Statement on Meeting Basic Needs in Water, Sanitation, and Human Settlements III

Mr. Chairman, over the past two weeks, the extensive interaction we have seen here has enabled us to have a rich exchange of case studies, best practices, and lessons learned in addressing human settlements. While there has been progress, the rapid pace of urbanization around the world clearly poses enormous challenges in our effort to achieve internationally agreed development goals.

In responding to these challenges, we must find ways of translating our multilateral discussions into action at national, regional, and, especially, local levels. With transparent, good domestic governance as a cornerstone for improving human settlement conditions, we must now concentrate on working country-by-country and with local authorities to build capacity and strengthen the institutions needed to create the enabling environment to unlock domestic capital, attract investment, and to stimulate greater private sector engagement. Capacity building aimed at local actors, including civil society and the private sector, is key to promoting effective land use and urban planning, adequate housing, tenure security, and improved delivery of public services, such as water, sanitation, energy, transportation, and solid waste management.

We have heard many delegations share examples of partnerships that have successfully delivered results at the community level. We should now seek ways of replicating and diffusing these proven approaches more broadly. My agency, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, collaborates with a number of U.S. agencies and other countries on several innovative partnerships to help the poor improve their own lives. For example, our programs include financing for low-income housing, and providing assistance to community development, and new technology for low-cost housing.

Finally, we should seek ways to further deploy innovative financing mechanisms to deliver results that improve life for slum dwellers, and all people, in human settlements. At next September’s World Urban Forum in Barcelona, we plan to actively promote mechanisms to achieve sustainable development through a series of panels and workshops on issues such as municipal and housing finance, community development, public-private partnerships, and good local governance. We look forward to seeing many of you there to explore further ideas of how to promote implementation and advance sustainable development for human settlements.