News

The UHPH is proud to confirm the attendance of sociologist, writer, and professor Saskia Sassen as the main lecturer during the 3rd Latin American and Caribbean Housing and Habitat Forum to be held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic from June 12 to 14, 2018. Dr. Saskia Sassen is the Robert S. Lynd Professor of Sociology, as well as member and former chair of the Committee on Global Thought at Columbia University. Her research focuses on cities, immigration and the states in the world economy. Inequality, gender and digitalization are three key variables present in her work. Born in the Netherlands and raised in Argentina and Italy, she completed her studies in France and has published eight books. She has received numerous awards and recognitions, including multiple honorary doctorates and the 2013 Prince of Asturias Award for Social Sciences for her contribution to urban sociology and to the analysis of the dimensions of globalization. Without a doubt, it will be an honor to have her during the 3rd Latin American and Caribbean Housing and Habitat Forum.

This year, the UHPH attended the Ninth session of the World Urban Forum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This biennial event is a non-legislative technical forum convened by UN-Habitat to examine the most pressing issues facing the world in terms of human settlements. It involves analyzing challenges such as rapid urbanization and its impact on cities, communities, economies, climate change and policies.

Since habitat and housing pose significant challenges for urbanization, UHPH and its partners organized an event called: “Urban Housing Practitioners Hub: A Network to Improve Housing Conditions in Latin America and Beyond”. This activity was used to introduce the UHPH platform and to exchange perspectives about its future and progress towards the implementation of the New Urban Agenda and the sustainable development goals (SDGS).

This networking event featured work streams, or 'Modules', of the Urban Housing Practitioners Hub (UHPH), to inspire attendees to participate in future activities of the Urban Housing Practitioners Hub, such as the 3rd Latin American and Caribbean Housing and Habitat Forum: Housing at the center of the New Urban Agenda.

In addition, attendees were encouraged to share their experiences in relation to alliances and knowledge management platforms with which the Urban Housing Practitioners Hub could collaborate, thereby benefiting multiple housing and habitat stakeholders. 

The World Urban Forum is organized and directed by the United Nations Human Settlements Program and has the following objectives:

raise awareness of sustainable urbanization among stakeholders and constituencies, including the general public;

broaden the collective knowledge of sustainable urban development through inclusive open debates, sharing of lessons learned and exchange of best practices and good policies; and increase coordination and cooperation between different stakeholders and constituencies for the advancement and implementation of sustainable urbanization.

For more information about the World Urban Forum and its scope, visit the following link: http://wuf9.org/

See the picture in this article here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/yaaeapvr5c9i6ug/19-2-18FOTOWUF.png?dl=0 Caption: Our panelists during the presentation of the UHPH platform.

The 3rd Latin American and Caribbean Housing and Habitat Forum: Housing at the Center of the New Urban Agenda is a space to accelerate learning processes in order to solve the region’s housing and habitat challenges. In that sense, spaces like Shelter Tech: Mexico 2017 provide an opportunity to foster this learning. The project consists of an accelerator that focuses on small and medium-sized companies tackling the challenges of housing and sustainable habitats.

With the help of the Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter of Habitat for Humanity, nine Mexican companies participated in a process to continue driving the access of at-risk populations to basic services and safe homes. Part of the project included the presentation of innovative solutions in water and sanitation, energy, and construction materials.

Using a peer selection methodology–where each company voted for a project that they believed fulfilled the requirements–the two projects with the highest potential were selected and granted an investment of $50,000 to continue developing their initiatives.

Energryn is one of these two companies. It develops, licenses and manufactures sustainable technologies to improve quality of life. Its hybrid heater (solar-electric) reduces LP Gas consumption and the carbon footprint.

The other selected project is Vitaluz, which developed a mechanism to capture solar energy, transform it into electricity, and store it. Families can purchase this energy each month, thereby avoiding the use of other highly polluting energy sources.

The 3rd Latin American and Caribbean Housing and Habitat Forum also recognizes and rewards regional advances. The Inspiring Practices contest will help us get to know more ideas on how to foster ventures related to housing and habitat.

Latin America and the Caribbean is a region of action and results-oriented innovators and visionaries. At the UHPH we want to foster the creation of spaces where they can exchange their knowledge and help us grow as a region.