• Total value of UN-Habitat investments (2008-2013): US$ 1,735,568
• Total number of UN-Habitat projects (2008-2013): 4 projects
• Main donors: Government of Mexico,municipalities such as Zapopan & Guadalajara, Government of Spain
• Implementing partners: ECLAC, the metropolitan zone of Guadalajara, the municipality of Zapopan, the Miguel Hidalgo "Delegacion"

In Mexico, UN-Habitat promotes sustainable urbanization in a country with 72% of its population living in urban areas, living in 383 cities with more than 15,000 inhabitants. The National Office in Mexico through continuous advocacy achieved to sensitize national policy makers and to include in the National Development Plan 2013-2018 (Plan Nacional de Desarrollo 2013-2018), which is the strategic tool of national policies guideline, prosperity as a main development principle.

General information

In 2013, UN-Habitat accompanied and included the sustainable urbanization approach to the National Urban Development and Housing Consultation Forum, a national strategy that consisted in consulting the 32 states and technical experts in specific topics in order to design the new national policy. Also in 2013, UN-Habitat participated in the National Housing and Urban Development Council, which has democratic participation of civil and social organizations, housing investors, governmental institutions and academic representatives. This council has technical committees that develops technical recommendations on specific issues. The National Housing and Urban Development Council established in 2013 which is the Habitat Committee equivalent (it is mentioned in the Housing National Law), created the Communication and Diffusion Committee to promote the transition to new urban paradigms and the importance of focusing on cities.

UN-Habitat projects in Mexico

Urban poverty reduction in Mexico This project comes as a follow up to the project “Urban Poverty Reduction in Mexico” (F049) which ran from 2004 to 2010. The project complements the efforts of Mexican authorities in keeping a political and administrative environment conducive to the implementation of the Habitat Agenda in the country. It focuses on strengthening UN-Habitat and SEDESOL knowledge, visibility and network in order to develop the portfolio of activities in the country. Main activities include:

• support to the monitoring of urban trends and conditions
• promotion of technical and policy dialogue on sustainable urbanization issues
• awareness-raising activities
• mobilization of Habitat partners
• expansion of the UN-Habitat portfolio

The project is primarily financed by the Federal Government, Ministry of Social Development (SEDESOL), which is in charge of urban development. A major objective of SEDESOL is the reduction of urban poverty. Implementing Partners: The Ministry of Social Development (SEDESOL), the Mexico’s National Commission to Combat Violence Against Women (CONAVIM), the Mexico State, and the Tlalnepantla de Baz municipality. Capacity Building A Training on city densification was carried out in Monterrey, and EGM on City Densification in Zopopan is under preparation. From Isolation to Community Life UN-Habitat and Avina have intiated a transformative process in the Plaza de la Soledad, a square located within the city’s Merced district. The space became known as the Cultural and Community Plaza for Violence Prevention and Civic Learning nd it seeks to turn this urban square into a space for community response and assistance. The project contributed to enhancing the public space by repurposing the square as a place for social interaction, implementing sociocultural strategies that encourage people to make this space their own. Project duration: 2015 - ongoing Value USD: 10,000 Donor: Mojang Implementing partners: Fundación Avina Urban Regeneration in Mexico City UN-Habitat together with a team of four planning studios and the Creative Industries is egaged in concrete urban regeneration projects. The regeneration projects include spatial visualization, public space networks, rules and regulations, financial mechanisms and collaboration with stakeholders to achieve a shared vision for the development of the city. Project duration: 2015 - ongoing Value USD: 100,000 Donor: Creative Industries Fund Implementing partners: Secretary of Urban Development and Housing, UN-Habitat Office in Mexico, Creative Industries Completed project Assessment of the Impacts of Crime on Urban Economic Competitiveness, a pilot case in Zapopan Municipality (just completed). This project aimed at improving local authorities’ capacities to formulate and implement urban strategies for prevention and mitigation of urban crime in a context of economic competitiveness.

Contactos

UN-Habitat National Office in Mexico Paseo de la Reforma 116 Juárez, Cuauhtémoc Ciudad de México, Distrito Federal +555 53285000 ext 50847 and 50846