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Request for the Presentation of Experiences
Monterrey, Mexico, May 6-8, 2015
I. Background:The last several decades have seen significant changes in territorial, demographic, climatic, social, economic, technological and cultural dynamics, which have accelerated urbanization processes throughout the world. Insufficient policies and a shortfall of adequate housing interventions and
development models have added to the arena high rates of exclusion, inequality, inequity and rights violations, as well as increases in the cost of land relative to income, precarious housing conditions and urban poverty. These changes, their related consequences and the various intents to address them are central to discussions surrounding development agendas.
For the first time in history, more than half of the world’s population resides in cities, and more than 90 percent of urban growth is occurring in developing countries.
Globally, approximately one billion people are living in slums. They lack access to basic services, suffer inadequate housing conditions and insecure tenure, and face issues related to environmental
degradation, vulnerability and a host of social problems such as unemployment, violence and crime. Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is the developing world’s most urbanized region, with more than 75 percent of its housing in urban areas. We must work together to seek solutions that will help improve the housing conditions of more than 120 million Latin Americans.
The First Forum on Adequate Housing for Latin America and the Caribbean, “Shared solutions for inclusive cities," took place in Bogota, Colombia in 2012, with the objective of building partnerships and solutions to increase access to safe, adequate housing.
The Third United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development, to take place in 2016, will lay out a “New Urban Agenda” focused on policies and strategies that will create more sustainable and equitable urban spaces. This New Urban Agenda will influence decisions and priorities over the next 20 years—both within the region and throughout the world. Accordingly, the Second Forum on Adequate Housing for Latin America and the Caribbean, “Housing for Life” (May 6-8th, 2015), will unite stakeholders from the various sectors (private, government, civil organizations and academia) that play a role in the region’s urban agenda to discuss ideas, experiences and proposals that turn innovative solutions and models into effective, multi-actor systems, and establish the pathways needed to institutionalize these systems and ensure the urban future we envision.
I. Forum Objectives
In the framework of discussions surrounding the new Urban Agenda and preparatory events for the Third United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III), as
well as upcoming global sustainability and development conferences1, the Regional Forum on Adequate Housing, “Housing for Life,” aims to:
1. Identify guiding principles, action principles and guidelines for the development of best practices for adequate housing and human settlements.
2. Expose various solutions and innovative experiences in adequate housing and human settlement issues that have potential for impact and scalability.
3. Create/promote and strengthen partnerships between diverse actors (public, private and civil) to promote innovative solutions, adequate housing investment models and equitable, inclusive and sustainable human settlements.
II. Topics
A. Central Theme:As we approach the Third United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) in 2016, it is time to think about the modality of urban space. For this
reason, the central theme of the “Housing for Life” Forum is focused on the role that adequate housing plays in building inclusive, sustainable and prosperous cities that support life, help overcome poverty and provide economic and social development on a national scale.
The concept of adequate housing encompasses land tenure conditions, services, infrastructure, costs of living, available and equal opportunity financing, and habitability—including environmental sustainability and resilience to risk. Building a city requires adherence to such basic principles as the right to fully exercise citizenship; the social functionality of the city, its land and property; the democratic management of land; the democratic planning and production of both public and private spaces; the sustainable and responsible management of natural resources and
1 UN Climate Summit, Conference on the Post-2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, Sustainable
energy sources in the city and its surrounding areas; and the democratic and equitable enjoyment of the city.
B. Topic AreasDuring the most recent World Urban Forum (WUF7), civil society organizations and social movements manifested that access to land and secure tenure are fundamental to the “Right to the City.”2 The WUF7 Medellin Declaration concludes with an emphasis on the importance of the following: “To promote sustainable urban development, based on urban planning that promotes youth participation, gender equality, balanced territorial development; strengthened resilience to climate change and natural disasters; the upgrading and prevention of slums; and provision of
Development Objectives.
housing, basic services and land tenure security; access to safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transport; and access to safe public spaces and services for all.”
