CITIES ALLIANCE NEWS

Cities Alliance Policy Advisory Board to Meet in Tunis, 24-26 April 2007

This year's spring meeting of the Cities Alliance Policy Advisory Board will be a joint event with the African Development Bank (AfDB). More

WorldWatch launches State of the World 2007: Our Urban Future Worldwide in Collaboration with Cities Alliance

The WorldWatch Institute launched State of the World 2007: Our Urban Future in January, 2007 in Washington, DC. More

UCLG Executive Bureau Meeting, Hosted by Mayor of Paris, Discusses Preparations for Jeju, Korea

The United Cities and Local Governments’ (UCLG) Executive Bureau met in Paris on March 15 and 16 at the invitation of Bertrand Delanoë, Mayor of Paris and Co-President of UCLG. More

Cities Alliance welcomes two new members to its Policy Advisory Board

Ms. Lajana Manandhar and Mr. Nicéphore Soglo will join the CA’s Policy Advisory Board (PAB) to replace two original members, M. Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi and Ms. Sheela Patel, who have just rotated off the board. More

PAB Member Elected Chair of Urban Reform Caucus of Brazilian House of Representatives

Paulo Teixeira, CA Policy Advisory Board Member, has been elected Chair of the Urban Reform Caucus in the Brazilian House of Representatives (Frente Parlamentar da Reforma Urbana). More

CITIES ALLIANCE PARTNER NEWS

Brazil Launches New Economic Growth Programme (PAC)

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva unveiled an economic programme on 22 January 2007 projected to boost the country’s economic growth during the period 2007 to 2010. More

ILO Workshop Focusing on Job Creation in CA Projects

In February, 2007, the International Labour Organization (ILO) organised a two-day brainstorming session in Geneva to discuss improving the integration of job creation into CA urban development strategies and programmes. More

Formulating a Local Economic Development Competence Network in Africa (LED-CAN)

In March, 2007, a meeting of invited donors was hosted by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss a preliminary concept note on developing a local economic development competence network in Africa (LED-CAN). More

UCLGA Confirms its Leadership

The United Cities Local Governments of Africa (UCLGA) announced the election of Mr. Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi as Secretary General and Fr. Smangaliso Mkhatshwa as President. More

Cities Alliance and Asian Development Bank sign MoU

A January 2007 MoU signed between the Cities Alliance and ADB enables the ADB, already a contributing CA member, to become a recipient of grant funds to finance activities in its developing member countries in Asia. More

Field Report from South Africa

In February, 2007, Cities Alliance Senior Programme Officer Pelle Persson travelled to South Africa to participate in a workshop on South African application of the city development strategy (CDS) methodology. More

UPCOMING EVENTS

• 21st Session of UN-HABITAT Governing Council meetings in Nairobi, 16-20 April 2007

• World Bank Urban Research Symposium, Washington, DC, 14-16 May 2007

• “Analysis of South Africa’s Housing Sector Performance” presentation at the Cities Alliance, 15 June 2007 (12:30 – 2:00 pm)

• FLACMA Congress of Latin American Cities and Local Government, Florianópolis, Brazil, 25–27 July 2007

• UCLG Congress in Jeju, Korea, 28-31 October 2007

PUBLICATION ANNOUNCEMENTS

• World Watch Institute - State of the World 2007: Our Urban Future

• World Bank, Cities Alliance, CIV, DFID, WBI - Exclusión Financiera y Desarrollo Comunitario

• Commonwealth Local Government Forum - Obtaining a Municipal Credit Rating

• South African Cities Network - State of the Cities 2006

CITIES ALLIANCE SECRETARIAT UPDATE

Fond Farewells and Welcome

CITIES ALLIANCE PROJECTS APPROVED (1 January – 31 March 2007)

Brazil – Poverty-Focused City Development Strategy for the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte

India - Bruhat Bangalore Comprehensive Development and Slum Upgrading Strategy

India – Urban Strategy for India 2025 and Mega-Cities Strategy

Mozambique – Preparatory Grant for the Development Chimoio Municipal Council of a CDS and Slum Upgrading Strategy for Chimoio

Mozambique – Preparatory Grant for the Development Vilankulo Municipal Council of a CDS for Vilankulo

Namibia Preparatory Study: Participatory City Development Strategies in Namibia

Nepal – Slum Upgrading Strategies and Investment Program

Vietnam – Urban Planning in a Rapidly Urbanizing Setting