingly urban and three quarters of the urban population growth is occurring in developing countries.

Suggesting the following initiatives to be taken at municipal level

Rapid urbanization, especially in Africa, was a threat to sustainable development and could not coexist with high population growth.

The issue of cost to cities, especially those in developing countries, was also discussed.

The Government has earmarked priority areas and urban centres for urban, social, and industrial development.

Cultural Heritage A Tool for Urban Development

The African Ministerial Conference on Housing and Urban Development is another example.

The main inputs of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to the preparatory process included an international colloquium on industrialization and urban development and a meeting on urban industrial development for African cities.

The Urban Indicators Programme established contacts with experts in cities to provide indicators on the Habitat Agenda themes of shelter, governance, social and economic development and the environment.

Cities as Drivers of Sustainable Development

Role of Urban Centres in Regional Development

Through the Ministry of Social Development the Federal Government has introduced the Habitat Programme in order to assist the poor sector of the population living in towns and metropolitan areas through the joint implementation of social programmes and urban development.