L.Victoria Rept - UN-Habitat

A regional workshop on the Lake Victoria Cities Development Strategies was organized by theUMP in conjunction with ITDG and hosted by the City of Kisumu. The three-day event attractedover 40 representatives from the three cities of Kisumu, Musoma and Kampala. There was awide range of participants from these cities – the local governments, associations of localauthorities, government departments, NGOs and representatives of ITDG, SIDA and UN-HABITAT.The regional workshop to promote a regional vision had three specific objectives:• To take stock of ongoing urban development initiatives in the Lake Victoria region and toidentify the key issues/problems presented by each city;• To share the UMP City Consultation methodology and City Development Strategy processand Sida’s participatory approaches experiences with stakeholders and to provide examplesof ongoing or completed interventions;• To reach a consensus on common areas of interest and develop a framework for a jointregional project for improved urban environment and poverty reduction, through slumupgrading in each city.Day One of the Regional Workshop: Introductions and Information SharingParticipants highlighted the need to recognize common problems and shared responsibilities ofthe cities around the Lake. Representatives from the three cities made presentations on theirkey challenges and experiences and from the presentations, important issues on improved urbanenvironment and poverty reduction emerged.Kampala reflected the complex situation of large urban cities. It is the largest city in the LakeRegion, and it faces both the greatest challenges and problems. Solid and liquid wastemanagement emerged as the key problem facing the city. This problem is commonly sharedwith Wakiso District, which envelops the City of Kampala. Kisumu on the other hand, a city ofapproximately 350,000 people, faced similar challenges in relation to urban environment,increasing poverty and increasing informal settlements. Musoma, a much smaller town,demonstrated efforts in managing solid waste, although with appreciable difficulties.Day Two of the Regional Workshop: Presentations on IssuesFrom the city presentations, the following four challenges with respect to urban managementemerged:• Improving urban environment• Reducing urban poverty• Slum upgrading• Involving civil society/private sectora) Improving Urban EnvironmentCommon Issues and TrendsThe common trends identified include:• Increasing urbanization• Deteriorating environmental conditions• Increased levels of pollution• Shortage and scarcity of land• Lack of capacity of cities to manage service delivery• Industrial pollution, hazardous industrial waste, vehicle emissions20Cities Development Strategies for Improved Urban Environment and Poverty Reduction in the Lake Victoria Region