These stances are extremely relevant in Latin America and the Caribbean, a region with the greatest income inequality in the world3 and cities that are a source of modernization and economic growth, but also of precarious urban housing conditions and urban inequality, exclusion and poverty4. The population most affected by poverty and socio-spatial marginalization are indigenous peoples, women and youth5. The region’s urbanization processes place a high demand on land, housing, services and employment—in a context of weak land and territorial governance systems.
Experiences to be selected for presentation during the Forum should be related to at least one of the following topics and respective subtopics:
2 Final document from the Civil Society Table, VII World Urban Forum.
1. Land, Housing and TerritoryThis topic area focuses on land for housing in cities and territories characterized by economic inequality and socio-spatial segregation, and, from the perspective of the right to adequate housing
and the city6, reflects on concrete experiences that include elements that contribute to a change in the paradigms, policies and practices of diverse sectors in order to achieve more equitable, participative, safe, sustainable and resilient cities and territories.
Subtopics:i. Planning, management and the use of land for housing
Experiences in this area should respond to the following questions: How are cities being developed in a way that encompasses urban planning and management
methods that respond to the challenges of urbanization in Latin America in a sustainable, integrated, inclusive and humane way?
How are participative territorial planning and management practices that ensure equal rights for all—particularly the most vulnerable—to adequate housing and the general enjoyment of common, collective assets of the city (i.e. public services, green spaces, collective equipment, natural and cultural heritage, etc.) being ensured?
ii. Regulating land markets for inclusion, equality, accessibility and informationTo be more inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable, cities must regulate urban development through legal policies and instruments that can guarantee the social functionality of public and private property, prioritizing the common good and collective social, cultural and environmental interests over individual interests. Advancements in this area include capturing profits from land and reinvesting them in social initiatives; incentivizing the reuse and rehabilitation of existing
structures and urban spaces for a more social purpose; incentivizing real-estate densification with a more socially driven urban design, etc. What instruments or initiatives are being developed by governments, cities, communities or the
private sector to increase supply and provide more accessible prices for urban land and housing, particularly for vulnerable, low-income groups?
What initiatives are being developed by communities or the private sector to take advantage of new policies and regulatory mechanisms that facilitate access to property and housing?
iii. Inclusive, participative, sustainable and equitable land tenure and settlement improvement systems
3 Ten percent of the region’s wealthiest population accounts for 48% of total income, while the poorest 10% accounts for just 1.6%, with little
Cities should both recognize and compensate traditionally excluded social groups—those that have, in fact, built a large part of the city—through corrective actions that facilitate and strengthen social production processes or new housing development actions, guaranteeing in all cases the necessary conditions of tenure and infrastructure to ensure adequate housing and access to the city’s collective goods and services. What practical actions are communities taking to reclaim the right to secure tenure, the
improvement of housing and neighborhoods, and access cities’ goods and services? What are cities doing to exercise the right of excluded social groups to secure tenure, adequate
housing and settlements, and full access to the benefits of the city?iv. Alternative modalities of tenure and access to land and housing
The predominant model of private, single-family property, strongly linked to speculation, large fluctuations in private real-estate investments and the expansion of cities, has not improved access to formal housing for the poorest groups. There are collective, community-based, private and public initiatives that demonstrate alternative, accessible, safe and equitable ways of accessing adequate housing that is integrated with the benefits of the city (the rescue of urban land and the reuse of patrimonial spaces for various ends: rental, collective, cooperative or multi-family housing, the recycling of existing structures into housing or common areas, etc.). What examples are there of access to urban land for housing that provide more equitable or
inclusive alternatives for the poorest groups?
change over time. Working in Partnerships in Latin America, DFID Department for International Development, 2008.
What initiatives exist in terms of real-estate investments with social return that promote these new forms of access to land and housing?
How are cities favoring or promoting these alternatives?
2. Resilient Housing and CommunitiesThe reduction of risk in the face of disasters provides a framework through which public authorities, political leaders, civil organizations and the private sector can take an active role in combating inadequate housing and seeking a more sustainable habitat, working together to create resilient cities and communities with safer living spaces. The dynamics of the city, the growth of
4 “Urban poverty” and “precarious urban housing conditions” are distinct concepts. “While urban poverty alludes to general scarcity, measured
slums, gaps in urban planning, the effects of climate change and an increase in the frequency and impact of disasters, among other issues, provide enormous challenges—and diverse opportunities.
