Occupied Palestinian Territory (2010-2011) – UN-Habitat programme document

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

In April 2007, the Governing Council of UN-HABITAT approved the 2008-2013 Medium-Term Strategic and Institutional Plan, which intends in particular to promote the alignment of UN-HABITAT’s normative and operational activities at country level.

The UN-HABITAT Programme Document for the occupied Palestinian territory is one of the tangible components of the Medium-Term Strategic and Institutional Plan and serves as a strategic tool meant to guide all UN-HABITAT activities over a two-year period 2010-2011.

This Programme Document outlines the main objectives and priorities for UN-HABITAT in the occupied Palestinian territory and aims to promote the HABITAT Agenda in collaboration with the Palestinian Authority and other UN Agencies. It builds on UN-HABITAT’s Special Human Settlements Programme for the Palestinian People (SHSPPP) that was initiated following resolution GC19/18, adopted during the 19th Governing Council in 2003, and reaffirmed during the 22nd Governing Council in April 2009 (GC 22/11).

UN-HABITAT plays an active role in mainstreaming various urban issues in the occupied Palestinian territory. The Programme document is structured around two main components, taking into account the developmental, political and security realities in different parts of the territory:

Taking into account the United Nations Medium Term Response Plan and other United Nations system activities, the programme in occupied Palestinian territory has formulated a strategy to approach the urban sector through the elaboration of long-term strategies, bridging the gap between relief, recovery and development. As a whole, the UN-HABITAT Programme Document presents a clear programme designed to guide UN-HABITAT’s current and future work in the occupied Palestinian territory.

This work covering the occupied Palestinian territory is a timely outcome of this strategic plan.