The HDA participated in the 2016 UN-Habitat III Thematic Conference on Informal Settlements organised and co-hosted by South Africa and the United Nations. From 7 to 8 April, more than 500 delegates from all over the world exchanged ideas on the theme From slums to inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable human settlements in preparation of the UN-Habitat III conference to take place in Equador later this year.
During the conference, the HDA was recognised as the best case study on informal settlements upgrading in the world. The Agency believes this served as a clarion call that we cannot rest on our laurels – we still have much to do to provide the people of South Africa with sustainable, vibrant and integrated human settlements and to restore their dignity.
The core panellists included Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu, Human Settlements Deputy Minister Zou Kota-Fredericks and the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development, Dr Joan Clos. Our CEO, Pascal Moloi, led a plenary session on From informal settlements and slums to sustainable neighbourhoods – policy and strategy frameworks for a paradigm shift. The HDA also held a state-of-the-art exhibition, which enjoyed patronage from numerous international and local delegates.
The Thematic Conference on Informal Settlements was in preparation for Habitat III, a major United Nations Conference on housing and urbanisation taking place in Ecuador in October 2016. Habitat I took place in 1976, and Habitat II in 1996. Habitat III is expected to generate a “New Urban Agenda” for the 21st century. Visit http://www.h3thematicmeeting.co.za/ for more information and the gallery of the events.