Subtopics:
i. Volunteerism as a means of reducing vulnerability, managing risk, and responding to disasters Guiding questions:What challenges do we face in incorporating volunteerism into construction programs that aim to build local resilience and respond to disasters in urban contexts?
What new opportunities can be leveraged with the participation of volunteers in urban risk management?
ii. Financial and market-based mechanisms for building resilience on a household levelGuiding questions:Is it realistic that the most vulnerable can share the risk of losing their assets to a disaster?What factors are key to success in scaling an urban housing microfinance or microinsurance model that is sustainable, while also oriented to the most vulnerable families?
iii. Social and public investment in the development of resilienceGuiding questions:
What factors are key to success in incorporating the topic of resilience and risk reduction in local government plans?How can communities and governments be supported so that they promote inclusive laws and participation, with the goal of promoting greater community resilience?What focuses and methodologies help create sustainable resilience on a community level?
iv. Innovative mechanisms, tools and products (technologies) for building resilient adequate housing Guiding question:What are some initiatives, and respective benefits, related to new technologies and innovations in the improvement of adequate housing?
through income or household consumption, the latter implies qualitative deficiencies in the housing conditions of a certain population sector of
3. Healthy, Inclusive and Sustainable Housing and SettlementsThis area includes experiences that have incorporated appropriate and appropriable models, technologies, methodologies or processes that promote adequate housing, particularly that which encompasses healthy living, mobility/accessibility, safety and sustainability, and is accessible to the poorest populations. These solutions are innovative, financially accessible, ecological, culturally acceptable, sustainable and inclusive, favor health and strengthen the livelihoods of urban populations. Although the focus of these experiences is technological in nature, they should be part of an integrated social management process, inserted into local, educational and social markets in a way that makes possible their social appropriation.
our cities—whether in terms of tenure, access to basic urban services, structural quality of housing, or overcrowded conditions. Nearly 75% of
Subtopics:
i. Solutions for healthy housing and settlements Access to basic services such as water, sanitation and power, as well as the internal conditions of houses and the use provided by the interior of the home determine the health of people and the environment. There are public and private initiatives—with intermediate technologies that are individual or collective—that facilitate families’ and communities’ access to adequate services, promote the sustainable and responsible use of resources and, on occasion, create conditions for self-provision for personal consumption or the generation of livelihood. This is also complimented with other housing improvements (e.g. the instalment of floors, ventilation or natural lighting, the
use of adequate materials, etc.), as well as improvements to the behaviors of families and communities to ensure the creation of a favorable space in terms of health and life in general. Guiding questions: What examples are there of alternative initiatives or models that provide efficient, sustainable
solutions for power, water and/or sanitation (solid waste and sewage) in settlements, that are accessible to these same communities?
What other examples exist of collective or individual initiatives to improve the health-related conditions of housing and habitat?
How are cities and/or public service companies favoring these types of initiatives?ii. “Green” solutions for housing and settlements
On the level of housing units, these solutions are governed by principles of sustainable building, improved habitability, the promotion and use of technology for the conservation of land and natural resources, the mitigation of risk, the efficient use of energy, recycling, etc. On a settlement level, this also includes urban recycling and intensive land use, encompassing the creation of green spaces and recreational spaces (e.g. rooftop parks or urban gardens). What experiences exist in the cities regarding developed housing and settlements processes
that incorporate these sustainability concepts on a large scale? What experiences exist in terms of the renovation, remodeling or rehabilitation of urban
housing and existing neighborhoods that demonstrate how to incorporate the principles of sustainability into housing and human settlements?
poor households in the region demonstrate issues related to precarious housing conditions; La otra agenda urbana: tareas, experiencias y
How are cities helping to promote these types of urban interventions through fiscal or financial means, etc.?
iii. Mobility and access solutions for people living in settlementsA common barrier to accessing the right to the city is the physical accessibility of settlements due to geographic barriers such as ravines or steep slopes that put people at risk, the inexistence or deficiency of pedestrian paths or public transportation or, simply, the long distances that need to be traversed in a given city. These barriers are even more serious and discriminatory for people with physical disabilities. Another type of barrier is the high costs that people must incur for public transportation, which is proportionately higher for low-income families.
programas para aliviar la pobreza y precariedad en las ciudades de América Latina y El Caribe, Joan Mac Donald CEPAL, 2005.
