Weekly Urban News Update
In This Update
OneRecap: Ford Foundation and IHC Global Housing Dialogue

On September 9th, IHC Global and the Ford Foundation hosted dialogue on Housing Policy in preparation for Habitat III.  Held at the Ford Foundation in New York City, a small group of housing experts came together to discuss and debate the lessons learned from "50 years of Latin American Housing Policy," how they might apply in rapidly urbanizing countries in sub-Saharan African and Asian countries, and so advance the implementation of the New Urban Agenda. Recognizing the inherent complexity of urban challenges, discussion also focused on the potential of housing as a driver of equitable development. The seven major lessons will be shared broadly in the coming weeks, following this expert vetting.  

As part of its program to advance solution-oriented knowledge and practice and narrow the gap.between research and application, IHC Global will continue to synthesize and disseminate similar urban research. IHC will present the LA experience at Habitat III in Quito engaging with national and city-level policy-makers as well as other stakeholders.  Eduardo Rojas is the principal investigator for this LA housing policy research and analysis.
A Recap: Urban Equity & Climate Resilience in New Urban Agenda

This past Wednesday, IHC Global was delighted to co-host with RTI and USAID 'Beyond Habitat III, Urban Equity and Climate Resilience in the New Urban Agenda.' RTI's Vice President of Governance and Economic Development Philip Schwehm gave opening remarks and welcomed everyone to RTI where the event was held. The event was moderated by IHC Global CEO Judith Hermanson and included presentations from RTI International Urban Management Specialist Kara Reeve, who presented research that framed the discussions, as well as ICMA Global Program Management Director David Grossman, USAID Shelter, Settlements and Hazard Mitigation Advisor Charles Setchell, HFHI Director of International Shelter Initiatives Susana Rojas Williams, and USAID Director of Land Tenure and Resource Management Heath Cosgrove.  These were followed by a lively panel dialogue withe each presenter and the audience. Presenters discussed the complex issues cities face, from environmental vulnerability and recovery in the wake of natural disasters to fair housing and effective governance. The panel demonstrated how committed each organization is to implementing the New Urban Agenda and improving cities worldwide.
BEvent: Staying Put in a Gentrifying City

The American University School of International Service and Metropolitan Policy Center are hosting an event; Staying Put in a Gentrifying City: A Panel Discussion on the Tenants Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA), in celebration of Professor Carolyn Gallaher's recent book, Staying Put: Condo Conversions and Tenant Right-To-Buy in Washington DC. The panel will be moderated by Metropolitan Policy Center Director and American University Associate Professor in Public Administration and Policy Derek Hyra, and will feature Professor Gallaher as well as Neighborhood Legal Services Program Board Member Blake Biles, Former DC Ward 1 Councilmember Jim Graham, and UMBC Assistant Professor George Derek Musgrove.

When: Thursday September 29th, 2016, 9:30 - 11:30 AM
Where: Abramson Family Founders Room
American University School of International Service
Intersection of Nebraska Ave NW and New Mexico Ave NW

To RSVP, click here.
C International Conference on Sustainable Development Update

The International Conference on Sustainable Development is on September 22nd. The goal of the conference is to identify and share practical, evidence-based solutions that can support the Sustainable Development Goals, and will feature presentations from members of the UN, government, international agencies and NGOs. IHC Global CEO Judith Hermanson will be presenting a paper during the 9 AM set of sessions on Inclusive Growth. Organizers have released a draft program of the oral presentations ahead of time. An index of the posters that will be presented over lunch and a book of the abstracts will be posted shortly. 

To learn more about the conference, click here.
HabitatHabitat III News
  • The final New Urban Agenda has finally been agreed upon! An agreement on the draft was reached at the informal negotiations in New York from September 7-10. Click here to read it.
  • The Habitat III organizers have released a "program at a glance" of the conference. Check it out here.
  • To learn more about the rumored proposal for an intergovernmental entity that would oversee the implementation of the New Urban Agenda, click here.
  • There are 14 days left to register for Habitat III. The deadline is October 1. Click here to register. To become a partner in the Habitat III implementation plan, sign up here.
NewsIn the News and Around the Web
  • Click here to learn about the four urban innovations to watch.
  • The migrant crisis is a global crisis; see these troubling photos of life as a migrant in China here.
  • Big Pixel Initiative has developed a remote sensing analysis program to map global urbanization. Learn more here.
  • Read this Citiscope article that describes the need to institutionalize urban policy dialogues after Habitat III here.
 
Informal settlement in Badra, Mumbai. In the next 15 years alone, India will have to build 7.5-9.7 billion square feet of commercial and residential space each year to keep up with its rapid urbanization. Source: WIRED
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