The Mauritius National Urban Profiling consists of an accelerated, action-oriented assessment of urban conditions, focusing on priority needs, capacity gaps, and existing institutional responses at local and national levels. The purpose of the study is to develop urban poverty reduction policies at local, national, and regional levels, through an assessment of needs and response mechanisms, and as a contribution to the wider-ranging implementation of the Millennium Development Goals.

The study is based on analysis of existing data and a series of interviews with all relevant urban stakeholders, including local communities and institutions, civil society, the private sector, development partners, academics, and others. The consultation typically results in a collective agreement on priorities and their development into proposed capacity-building and other projects that are all aimed at urban poverty reduction. The urban profiling is being implemented in 30 ACP (Africa, Caribbean and Pacific) countries, offering an opportunity for comparative regional analysis. Once completed, this series of studies will provide a framework for central and local authorities and urban actors, as well as donors and external support agencies.

The Mauritius urban profiling consists of an accelerated, action-oriented assessment of urban conditions, focusing on priority needs, capacity gaps, and existing institutional responses at local and national levels. The purpose of the study is to develop urban poverty reduction policies at local, national, and regional levels, through an assessment of needs and response mechanisms, and as a contribution to wider-ranging implementation of the Millennium Development Goals.

The study is based on analysis of existing data and a series of interviews with all relevant urban stakeholders, including local communities and institutions, civil society, the private sector, development partners, and others. The consultation typically results in a collective agreement on priorities and their development into proposed capacity-building and other projects, all aimed at urban poverty reduction. Urban profiling is being implemented in many African and Arab countries, offering an opportunity for comparative regional analysis.

In Mauritius, Black River is one of the districts selected as a pilot project under the urban profiling programme. For this purpose, an analysis of the following sectors has been undertaken: land tenure and management, governance and urban planning, infrastructure and basic urban services, municipal revenue collection, local economic development, housing and deprived and vulnerable areas, gender issues, urban security, and environment, climate change, and urban disaster risk reduction.

The Participatory Slum Upgrading Programme is a laudable effort to mobilize partners and resources in order to address urban poverty reduction. The Municipality of Beau Bassin-Rose Hill has seized the opportunity to engage itself in this multi-stakeholder process. The towns Beau Bassin and Rose Hill are twin towns in one. Rose Hill is more urbanized than Beau Bassin.

The twin towns are situated in the western part of Mauritius, in the lower part of the inland district of Plaines Wilhems. Beau Bassin-Rose Hill was established in 1896, and the town council was made a municipal council at independence on 12 March 1968. The township covers an area of about 20.2 square kilometers. The residents of the town total about 110,000. The town has evolved as a residential area with a high density of businesses; it remains an attractive place to live and work. However, it has lost ground to other towns, and a new vision is now required for Beau Bassin-Rose Hill.

The Urban Profiling is an accelerated and action oriented urban assessment of needs and capacity building gaps at national and local level. It is currently being implemented in over 20 countries in Africa, the Carribean and the Pacific. Urban Profiling uses a structured approach where priority interventions are agreed upon through consultative processes.

The Urban Profiling methodology consists of three phases:

(1) a participatory urban profiling at national and local levels

(2) pre-feasibility studies to develop detailed priority proposals

(3) project implementation.

Located on the northwest coast of the island, Port Louis the capital city of Mauritius is characterized by its administrative importance as well as the buoyancy of economic and commercial activities. The resident population of the city is estimated at 148,780 inhabitants and reflects the multi-ethnic composition of the national population.