In its 27th Regular meeting of December 6th, 2007, UN-HABITAT’s Committee of Permanent Representatives endorsed the “Strategic Policy on Human Settlements and Crisis” concluding a four year policy development exercise undertaken in consultation with partners and discussed during two successive Governing Councils (20 and 21). The process began with the development of the “Sustainable Relief and Reconstruction Framework” – a conceptual framework articulating two key principles; the fi rst - in times of crisis, the highest possible development gain can be made in the shortest possible timeframe, and the second - a set of strategic interventions in an emergency phase, if integrated in sustainable development goals, can both reduce the period of crisis and build a platform for early recovery and development.