Background
The purpose of this project is to reflect the support provided by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the implementation of Habitat Agenda in selected African countries. The project promotes good urban governance in some selected pilot cities in Africa, builds the capacity of key training and academic institutions and capitalizes these experiences through regional fora and meetings.
Activities
Project activities focus on three main areas: 1) Supporting the implementation of the Habitat Agenda
- Integrated poverty alleviation programmes in 23 cities (Cameroon) - use of outside resources.
- City Development Strategy in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) - use of outside resources.
- Local Agenda 21 in Louga (Senegal)
2) Follow-up and capitalization
- Translation into French of Habitat Debate and dissemination in Francophone countries.
3) Strengthening local capacities in urban management
- Inventory and analysis of urban-related curricula and training programmes (gaps, weaknesses and areas for improvement), and development of a capacity-building agenda to strengthen urban capacities in Africa to be presented to development partners.
Results
- In Cameroon, as a result of the pilot phase, funding has been provided by UNDP, the European Union and the Cameroonian Government to replicate the City Consultation process in 20 cities and to help the Government devise a national strategy for poverty reduction in urban areas (ongoing).
- In Senegal, the Localizing Agenda 21 Programme has been supporting the city of Louga since 2001 (Environmental Profile, November 2001; City Consultation focusing on the following issues: Community based solid waste management; Urban mobility and Prevention of HIV-AIDS, March 2002; creation of three Working groups and preparation of issues specific strategies and action plans, July-October 2002; discussion of action plans in community forums, October 2002; presentation of project profiles to a donors round table, March 2003). In May 2004, upon request of the government, LA21 support has been extended to four new Senegalese cities - use of outside resources.
- In Ethiopia, a Cities Alliance project aimed at elaborating a City Development Strategy for Addis-Ababa, and involving the French Cooperation, is about to be completed.
- Habitat Debate Vol. 10, Nos. 1 and 2 (A new era of cooperation with local authorities, March 2004; Reviving the Habitat Agenda, June 2004) were translated into French and disseminated in Francophone countries.
- Inventories of urban-related curricula in Africa are completed. A regional seminar aimed at identifying new training needs in the region and proposing new curricula is to be organized.
