National campaigns are designed to translate good governance principles into practice. National campaigns are usually initiated through a campaign launch: a public event to secure the commitments of all national partners - national governments, local governments, other stakeholder groups - to good urban governance.

The launch recognizes past achievements in good urban governance and signals the beginning of a new series of activities to further improve the quality of life in cities.

A campaign launch usually includes three components:

• media event to raise awareness of past achievements and future plans in the area of good urban governance.
• substantive event such as a policy review, a capacity-building workshop or a learning event such as an exchange of best practices.
• action-plan for improving urban governance, prepared in advance by key local partners

For more information on the elements of a campaign launch, please see the Campaign Launch Note.

A selection of national and regional campaigns is given below:

Urban Governance and Secure Tenure Campaigns in Brazil - The two Campaigns were launched in Rio on 7 October 2003 at a high-profile event. A National “Charter of Commitment of Cities for Secure Tenure and Urban Governance” was signed by key stakeholder representatives.

Urban Governance and Secure Tenure Campaigns in Jamaica – On July 29 2002, the two Campaigns were launched in Kingston. The Campaigns were formally launched by the Prime Minister, P. J. Pattersen during a three-day event. The launch also included a presentation by the Chief of UN-HABITAT's Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (ROLAC), presentation of interventions regarding key government programmes in the framework of the two campaigns, and a general discussion on good urban governance and secure tenure.

Good Urban Governance Campaign in the Philippines - On July 19, 2002, the Good Urban Governance Campaign was formally launched by UN-HABITAT, the Government of Philippines and the League of Cities of the Philippines, during the 39th General Assembly of the League of Cities. Global Urban Governance norms were adopted by 115 city mayors in the form of a Declaration of Commitment. The Philippines Urban Forum (PUF) has subsequently been established to take the Campaign Agenda forward. http://home.earthlink.net/~lordprozen/PUF/

Indian Campaign for Good Urban Governance - launched on 3 September 2001 by the Government of India and UN-HABITAT.

Nigerian Campaign for Good Urban Governance - launched by His Excellency, President Olusegun Obasanjo, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on 10 April 2001 - Press Release.

Campaign for Good Urban Governance in Latin America and the Caribbean - Launched jointly with UN-HABITAT's Secure Tenure Campaign on 27 October 2000 in Santiago, Chile.

National campaigns are also being prepared for 2005-06 in Uganda , Fiji, Madagascar, Morocco and Mexico. Activities under the Regional Campaign for Good Governance and Secure Tenure for the Arab States are underway in partnership with ESCWA.

The Campaign’s "Flagship Products"

• National and Local Campaigns: To respond to specific local conditions, national campaigns are underway or are planned in Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Fiji, Morrocco, Mexico, India, The Philippines, Nicaragua, Jamaica, Brazil, Cuba, Peru and the Balkans.
• Declaration on the Norms of Good Urban Governance: The Campaign promotes debate and seeks international consensus on the principles of good urban governance.
• Revised National Legislation: Support to countries seeking to ground their legislation in the principles of good urban governance.
• Policy Papers: Policy support on such subjects as gender, and the role of youth in good urban governance.
• Inclusive Cities Initiative: An emerging network of cities and their development partners committed to practising and championing inclusive urban governance.
• Urban Governance Index: A tool for cities to monitor their progress in achieving their urban governance objectives.
• Good Urban Governance Toolkits: A series of tools developed by the campaign and its partners to promote good urban governance. Individuals toolkits have been developed to support participatory urban decision-making, transparency in local government, participatory budgeting and grassroots women's participation.