UN-HABITAT in South East Europe

Regional Capacity Strengthening Programme for Urban Development and Housing in South East Europe (2007-2010)
 

In September 2004, Western Balkan countries signed the “Vienna Declaration on Informal Settlements in South East Europe (SEE)”, committing themselves to undertake measures to address issues and to initiate and implement reforms in the wider orbit of sustainable development and social housing. 

The Vienna Ministerial Conference also agreed to develop a capacity strengthening instrument and the preparation of a coherent programme proposal for the SEE region. The Stability Pact brought together senior housing and urban management specialists from SEE, from the International Organizations, UN-HABITAT, EIB, CEB and interested EU member states, to develop a strategy and establish partnerships for the development of a “Regional Capacity Strengthening Programme for Urban Development and Housing in SEE” (RCSP).

Due to the absence of key EU institutions responsible for matters related to urban development and housing, it has been agreed that UN-HABITAT is well placed to be the main implementing agency of this regional capacity-strengthening programme. Following the endorsement of the programme by SEE stakeholders and IFI’s, many activities have taken place including national workshops in the countries of SEE and a regional workshop for the national municipal associations.  

Since 2005, regular bi-annual Vienna Declaration Review meetings have been held in various countries of the region. The latest one, in February 2009,  was held in Warsaw, under the auspices of the UN-HABITAT’s Warsaw Office and served a broader discussion on the future of the RCSP.  As a follow up to these discussions, a workshop on sustainable decisions and constructive cooperation in the context of informal settlements has been scheduled for June 30-July 3, 2009 in Ohrid, Macedonia. (Read more about RCSP meeting on the webpage of UN-HABITAT in Poland http://www.unhabitat.org.pl

UN-HABITAT is currently formulating a new Programme Document for a three-year regional programme to cover Albania, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Settlements and Integrated Local Development Programme(SILD) will draw from the experience of an earlier programme (SIRP) implemented in Serbia and funded by the Government of Italy. (Read about SIRP on the webpage of the UN-HABITAT in Serbia http://www.unhabitat.org.yu