UN-HABITAT and the government of Norway Monday signed a cooperation agreement which will see the UN agency receive support amounting to nearly 17 million US dollars for the next two years. The agreement signed by the Norwegian State Secretary for the Ministry for International Development, Ms. Anne Margareth Stenhammer and UN-HABITAT Executive Director Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka will go towards UN-HABITAT’s Water and Sanitation Trust Fund and its Slum Upgrading Facility. The amount will also support the agency’s work in mainstreaming gender and youth issues in shelter provision and the development of inclusive cities. One such initiative is the establishment of One Stop Youth Centers to provide career advice, information and skills to young people so that they can have more access to the job markets. An additional area that will receive support is the Global Land Tool Network which focuses land rights and develops pro poor land management tools. Today’s grant is in addition to Norway’s core support to UN HABITAT. Ms. Stenhammer commended UN HABITAT for its work in urban poverty reduction and emphasised the need for further strengthening of partnerships. On her part, Mrs. Tibaijuka expressed gratitude towards Norway’s steadfast support to and confidence in UN-HABITAT. See photo gallery |
