The
Department for International Development (DFID)
is the UK Government department working to promote sustainable development
and eliminate world poverty. DFID seeks to work in partnership with
governments committed to these targets, with business, civil society
and the research community. DFID also works with multilateral institutions
such as the World Bank, United Nations agencies and the European Community.
The website makes available most of its own publications produced
since 1997, free of charge. |
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UN-HABITAT:
UN-HABITAT, formerly
known as UNCHS (Habitat), is the lead agency within the United Nations
system for coordinating activities in the field of human settlements.
Its mission is to promote sustainable urbanization through policy
formulation, institutional reform, capacity-building, technical
cooperation and advocacy, and to monitor and improve the state of
human settlements worldwide. Its activities contribute to the overall
objective of the United Nations system to reduce poverty and promote
sustainable development within the context and the challenges of
a rapidly urbanizing world. |
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International
Institute for Environment and Development (IIED):
independent, non-profit
organization promoting sustainable patterns of world development
through collaborative research, policy studies, networking and knowledge
dissemination. The extensive website publishes relevant papers and
articles as PDF files.
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UNDP:
UN's
global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries
to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better
life. We are on the ground in 166 countries, working with them on
their own solutions to global and national development challenges.
As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and
our wide range of partners. |
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Development
Planning Unit (DPU): The Development Planning Unit The Development
Planning Unit (DPU) is an international centre specialising in academic
teaching, practical training, research and consultancy in the field
of urban and regional development, planning, and management. It is
concerned with understanding the process of rapid urbanisation and
the policy, planning and management responses to the economic and
social development of both urban and rural areas. |
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ACHR:
Asian Coalition for Housing
Rights: regional network of grassroots community organizations, NGO's
and professionals actively involved with urban poor development processes
in Asian cities, with news updates and article |
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Homeless
International: UK
based charity that supports community-led housing and infrastructure
related development in partnership with local partner organisations
in Asia, Africa and Latin America. They support partners through
long term development initiatives; advocate
through sharing information and influencing policy; provide financial
services by scaling up access to credit for the poor through loans
& guarantees; organise technical assistance by providing practical
forms of specialist help; and carry out research aiming to explore
long term solutions to poverty. Homeless
International was established in 1989 following the 1987 United
Nations International Year of Shelter for the Homeless. Initially
formed as a trust, the organisation became Homeless International
and permanent headquarters were established in Coventry.
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SPARC
(Society for the Promotion of Area Resource Centres):
registered NGO/Non profit organisation set up in 1984 to create
new and innovative partnerships with communities of the poor and
professionals who wish to work with them on issues of social justice
and equity. The alliance works in 36 cities in six states of India.
This means there is an ability to get at least 10-15 settlements
in each city to work together, participate in exchanges and so on.
The depth and range of activities and the maturity of the alliance
differs in each city. Over the last 15 years these communities have
expanded in the number of areas of activities they undertake and
the depth of engagement of various other actors in development.
No area is outside the scope and instead becomes the area for exploiting
new learning whenever communities see new priorities emerging in
their lives.
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Urban
Resource Centre: The
URC was set up in 1989. Its founders were urban planning related
professionals, representatives of NGOs and grass-root community
organisations and teachers at professional colleges. They felt that
Karachi's official development plans ignored the larger socio-economic
reality of the city and as such were unworkable, unaffordable and
environmentally disastrous. They further felt that workable alternatives
were required and these were possible only with the involvement
of informed communities and interest groups. To
promote its objectives the URC identifies the actors and factors
that are involved in shaping Karachi's development along with their
relationships with each other and with relevant state agencies.
In addition, it carries out research on all proposed major urban
development projects and analyses them from the point of view of
communities and interest groups.
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Cities
Alliance: is a global alliance
of cities and their development partners committed to improve the
living conditions of the urban poor through action. It aims to foster
new tools, practical approaches and knowledge sharing to promote local
economic development and a direct attack on urban poverty. Its activities
support the implementation of the Habitat Agenda. Cities Alliance. |
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Public-Private
Partnerships for the Urban Environment (PPPUE): UNDPs PPPUE
facility supports the development of innovative partnerships at
the local level. Focusing on assisting small and medium-sized cities,
PPPUE works with all potential stakeholders, including investors,
providers, regulators, users, and experts to meet the challenge
of providing basic urban environmental services. Participation,
local ownership and shared responsibility are important aspects
of PPPUEs innovative approach. This complementary approach, with
a unique international network, flexible design and a constant feedback
mechanism, contributes to the success of Public-Private Partnerships.
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World
Bank: The
World Bank Urban and City Management Program provides city officials
with a platform with which to learn and explore in great detail
key aspects of urban management. The program consists of core courses
targeting city managers, local level policymakers, urban planners
and directors of training institutes. The objectives are to advance
their knowledge and understanding of the broad range of urban issues
and to present the tools they need to plan, manage and govern their
cities.
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Localising
the Habitat Agenda: The
Habitat Agenda is the internationally agreed framework for urban
policies, providing a key tool for urban poverty reduction through
local development. The aim of this research is to explore the most
effective forms of practice in local development for urban poverty
reduction. It is being conducted in partnership with researchers
in Brazil, India, Indonesia, Kenya and Pakistan. (Completion date:
September 2004) The City Poverty Website has been built as part
of this project.
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Shackdwellers'
International: The SDI network is a voluntary association
of like-minded peoples organisations committed to a shared process
of grassroots organisation, problem solving, and solution sharing.
An SDI Secretariat helps to co-ordinate these activities, but the
primary focus of the networks activities is emphatically local. |
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