What initiatives are cities promoting that provide improved physical accessibility and mobility for people living in urban settlements?
What new public or shared transportation modalities exist that allow for increased access to transportation and mobility at a more accessible cost?
iv. Solutions for safety and coexistence in settlementsUnsafe conditions pose one of the main problems faced by cities, particularly affecting women and the most vulnerable groups. This lack of safety is partially due to the physical condition of settlements and housing that harbors violence and crime, such as a lack of public lighting, the absence of adequate public spaces or overcrowded homes. A sense of insecurity is also linked to
5 Swedish Cooperative Centre, Injusticia en América Latina, http://www.sccportal.org.
levels of confidence, solidarity and coexistence within neighborhoods and communities, which can only be built consistently and voluntarily. What initiatives are the public sectors, communities or the private sector promoting to improve
the conditions of safety and coexistence in communities?
4. Affordable Financing and Housing Market DevelopmentOne of the main barriers vulnerable populations face in securing access to adequate housing is the limited supply of appropriate financing and a lack of sufficient synergy between key actors in the housing market in terms of the design and provision of products and services that align with these populations’ needs, preferences and capabilities, while also promoting and facilitating their active
participation in the housing market. Thus, the objective of this topic area is to create an interactive space to share perspectives and experiences in three subtopic areas that respond to or spark interest in several critical questions.
Subtopics:
i. Innovative housing finance systems What financing models exist in the region that could provide a good point of reference for
facilitating access to housing, preferably to base of the pyramid (BoP) markets? Savings-credit, rent-to-own, others?
6 Framework for empowering people who live in cities and territories in situations of socio-spatial-economic segregation and who, as citizens,
ii. Financing instruments with complementary services What public instruments could incentivize the financial sector to participate in the facilitation of
access to housing for BoP markets? What non-financial services naturally complement housing finance?
iii. Policy models and public instruments for housing finance What factors and actors could leverage subsidy programs to build scale and impact? What challenges need to be managed in creating synergy between various actors in the housing
market, in terms of a subsidy-credit-savings program?iv. Inclusive markets and multi-sector partnerships for the development of the housing
market
What are some scalable and replicable market models that would be sustainable for housing market actors, while still accessible to the BoP? What incentives are there for each actor involved?
How can social businesses, which help close the gaps and introduce innovative products and services that facilitate access to adequate housing for BoP families, be nurtured?
III. ParticipantsThe call to share experiences is open to diverse sectors, including social organizations, private businesses, public entities, academia and international cooperation organizations, that are
can play an active role in decision-making and land management, who envision improving their homes in the future, and who, in partnership
interested in sharing concrete initiatives and solutions to issues related to inadequate housing in Latin America and the Caribbean.
IV. Forum FormatThe Forum will be structured around high-level dialogue, talks with experts, and facilitated discussion and exchange, with interactive models centered on experiences and lessons learned. Participants will hear about innovative solutions that promote efficient collaboration and network creation. All of the experiences presented (though not yet selected) will have the opportunity to
participate in the Best Practices and Experiences Exhibit. The experiences selected will receive support in preparing and producing their exhibit.
V. LanguageExperiences may be presented in Spanish, English, Portuguese or French.
with others, redefine the exclusionary rules (formal and informal) and practices that generate inequity, inequality and segregation.
VI. Selection ProcessPotential experiences will be revised by a Technical Committee against the below selection criteria and their appropriateness in light of the Forum’s objectives and topics. The Technical Committee will then establish a preselection list to submit to the Forum’s Strategic Committee, comprised of representatives from the event’s co-organizing entities. The Strategic Committee will then make the final selection of the 40 experiences to be presented during the Forum.
A. Selection Criteria Inclusivity: A best practice must include the participation of the community, people and most vulnerable groups, traditionally excluded.
Multi-actor: A best practice includes the participation of at least two actors from distinct arenas: social, private, public and/or academia.
