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ONGOING
OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES
| Localizing
Agenda 21 in Nakuru |
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Total cost
$960,000
Partners
Municipal Council of Nakuru
Various community-based organizations
Ministry of Local Authorities
Ministry of Lands and Settlements
Belgian Administration for Development
Cooperation
Post-Graduate Centre for Human Settlements,
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)
Municipality of Leuven
United Nations Human Settlements Programme
(UN-Habitat)
Background and objectives
Nakuru, Kenya, is a rapidly growing centre
with a diverse economic base of agricultural processing, regional services
and tourism. Particular environmental concerns are caused by the
interrelation between human settlements, Lake Nakuru National Park and
expansion of the town into geologically fragile areas and rich agricultural
land. This situation is aggravated by a decline in urban services, calling
for a new approaches towards urban planning and management.
Activities
To promote urban governance, the programme
emphasizes the need for a shared vision for the future development of the
city. In parallel, urgent problems are addressed through action planning
and environmental conflict resolution. This process is underpinned
by a continuous broad-based consultation process.
Capacity-building efforts focus on setting
priorities for action, targeted human resources development, institutional
strenghtening, development and adaptation of tools, encouraging partnerships,
mobilistion of resources, and promoting exchange between cities.
Capacity-building efforts focus on setting priorities for action, targeting
human resources development, institutional strengthening, development and
adaptation of tools, encouraging partnerships, mobilization of resources
and promoting the exchange of experiences with cities facing similar problems.
Results
A Strategic Structure Plan (SSP) for Nakuru
has been prepared, and a town planning unit is being established to reinforce
the council's planning capability and to coordinate implementation of the
SSP. Action plans are being implemented for revitalization of the
Council's rental-housing stock, resolution of space-use conflicts around
the bus station, improvement of wells around the urban areas, community-assisted
solid waste collection and greening projects in several parts of the city.
To sustain these actions, council revenues and the pricing of services
are being rationalized, the relationship between the council and CBOs is
being strenghtened through zonal development committees and councillors
are being trained as environmental guardians. The partnership between
Nakuru and the Municipality of Leuven has resulted in joint actions improving
sustainable development in both cities.
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| Nairobi
River Basin Project (NRBP) |
Total cost
$120,000
Partners
Nairobi City Council
Africa Water Network
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
United Nations Human Settlements Programme
(UN-Habitat)
Background and objectives
Rapid population growth, urbanization
and industrialization in Nairobi have put enormous pressure on the Nairobi
rivers and catchment areas. Untreated industrial waste, raw sewage
and waste from activities and human settlements situated along the river
have turned the once clear water into sludge, causing health hazards, accelerated
eutrophication and stress on the aquatic ecosystem. The Nairobi River
Basin project undertakes to complement and augment the just-initiated Nairobi
River Basin project phase I of the UNEP sub-programme for sustainable management
and use of natural resources.
Activities
The joint UNEP/UN-Habitat project
was a leading partner in the ongoing digital mapping component of this
current project, providing office space, equipment and technical expertise.
The mapping component of this project is related to one thematic issue,
chemical pollution of the river, but establishing an EMIS will combine
information on environmental and urban activities project, allowing mobilization
and strengthening of local capacity to plan, coordinate and manage sustainable
and environmentally sound urban development through the preparation of
an environmental profile, an environmental management information system
(EMIS), identification and prioritization of appropriate interventions
and evolution of institutional arrangements, as well as provision of asssistance
in developing replicable demonstration projects in other areas.
Results
Project activities resulted in an extensive
awareness campaign with exhibitions, clean-up campaigns and publication
of a CD-ROM and creation of a database on the Nairobi river basin, including
thematic maps on the status of pollution of the rivers and an environmental
profile of the river basin.
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| Poverty
Eradication in Kenya's Urban Areas |
Total cost
$90,000 for preparatory assistance
Partners
Ministry of Local Authorities
Office of the President
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
United Nations Human Settlements Programme
(UN-Habitat)
Background and objectives
Recognizing the need to address the pressing
issue of increasing poverty in the urban areas of Kenya, UNDP is providing
support to UN-Habitat for preparation of a programme for poverty reduction
in urban areas. The programme focuses at the municipal and city levels
on improving decision-making structures to make them more responsive to
the needs of the poor, strengthening citizen participation and facilitating
community groups to interact more effectively with elected municipal leaders
and local authorities.
Activities
The preparatory process has set up a consultative
group on urban poverty, which includes representatives of government bodies,
non-governmental organizations, United Nations agencies and donor agencies,
to advise on the main issues and agree on responses. Consultations
have been held with all partners, and a draft programme document has been
prepared for discussion.
Results
A development assistance framework was
prepared in 1999, and implementation will start soon.
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| In country's
contact: |
UNDP Office
Tel.:
Fax:
E-mail:
Project Support Unit
Tel.:
Fax:
E-mail:
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