Tras un primer llamado a presentar propuestas, la Alianza de las Ciudades aprobó en principio el primer grupo de Notas Conceptuales que recibirán financiamiento del Fondo Catalizador.

 

El Fondo Catalizador es un instrumento de financiamiento de la Alianza de las Ciudades a través del cual se brindan donaciones para proyectos con los que se consolida y promueve el papel de las ciudades en la reducción de la pobreza y el desarrollo urbano sostenible. Las siete Notas conceptuales seleccionadas se elevan a un total de más de US $1,6 millón. La amplía respuesta recibida por el llamado inicial a propuestas, uno de los elementos claves del nuevo modelo de negocios de la Alianza de las Ciudades, indica de manera clara la existencia de una demanda para un instrumento de financiamiento como el Fondo Catalizador.

 

CGLU y la Alianza de las Ciudades entretienen de larga data una cooperación para el desarrollo urbano y la mejora de los tugurios. Según la nueva Carta de cooperación CGLU-Alianza de las Ciudades adoptada en la Ciudad de México, CGLU ocupará de manera permanente la Presidencia del Comité Ejecutivo de la Alianza de las Ciudades, reforzando así  una cooperación única que incluye numerosos gobiernos provenientes de países del G7 así como donantes internacionales y que está copresidida por el Banco Mundial y ONU-Hábitat. CGLU participó en las reuniones de Washington los 10 y 11 de marzo, que tenían como objetivo definir el programa de trabajo para el 2012 y 2013, y al Comité Ejecutivo de la Alianza de Ciudades que se celebró en Accra del 11 al 13 de julio.

 

 

Los siete proyectos aprobados son los siguientes:

 

• Tenure Security Facility Southern Africa. This activity aims to provide technical assistance and advisory services to slum upgrading initiatives in the Southern Africa region. It is sponsored by Shack/Slum Dwellers International and the South Africa Department of Human Settlements, and will be implemented by Urban Landmark.

• Promoting Climate Resilient City Development and Settlements Upgrading Strategies for Sri Lankan Cities. This activity aims to mainstream climate adaptive and mitigation responses into national urban planning methods, policies and frameworks. It is sponsored by UN-HABITAT and the World Bank, and will be implemented by the Management Resources for Good Governance organisation.

• Housing Sector Development in Ethiopia: Making Shelter Assets Work. This activity focuses on the post-construction management of neighbourhoods built under the Ethiopian Government’s Integrated Housing Development Programme (IHDP), which seeks to provide housing for poor and middle-income households and reduce the number of slums. It is sponsored by GIZ and will be implemented by the Housing Development and Government Buildings Construction Bureau of the Ministry of Urban Development and Construction.

• Promoting Affordable and Sustainable Sanitation Services in Freetown, Sierra Leone. This activity aims to strengthen the Freetown City Council’s institutional capacity to promote improved sanitation in the city. It is sponsored by UN-HABITAT and will be implemented by the Freetown City Council.

• Strategic Plan for the Southern Association of Municipalities of Santiago, Chile. This activity elaborates a strategic development plan with a participatory focus for seven municipalities located in the southern part of metropolitan Santiago. It is sponsored by the Chilean Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and UCLG, and will be implemented by the Southern Association of Municipalities of Santiago.

• Urban Development Strategy for Metropolitan Yaoundé, Cameroon. This activity involves the formulation and implementation of a sustainable urban development strategy in Yaoundé, with an emphasis on improving infrastructure and basic urban services in poor neighbourhoods. It is sponsored by the World Bank and will be implemented by the Yaoundé Urban Council.

• Historic Cities Sustainable Development Strategy for Bukhara and Samarkand, Uzbekistan. This activity supports the historic cities of Bukhara and Samarkand to identify and prioritise key areas for urban integrated development that will promote and attract local economic development opportunities. It is sponsored and implemented by the World Bank.