Kenya
STATEMENT ON
MEETING BASIC NEEDS IN
WATER, SANITATION AND HUMAN SETTLEMENTS,
WITH PARTICULAR FOCUS ON HUMAN SETTLEMENTS
12TH SESSION OF THE CSD
BY
HON. ENG. RAILA A. ODINGA,
MINISTER FOR ROADS, PUBLIC WORKS AND HOUSING
NEW YORK - FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2004
_______________________________________________________
Mr. Chairman,
We associate ourselves with statement made by Qatar on behalf of
G77 and China.
As this Session comes to a close, a number of issues have emerged
that require consideration as we prepare for CSD-13. Thanks to your
Chairmanship for designing a programme that allowed for
comprehensive deliberations on the themes of Water, Sanitation and
Human Settlements.
Mr. Chairman
It is now clear that the target of improving the lives of at least 100
million slum dwellers by 2020 is not ambitious enough to address
rapid urbanization and the urbanization of poverty. Furthermore, we
have observed that progress in the achievement of this target is not
on course. This situation calls for concerted efforts involving
upgrading of slums, regularizing land tenure, reducing poverty,
facilitating access to water and sanitation, and constructing affordable
housing units, particularly on a rental basis, for low and middle
income groups.
Mr. Chairman,
The target of improving the lives of slum dwellers has been hampered
by inadequate means of implementation. It is only through enhanced
financing that developing countries will be able to achieve the
expected outcome over the next ten years. In this regard, there is
need for the international community to honour commitments made in
relevant international fora, including the 0.7% of ODA, in order to
complement resources mobilized locally. The international
community should implement debt swap, where appropriate, in
support of in-country human settlements priority programmes.
Mr. Chairman,
Crosscutting issues related to water, sanitation and human
settlements, particularly reduction of poverty should be mainstreamed
into the national PRSPs. In addition, partnerships should be forged
with the poor in implementing pro-poor and community-based
strategies.
Governments have recognized the contribution of major groups
through establishment of genuine partnerships and recognition of
their respective comparative advantages. This calls for political will
and commitment by Governments to decentralize authority and
financial resources to local authorities that in turn should embrace the
good urban governance principles.
Finally Mr. Chairman,
As the UN task manager for coordinating activities towards realization
of the target of improving the lives of slum dwellers, UN-HABITAT
requires the requisite resources to enable the organization carry out
this mandate. In this regard, we propose that establishment of Slum
Upgrading Facility Fund be included in the Chairman?s summary in
line with the General Assembly resolution!
Thank you.
MEETING BASIC NEEDS IN
WATER, SANITATION AND HUMAN SETTLEMENTS,
WITH PARTICULAR FOCUS ON HUMAN SETTLEMENTS
12TH SESSION OF THE CSD
BY
HON. ENG. RAILA A. ODINGA,
MINISTER FOR ROADS, PUBLIC WORKS AND HOUSING
NEW YORK - FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2004
_______________________________________________________
Mr. Chairman,
We associate ourselves with statement made by Qatar on behalf of
G77 and China.
As this Session comes to a close, a number of issues have emerged
that require consideration as we prepare for CSD-13. Thanks to your
Chairmanship for designing a programme that allowed for
comprehensive deliberations on the themes of Water, Sanitation and
Human Settlements.
Mr. Chairman
It is now clear that the target of improving the lives of at least 100
million slum dwellers by 2020 is not ambitious enough to address
rapid urbanization and the urbanization of poverty. Furthermore, we
have observed that progress in the achievement of this target is not
on course. This situation calls for concerted efforts involving
upgrading of slums, regularizing land tenure, reducing poverty,
facilitating access to water and sanitation, and constructing affordable
housing units, particularly on a rental basis, for low and middle
income groups.
Mr. Chairman,
The target of improving the lives of slum dwellers has been hampered
by inadequate means of implementation. It is only through enhanced
financing that developing countries will be able to achieve the
expected outcome over the next ten years. In this regard, there is
need for the international community to honour commitments made in
relevant international fora, including the 0.7% of ODA, in order to
complement resources mobilized locally. The international
community should implement debt swap, where appropriate, in
support of in-country human settlements priority programmes.
Mr. Chairman,
Crosscutting issues related to water, sanitation and human
settlements, particularly reduction of poverty should be mainstreamed
into the national PRSPs. In addition, partnerships should be forged
with the poor in implementing pro-poor and community-based
strategies.
Governments have recognized the contribution of major groups
through establishment of genuine partnerships and recognition of
their respective comparative advantages. This calls for political will
and commitment by Governments to decentralize authority and
financial resources to local authorities that in turn should embrace the
good urban governance principles.
Finally Mr. Chairman,
As the UN task manager for coordinating activities towards realization
of the target of improving the lives of slum dwellers, UN-HABITAT
requires the requisite resources to enable the organization carry out
this mandate. In this regard, we propose that establishment of Slum
Upgrading Facility Fund be included in the Chairman?s summary in
line with the General Assembly resolution!
Thank you.
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