(UN Agency)

 

(1) Overview of activities

UN-HABITAT is the United Nations agency for human settlements. It is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. We are an operational programme relying on funding received from member states to assist states and local governments to implement our mandate. Part of this involves capacity building initiatives for disaster/vulnerability reduction with local authorities and national governments. The main documents outlining the mandate of the organization are the Vancouver Declaration on Human Settlements, Habitat Agenda, Istanbul Declaration on Human Settlements, the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium, and Resolution 56/206.

 

UN-HABITAT’s Disaster Management Programme (DMP) mission is to support national governments, local authorities and communities in strengthening their capacity in managing human-made and natural disasters.  This applies to the prevention and mitigation of disasters as well as the rehabilitation of human settlements. DMP also aims at creating awareness among decision-makers and communities on mitigation and adequate rehabilitation in human settlements. Finally, DMP works to bridge the gap between relief and development by combining technical expertise and human resources in the field and by ensuring that short term interventions can have a long term impact. 

Learn more about UN-HABITAT.

(2) Role in emergency relief and reconstruction

UN-HABITAT’s DMP in its work of bridging the gap between relief and development is providing expertise on shelter and housing as well as in other infrastructure and human settlements needs immediately after a disaster occurs.  UN-HABITAT acknowledges the fact that disasters can provide opportunities for sustainable development. Relief and reconstruction phases require that rehabilitation and recovery efforts need to be integrated into long-term development strategies.  Mobilizing more sustainable oriented relief and reconstruction - transforming disasters into opportunities for sustainable development – initiating the development trajectory at the earliest stages through environmental remediation, restoration of critical infrastructure, transition shelter, land use planning and tenure, and intermediate livelihood support activities which are linked to longer term settlements recovery programming including vulnerability/risk reduction.

 

(3) Major opportunities for business support

UN-HABITAT offers opportunities for companies to partner on specific disasters through project frameworks prepared immediately after an event and also offers the opportunity to support the Human Settlements Recovery Programme in order to facilitate further UN-HABITAT’s interventions in support of human settlements in crisis.  The following resources are required to support UN-HABITAT activities:

         >       Financial support 
         >       Shelter / Housing (materials and expertise)
         >       Infrastructure (materials, equipment or expertise)
         >       Disaster risk reduction (materials, equipment or expertise)

 

 

(4) Contribution/Contact information

 

Please address inquiries to:

 

Antoine King, Director, Progamme Support Division, PO Box 30030, Nairobi 00100, Kenya,

email: Antoine.king@unhabitat.org, tel: 254 20 624056

 

Dan Lewis, Chief, Disaster Post Conflict and Safety Section,

email: dan.lewis@unhabitat.org tel: 254 20 623826

 

(5) Examples of engagement with the private sector

BASF AG Germany

 

Sri Lanka Tsunami Relief

 

UN-HABITAT and BASF AG signed a Letter of Intent on a public-private sector partnership in the following areas:

 

(a)     Exchange of expertise and promotion of normative projects;

(b)      Sustainable reconstruction projects for disaster areas and

(c)       Dissemination of information on and application of environmental technologies.

 

Financial contribution of approximately USD 500,000 for implementation of two projects in Sri Lanka;

 

          >        Pilot project: Recycling of Debris and Decontamination of Soils and Sediments;

          >        Construction of a new 'Fish Market and Restaurant Complex' using the Monotech Building System.

 

 

Bovis Lend Lease Pty Ltd. Australia

 

 >          Agreement of Cooperation (under discussion)

 >          Sri Lanka Tsunami Relief

 

BLLC’s aim is to provide humanitarian assistance inside of a well coordinated action plan. The added-value of their participation is the effective and efficient delivery of programme resources. Inputs (in-kind) include 6 expert project managers (staggered deployment), to provide leadership, guidance and advice as well as an element of programme oversight (approximately A$750,000).

 

International Water Association United Kingdom

 

 >         Agreement for Cooperation (under discussion)

 >         All Indian Ocean Tsunami-affected countries

 

The International Water Association (IWA) would facilitate the mobilization of technical expertise to the field in support of rehabilitation efforts of local authorities, particularly in relation to all aspects of utility planning, management and maintenance. IWA has suitable experience and appropriate network links to support equipment brokerage between those local authorities in need and utilities in the region or internationally who can support supplies development.

________________________________________________________

 

(!) This website is intended only for companies who wish to donate to support UN emergency relief activities.If you wish to sell your products or services to the UN, please visit the website for UN procurement services.

 

Promote responsible corporate citizenship - support the ten principles of the Global Compact: www.unglobalcompact.org."