UNV's Support to the Accra and Port Elilzabeth "Healthy Cities"Project
Project / Programme summary
I. Basic data
| Sector(s): |
|
| Title: |
UNV's Support to the Accra and Port Elizabeth "Healthy Cities" Project |
| Donor country/organisation: |
UNV and WHO |
| Other donors/organisations involved: |
|
| Beneficiary countries/regions: |
Ghana and South Africa |
| Implementing agencies in beneficiary countries: |
UNV, WHO and South Africa Medical Research Council. |
| Duration: |
24 months |
| Starting date: |
January 1998 |
| Project/Programme budget: |
US$600,000 |
| Finance/type of co-operation: |
technical co-operation |
|
II. Project / Programme description
- Objectives
The development objective is to improve the health of low-income urban dwellers through improved living and environmental conditions.
The immediate objectives are four: (1) To support the development of a healthy cities project. (2) In each city a framework will be developed to support political mobilization and community participation in preparing and implementing a municipal health plan that addresses priority issues of health and environment. (3) Increased awareness of health issues in urban development efforts by municipal and national authorities, including non-health ministries and agencies. (4) Creation of increased capacity of municipal government to manage urban problems important for health, and form partnerships with communities and CBO's in improving living conditions in poor communities.
- Activities/contents
Healthy Cities is a movement initiated by the World Health Organization, which aims at improving the health conditions of a city's population. A basic premise of this initiative is that health depends not only on good health services or individual lifestyles (important as these are) but on a supportive environment ("environment" is broadly defined as the physical, social, economic, cultural and political characteristics of a setting). The Healthy Cities Project establishes partnerships between - and strengthens the capacity of - municipal authorities, CBO's, NGO's, and other local stakeholders to create such supportive environments. In such partnerships, local
stakeholders participate in decision-making and are encouraged to commit their
resources to assist in the implementation of the solutions to the basic needs, with solutions tailored to: the level of resources that can be mobilised; the cultural and social context; and the requirements of health and environmental protection. The Healthy City Project in Accra as well as Port Elizabeth is co-ordinated by local stakeholders. It has faced difficulties to implement its institutional organization, to establish a firm liaison with the local process of policy-making, and to eventually blend into the local system of governance. Past and current experiences clearly demonstrate that this is not an easy process. This is exactly where the UNV volunteers would make a difference. UNV will support the crucial elements of the Healthy City Project in these cities, through strengthening the organization of the co-ordination office, and in developing popular participation bases.
- Expected outcomes / impacts
- Related to objective 1: a healthy city process is initiated involving many different stakeholders including government and non-government partners. A municipal health plan is prepared, and priority actions are identified in a participatory manner. Activities to improve living conditions are initiated.
- Related to objective 2: a number of working groups (5 - 9) are established, with the participation of the municipality, government agencies, and NGOs and CBOs. A city consultation, media campaigns, and awareness raising activities are undertaken.
- Related to objective 3: tasks groups in key settings and issues (e.g. housing, sanitation, municipal disease control efforts etc.) include representatives of non-health sectors and agencies, who contribute to the work of task groups. The responsibilities of non-health sectors and agencies are better defined in the context of undertaking activities to address issues.
- Related to objective 4: the municipal government will change from being a provider to being a participatory partner; training of municipal staff in the model is provided; political support for this model is developed, both from city leaders and the community.
- Features in line with the Agenda for Action
Good (urban) governance and decentralization (issues related to 'promoting a favourable environment for development'); poverty reduction and the provision of social services (related to 'advancing social development').
III. Contact point:
| Mr. Edmundo Werna |
Tel: +49-228-8152123 |
| Urban Development Specialist |
Fax: +49-228-8152001 |
| Research & Development Unit |
Email: edmundo.werna@unv.org |
| Strategy and Research Group (SRG) |
|
| Postfach 26011 |
|
| D-53153 Bonn, Germany |
|
(End)
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