This issue guide focuses attention on urban basic services in order to illuminate the effects of gender on equality of access and inclusion in the areas of urban energy, urban transport and water and sanitation. This issue guide further seeks to broadly outline the where and how of gender responsive interventions in order to strengthen planned and future actions that can go a long way to reduce poverty and overcome obstacles to gender equality and women’s empowerment.

This report is the summary of the seminar ‘Sustainable Development of Public Transport in Africa’, held in Nairobi, Kenya. The event was jointly organised by UN-HABITAT, UITP (the International Association of Public Transport) and UATP (the African Association of Public Transport).

The meeting assembled experts from around the world to share knowledge and expertise with a focus on urban passenger mobility in Africa in preparation for the United Nations Commission of Sustainable Development’s 18th and 19th sessions in 2010 and 2011. The joint declaration and this report synthesise the key messages from the event.

This report covers the process and general debate of the Expert Group Meeting on Sustainable Mobility for African Cities in Dakar, Senegal, following the 1st UATP Congress on African Public Transport. The Expert Group meeting was jointly organised by UN-HABITAT, the African Bicycle Network, and the GTZ.

This illustrated report provides a rich collection of images of sustainable urban transport and mobility initiatives from cities around the world which are represented in the United Nations Advisory Committee of Local Authorities (UNACLA). The collection considers the current transport situation and challenges faced by each city - this includes high levels of energy consumption, carbon dioxide emissions, congestion, road casualties, urban sprawl, and social exclusion.

The report also describes how these cities have implemented creative solutions aimed at improved urban planning, traffic demand management, public transit, non-motorized transport, streetscape design, road planning, low-emission vehicles, and logistics planning. The ultimate goal for each of these cities is to improve the quality of urban life for its citizens.

Planifier et configurer une mobilité urbaine plus durable part du principe que la mise au point de systèmes de transport urbain "durables" passe par un saut conceptuel. Le "transport" et la "mobilité" ont pour objet l’accés à diverses activités et destinations, divers biens et services. Par conséquent, l’accès constitue l’objectif ultime de tout service de transport. La planification et la configuration de la forme urbaines devraient donc se concentrer sur les meilleurs moyens de rapprocher les citadins des lieux dont ils ont besoin, en privilégiant l’accesibilité, au lieu de se contenter d’allonger les infrastructures de transport ou d’augmenter les mouvements de biens et de personnes. C’est donc sur les problèmes de la forme et du bon fonctionnement de la ville que se concentre surtout le présent rapport, qui souligne toute l’importance d’une planification intégrée de l’utilisation des sols et des transports.  

Planning and Design for Sustainable Urban Mobility argues that the development of sustainable urban transport systems requires a conceptual leap. The purpose 'transportation' and 'mobility' is to gain access to destinations, activities, services and goods. Thus access is the ultimate objective of transportation. As a result, urban planning and design should focus on how to bring people and places together, by creating cities that focus on accessibility, rather than simply increasing the length of urban transport infrastructure or increasing the movement of people or gods. Urban form and the functionality of the city are therefore a major focus of this report, which highlights the importance of integrated land-use and transport planning.  

The publication contains the spatial analysis of Gardho, a town in the Puntland State of Somalia.

This publication presents the results of the urban spatial analysis carried out by UN-HABITAT experts under the guidance of municipal authorities. The analysis gives a basic spatial understanding of the town and highlights concrete challenges and priority areas of intervention. A proposed strategic urban development plan is also presented.

The publication documents the process undertaken by the Sheikh Municipality, records the outcomes of the first broad consensus on urban issues, priority interventions and action plans, introduces the spatial analysis as a tool for strategic planning, and provides a comprehensive methodological tool for strategic urban planning.

The publication contains the spatial analysis of Garowe, the capital city of the Puntland State of Somalia.

This publication presents the results of the urban spatial analysis carried out by UN-HABITAT experts under the guidance of municipal authorities. The analysis gives a basic spatial understanding of the town and highlights concrete challenges and priority areas of intervention. A proposed strategic urban development plan is also presented.