The world is facing
a doubling of its urban population, from two to four billion by
2025. How can already stressed local urban governments decently
accommodate in this short period a further 2 billion people, many
of whom comprising the poorest elements of society? Target 11 of
the UN Millennium Development Goals aims to "significantly
improve the lives of 100 million slum dwellers by 2020". What
support should be provided to help meeting target 11? How can those
concerned with urban development - policy makers, civil society,
urban planners and other professionals - together with international
agencies, including the European Commission, help achieve the Millennium
Development Goals?
Does coming to, or being born into an urban
environment provide more freedom for an individual to develop her,
or his, way out of poverty? Cities are places of co-operation where
people collectively create a dynamic economy from a diversity of
skills and operations. Making cities work for the poor requires
recognising their contributions as active citizens: they are the
"gold dust" of the city economy. But this is a fragile
existence, all too easily blown away. To ensure a process whereby
the lowest income worker is not only protected - healthy, sheltered,
nourished, secure and free from exploitation - but is also able
to progress through improved knowledge and training, requires that
they have the capacity as citizens to develop within the city.
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