STRATEGY 2005 – 2007: TOWARDS REGIONAL OWNERSHIP

HUMI’s work is guided by the “Vienna Declaration on Informal Settlements in SEE” of September 2004 where the Western Balkan countries committed themselves to undertake measures to address informal settlement issues and to initiate and implement reforms in the wider orbit of sustainable urban 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 was recommended.

In order to sustain the considerable regional momentum generated through the Ministerial conference in Vienna, the Ministère des Affaires Etrangères of Luxemburg (and later the Swiss Development Co-operation as well as the CEB) provided financial resources to support Working Table II in furthering this important process. Throughout 2005 and 2006, this support enables HUMI to

(i) facilitate the development of a regional capacity strengthening programme for urban development and housing in the SEE region together with relevant partners and stakeholders

(ii) support SEE Governments in implementing the Vienna Declaration commitments

(iii) promote academic co-operation and research in the area of land and urban development

Given the Stability Pact’s role to act as a catalyst and facilitator for regional cooperation among the SEE countries, the transfer of sector responsibilities to SEE countries and technical support institutions is a key objective for all SP initiatives. To ensure the sustainable transfer of responsibilities and to adequately address prevalent sector constraints in SEE, the consultative development and successful implementation of a comprehensive regional capacity strengthening programme, based in the region, is HUMI’s key objective and this process is envisaged to take until 2007.