Innovation: A best practice provides new knowledge and methodologies that allow for a creative approach to housing issues.
Impact and scaling potential: A best practice in adequate housing should show tangible changes for a growing number of people in terms of access to opportunities that improve their quality of life.
Sustainability: A best practice implies transformational models that are capable of continuing over time beyond the initial impetus, and that are adaptable to new conditions.
Replicability potential: A best practice implies focuses and methodologies that are replicable beyond the individual experience; for example, in other sectors, contexts or populations.
B. TimelineActivity DateOpening and convocation Nov 26, 2014
Collection of experiences Feb 1-28, 2015Pre-selection of experiences March 2-6, 2015Final selection by Strategic Committee March 9-13, 2015Selected experiences notified and Terms of Reference for the Exhibit sent
March 16-17, 2015
Preliminary collection of Exhibit documents March 23-27, 2015Final collection of Exhibit documents and materials April 13-17, 2015Exhibit production April 17, 2015Forum May 5-8, 2015
.
VII. Participation costs and sponsorships:Free participation in the event is granted to the representatives of the selected experiences, including production costs for the Exhibit.
Representatives of each selected experience must cover their own costs for transportation, food and accommodations. Per participant, these are estimated at:
Event hotels: $ 60 – $100 per night Airfare: US$ 500 - $1500Meals: $50 per day
Those who wish to secure sponsorship or national scholarships should contact the Forum co-organizer national representatives for support and coordination of the participation process.
Organizers:
Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, nongovernmental, ecumenical organization that works to eliminate inadequate housing, providing accessible solutions in partnership with the poorest families and communities, as well as with other entities.
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is a humanitarian organization centered in the promotion of humanitarian values, disaster response, disaster preparedness, and health and community care in communities.
Cities Alliance is a global partnership for urban poverty reduction and the promotion of the role of cities in sustainable development. Its members include national governments, local authorities, nongovernment organizations, multilateral organizations and others.
Habitat International Coalition unites hundreds of organizations in 19 countries of the region, building strong coalitions, strengthening networks, initiatives and social movements, and influencing public policies.
Inter-American Development Bank supports efforts by Latin America and the Caribbean countries to reduce poverty and inequality aiming to bring about development in a sustainable, climate-friendly way.
With the collaboration of:
UN-HABITAT is a United Nations program that promotes socially and environmentally sustainable human settlements development and the achievement of adequate shelter for all.
VIII. Presentation FormPlease send the following completed form to [email protected] .
Deadline: February 28, 2015
Section 1: Intermediary or sponsor contact information
Name
Telephone Country code: Tel:
Organization
Section 2: Experience representative contact information
Name
Telephone Country code: Tel:
Organization
Role/Position
Country
Organization website
Section 2: Summary Write a short paragraph describing the experience, emphasizing the innovative aspects of the project or initiative. Please include the initiative’s objectives, target population, territorial scope and actors involved. (maximum 100 words)
Title of project or initiative
Start date
Target population
(maximum 50 words)
Description
(include results achieved)
(maximum 500 words)
Problem How and when the project began Partners/actors and respective support Solution model Achievements and results Expected medium-term impact
Forum topic area
(select one)
( 1 ) Land, Housing and Territory
( 2 ) Resilient Housing and Communities
( 3 ) Healthy, Inclusive and Sustainable Housing and Human Settlements
( 4 )Financing and Market Development Models
Images:
Please attach a minimum of two photographs that illustrate the situation before and after the intervention.
(All images must be at least 300 ppi for proper print quality.)
Section 3: Reflection (maximum 100 words each)
What were the main challenges faced by the initiative, and how were they managed?
What were the main lessons learned?
Describe related policies and regulatory frameworks that favored the development of the initiative.
Describe the elements that make this experience innovative (technologies, methodologies, models, etc.).
Describe the elements of architecture and urbanization that make this experience inclusive, sustainable, and/or resilient (e.g. the tangible incorporation of the community in processes, both
before and during the intervention; the introduction of innovative, accessible and sustainable architectural or urban designs; the recuperation of knowledge, identity and culture in the design or construction, etc.).
Describe the experience’s financing strategy, and its most novel elements. Is this financing model sustainable?
