FOREWORD

The 1998-1999 work programme of UNCHS (Habitat) includes the preparation of a specific report on the contributions of youth to the implementation of the Habitat Agenda. The need for this study is emphasized in the Memorandum of Understanding signed between UNCHS (Habitat) and the Secretariat of Youth For Habitat International Network (Youth Association for Habitat and Agenda 21) in 1998. This Memorandum of Understanding aims at enhancement of cooperation between the two parties in order to facilitate and promote youth involvement in human settlements development.

The study is based on information collection, evaluation and documentation at the national level. The exercise of the preparation of national reports has been carried out by youth organizations in seven countries namely Brazil, Colombia, India, Kenya, Pakistan, Senegal and Turkey. As elaborated in these reports, youth have undertaken several initiatives particularly at the community level to improve living conditions in human settlements. Based on the review of national reports, a general evaluation part is presented to summarize the common issues, priorities for action and recommendations to YFHIN. Within this general evaluation, strategies for the future are also proposed. It would be useful if the process of preparing periodical national reports continues in the future so that activities of youth in the implementation of the Habitat Agenda could be systematically monitored and evaluated.

The undertaking of this exercise - the review and monitoring of the contributions of youth as a partner group of UNCHS (Habitat) in the implementation of the Habitat Agenda - is, in my view, an exemplary approach which should be replicated by other main stakeholders in the human settlements field, and I wish to congratulate youth for this accomplishment.

In this relation, I wish to express my gratitude to all who have contributed to the completion of this exercise particularly to the Secretariat of the Youth For Habitat International Network (Emre Koyuncu and Pamir Y), to Selman Erguden, the UNCHS (Habitat) Focal Point for Youth, and to the youth organizations and individuals who have prepared the national reports, namely to Emly de Andrade Costa and Ana Beatriz Juce Queiroz from Brazil; Juan Diego Valenzuela and Adriana Patricia Valenzuela from Colombia; Indian Committee of Youth Organizations (ICYO) from India; Christine Makori (Kenya National Youth Facilitating Group) from Kenya; Youth Resource & Information Centre (YRIC) from Pakistan; Youth and Human Settlements Development Network from Senegal; and Pamir Y from Youth Association for Habitat and Agenda 21 in Turkey.

Klaus Toepfer
Acting Executive Director
United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat)