Business Partnership for Sustainable Urbanisation Making Arab cities a better, peaceful and stable place to work, to live and to do business. ARAB TOWNS ORGANISATION

Global Campaign for Sustinable Urbanisation “To help create the necessary conditions for concerted international and national efforts to realize more sustainable urbanisation, including efforts to arrest the growth of slums and to set the stage for the subsequent reduction in and reversal of the number of slum dwellers worldwide.” Linked to MDG Goal 7, Targets 9, 10 and 11 on sustainable development, watsan and slum improvement.

By 2030 it is expected that 60% of the world’s population will live in urban areas. Almost 180,000 people are added to the urban population each day. The urban population of developing countries is expected to reach 50% in It will double from 2 billion in 2000 to nearly 4 billion by Almost one billion people worldwide are living in slums. Without radical changes that number could double in 30 years. By 2050, there may be 3.5 billion slum- dwellers, out of a total urban population of about 6 billion. State of world cities

State of Arab Cities The economic crisis is hitting Arab cities production and service sectors Already high rates of unemployment is increasing Small and medium scale enterprises are closing down, leading to increased poverty Slums are increasing and municipal finance to support redevelopment is shrinking Conflict and disasters are hitting cities and causing displacements the impact on neighboring cities and towns limited services Photo ©UN-HABITAT/Sudipto Mukerjee

Better managed cities, and cities with better infrastructure and services mean more efficiency and productivity. It also means more employment opportunities, security, stability and integration in the wider economy and global society. They also mean more inclusive cities. The private sector is not only part of the solution, but a vital part that must be engaged if the world’s cities are to achieve sustainability. European cities should promote their good models of private led development, practices in Arab Cities and encourage their private sector to engage more in supporting better urban quality in Arab Cities. The private sector, Arab Towns Organisation - ATO, Council for European Municipalities and Regions- CCRE and the UN share common objectives of more efficient, productive and inclusive cities. While the corporate sector needs the best conditions to run its business, the UN and ATO are engaged in improving the living conditions of people who will work and buy products and services from the private sector. Why Business Partnerships for Sustainable Urbanisation?

To disseminate and share first hand knowledge of the problems facing cities around the world, stimulate the private sector’s interest around the Mediterranean and create a framework that allows business to contribute effectively to sustainable urbanization on both sides of the Mediterranean. To identify untapped market opportunities and business models that works to address sustainable urbanization in order to attract business investment, particularly through corporate social responsibility. To offer brokering solutions between partners in cities bringing together business partners, local authorities, urban environmental activists and local communities. To encourage and initiate locally driven initiatives that addresses the urban poor.Objectives

Large untapped purchasing capacity exists in middle and higher income segments of urban slums. There is a need to explore mortgage and other financing for shelter and services for these urban populations, including scaling up of micro- credit services through engagement of financial services sector. Unsustainable urban areas can be revitalized through design and implementation of urban community development initiatives financed through fair trade retail premiums. By promoting market chain analysis and capacity development of SMEs in deprived urban areas, larger enterprises can also strengthen their supply base. In post-disaster areas, the construction sector can be mobilized and revived through reconstruction projects (e.g. tsunami relief projects). Exploring opportunities

Policy development: To support and participate in city policy development in order to create a framework that allows business to contribute effectively to sustainable urbanisation. Best practices: To document and demonstrate business progress and identify business models in addressing sustainable urbanisation and corporate social responsibility and to share leading-edge practices. Global outreach: To exchange and disseminate leading- edge information on urban trends and untapped markets and opportunities. Initiatives: To encourage, initiate and finance (upon cities request) locally driven initiatives that address the urban poverty through public private partnerships. What can we do together?

The Arab Towns Organization, UN HABITAT can partner in promoting pilot projects in Arab Cities that encourage private sector partnership. UN HABITAT will work with ATO to develop its fund programme priorities that aim at funding city level projects that have private partnership component. ATO, is expected to support city to city cooperation by securing funds and technical assistance from practitioners in other cities to undertake pilot initiatives for potential projects. What can we do together? Encouraging locally driven Initiatives