Kampala, 30 November 2016 (ECA) - A new project to strengthen the capacities of African policy makers and experts to effectively design, reformulate and implement strategies and policies for inclusive and sustainable cities, among other issues, will be launched in Uganda this week by the Economic Commission for Africa.
A national workshop will be held in Kampala from December 1 to December 2 to launch the project on 'Strengthening Member States’ Capacities in Designing and Implementing Strategies and Policies for Inclusive and Sustainable Cities in Africa'.
The project will also help African policymakers to facilitate cross sectoral and integrated policy responses to urbanization issues in the framework of national development planning.
It will be implemented in Cameroon, Cape Verde, Morocco, Uganda and Zambia.
Director Ms.Takyiwaa Manuh of the Social Development Policy Division says the project is crucial as it seeks to strengthen the capacities of African policy makers.
“We are drawing on ECA’s expertise and mandate on urbanization in the context of structural transformation and overarching focus to enhance member states capacities hence we will be launching this project on strengthening Member States’ capacities in designing and implementing strategies and policies for inclusive and sustainable cities in Africa,” said Ms. Manuh.
She added that the project is being implemented under what is called the Development Account, a capacity development programme of the United Nations Secretariat, aiming to enhance capacities of developing countries in priority areas of the United Nations Development Agenda.
The national workshop to launch the project would be attended by experts from various government ministries and institutions, including Finance, Planning and Economic Development as well as Lands, Housing and Urban Development Ministers.
The project will also facilitate Member States’ efforts to implement and monitor the recently adopted Agenda 2030, especially Goal 11 as its aim is to “make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”.
Also of importance is the New Urban Agenda that was recently adopted in Quito at the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development as well as the Common Africa Position on Habitat III adopted by the Africa Union Heads of States Summit, Kigali, Rwanda, July 2016.
Issued by:
Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: ecainfo@uneca.org