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

Staff members involved in the Sustainable Cities Programme in the Urban Development Branch participated in the campaigns in the Philippines and Brazil.

(e) Mega cities and urban development.

Mega cities and urban 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.

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.

The Urban Economy and Finance Branch within the Monitoring and Research Division conducts research on policies and strategies in urban planning, economic development, poverty eradication, and municipal and housing finance systems.

Knowledge for Urban Development

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

Creation of integrated human development centres for women in the informal urban sector.

Sustainable urban development (access to basic services such as water and sanitation, waste management, transport and energy urban planification).

Cities and Sustainable Development

In December 2003, the Programme for Developing Small Cities for 2004 2006 was adopted. It calls for the creation of the requisite conditions for the stable socio economic development of small cities, in combination with State support of cities with a depressed economy.

Municipal funds to support sustainable urban development could be established.

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

Cities in the developing world are characterized by inadequately planned and overcrowded settlements without access to even basic urban services.

(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.

As in the case of providing land for social housing and urban development, its activities are part of the general effort to improve urban and territorial planning.

Participants also observed that there was a close relationship between the strategic plan for sustainable development and the master plan for city development.

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

The developing world now has all of the biggest cities, and they are developing three times faster than the developed countries, and nine times bigger.

32. We undertake to promote rural urban linkages by developing and strengthening a system of intermediate size secondary and tertiary towns to stimulate rural development, as well as to minimize the negative impacts of rural urban migration.

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.

For the past decade or so, a massive urbanization and development have let us witness a lot of reports on the forced demolition of private property.

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.

The Programme has also worked closely with the New Partnership for Africa's Development to advance the urban agenda.

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

Property Rights and Sustainable Urban Development

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

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.

This will be achieved by establishing guidelines and policies for planning and management, preparing land use plans, improving urban cadastres and participative systems of urban planning, while supporting the elaboration of 80 urban development plans.

The above mentioned Habitat Programme includes as one of its components the project known as Urban Planning and Habitat Development Agencies , which provides support for the improvement of urban planning and administration and for the training of civil authorities responsible for encouraging local development initiatives and practices, with a view to improving the urban environment and achieving the construction of townships which are orderly, safe, sustainable, welcoming and competitive.

Cultural Heritage A Tool for Urban Development

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.

Urban Planning Revisited

Through recent amendments to the Planning and Building Act, goals for sustainable urban development have been introduced into Swedish planning legislation.

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

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.

Cities as Drivers of Sustainable Development

Role of Urban Centres in Regional Development