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A/RES/29/3327 



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General Assembly

Distr: General
16 December 1974
Original: English

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Twenty-ninth session
Agenda item 46

Resolution adopted by the General Assembly

3327 (XXIX). Establishment of the United Nations Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolution 2999 (XXVII) of 15 December 1972, in which it endorsed in principle the establishment of an international fund or financial institution for the purpose envisaged in recommendation 17 of the Action Plan for the Human Environment,/62

Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the establishment of an international fund or financial institution for human settlements,/63

Noting decision 16 (II) of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme of 21 March 1974,/64 in which the Governing Council recommended to the General Assembly the establishment of a voluntary international habitat and human settlements foundation as from 1 January 1975,

Noting also Economic and Social Council resolution 1882 (LVII) of 31 July 1974, in which the Council recommended that the General Assembly should establish an international foundation for human habitat management and environmental design and improvement of human settlements, in accordance with decision 16 (II) of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme,

Decides that an international institution for human habitat management and environmental design and improvement of human settlements, to be called the United Nations Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation, be established as from 1 January 1975 in accordance with the operative part of the draft resolution contained in decision 16 A (II) of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme, which is reproduced in the annex to the present resolution.

2321st plenary meeting
16 December 1974



Annex

Operative part of the draft resolution contained in decision 16 A (II) of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme

The General Assembly,

1.Decides that a voluntary international habitat and human settlements foundation/65 be established as from 1 January 1975 in accordance with the provisions set forth below:

  1. The primary operative objective of the Foundation will be to assist in strengthening national environmental programmes relating to human settlements, particularly in the developing countries, through the provision of seed capital and the extension of the necessary technical and financial assistance to permit an effective mobilization of domestic resources for human habitat and environmental design and improvement of human settlements, including:

    1. Stimulating innovative approaches to pre-investment, pre-project and financing strategies of human settlements activities, while drawing on the accumulated practical experience of both the public and private sectors for mobilization of financial resources for human habitat and human settlements projects;

    2. Organizing technical assistance services in human settlements and human habitat management, including training facilities and human habitat projects;

    3. Promoting the adaptation and transfer of appropriate scientific and technical knowledge on human settlements projects;

  2. Under the authority and guidance of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme, the Executive Director of the Programme shall be responsible for administering the Foundation and providing the technical and financial services related to that institution;

  3. The Executive Director is instructed to prepare a plan and programme of operations for the Foundation, for approval by the Governing Council at its third session, which reflect the primary operative objectives of subparagraph (a) above;

  4. The Foundation will be initiated on 1 January 1975, by a single allocation of $4 million over four years from the Fund of the United Nations Environment Programme, for purposes of seed capital and technical assistance, as envisaged in General Assembly resolution 2999 (XXVII) of 15 December 1972 and for the operative objectives outlined in subparagraph (a) above;

  5. The Executive Director will undertake the establishment of programmes, guidelines and directives, in connexion with investments for the environmental design and improvement of the human habitat and settlements, in both urban and rural areas;

  6. The Executive Director will undertake to seek the co-operation and support of financial institutions in developed and developing countries, in fulfilment of the objectives of the Foundation;

  7. In addition to operational projects undertaken by the Foundation, the United Nations Environment Programme shall have, under its programme priority area on human settlements, human health, habitat and well-being, continuing financial involvement in research, technical assistance, training and demonstration projects;

2.Invites the active participation and collaboration of the agencies and bodies within the United Nations system, as well as of regional financial and technical institutions, in the activities of the Foundation, particularly with regard to seed capital and the financing of operational human settlements projects, bearing in mind General Assembly resolutions 2998 (XXVII) of 15 December 1972 and 3130 (XXVIII) of 13 December 1973;

3.Authorizes the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme to launch an international fund-raising appeal for a maximum funding of the Foundation;

4.Notes that due regard must be had for the operations and activities of the Centre for Housing, Building and Planning of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs in order to avoid duplication of effort within the United Nations system.


Notes

62/ See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment (United Nations publication, Sales No.: E.73.II.A.14 and corrigendum), chap. II, sect. B.

63/ A/9575.

64/ See Official Records of the General Assembly, Twenty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 25 (A/9625), annex I.

65/ Now called "United Nations Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation".