The 5th General Assembly of the African Population Commission (APC), taking place from 31 January to 2 February 2005, forms the first part of AMCHUD. It addresses pertinent issues relating to AMCHUD’s overall theme of Urbanization, Shelter and Development: Towards an Enhanced Framework for Sustainable Cities and Towns in Africa. The Assembly serves as an Expert Group Meeting and brings together technical experts, policy implementers and senior government officials from sectors such as housing, population commissions, local government, urban service delivery and infrastructure development, urban environment and gender development. The Assembly will make recommendations for consideration by the Ministerial Meeting – the second part of AMCHUD. The Assembly’s working groups and plenary sessions will discuss lead papers on the following six main areas:

1. The challenge of slums, land, shelter delivery, and the provision of and access to basic services for all
2. The challenge of urbanization and human settlements in the Framework of the African Union’s Strategic Plan and its NEPAD Programme
3. Governance and Urban Development
4. Population and Urbanization within the context of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD+10)
5. Financing Housing and Urban Development
6. Draft Enhanced Framework for sustainable Cities and Towns in Africa

Background papers will be distributed for information and to supplement the technical papers.