Urbanisation and Poverty Alleviation Study

Project Narrative

The scope of the paper covered:

• The challenges of the urban century and their relationship to achieving the MDGs;
• Current urbanization challenges, trends and prospects in Asia-Pacific and the case for UNDP involvement in urban development;
• Reviewing UNDP’s existing urban work in Asia Pacific Region;
• Inform Regional and country office policy and program formulation;
• Outline a framework and possible mechanisms for UNDP engagement in the urban sector with governments, local government, business and communities and other ODAs
• The importance of UNDP coming up with creative approaches to the challenges and opportunities of urban development.

The paper was presented in six sections. Section 1 was an introduction, Section 2 addressed and analysed some of the key urban development challenges of the Region, including trends, the importance of cities to achieving sustainable development and poverty reduction and some of the key challenges including urban governance, land management, finance, infrastructures and climate change. Section 3, examined some of the priority cores areas of concern for targeting development agency support to the urban sector. It included examples of best practices which should be considered if UNDP proceeds to develop a program. Section 4 covered a review of UNDP’s existing Urban Work, and other ODA experience and lessons which will have a bearing on the Strategy framework propose for UNDP. Section 5 proposed a draft Asia-Pacific Urban Strategy framework, outlining potential opportunities for UNDP to engage in the urban sector in the Region. It included a discussion on risks and potential development partners. Section 6 outlined a framework and way forward for UNDP to progress the development of the policy work and program of activities for Asia and the Pacific Region.

Key services provided

Analysis and identification of priority urban human development challenges in Asia and the Pacific, including a focus on sustainable cities, urban poverty and inclusive urban development.
Identified barriers to sustainable urbanization, urban poverty reduction and the development of liveable cities.