15 September 2015: Participants at an international seminar in Mexico formed a network to promote the exchange of experiences on urban poverty and social inclusion. The Community will be a joint initiative between the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), the World Bank, the Global Fund for Cities Development and Mexico’s Ministry of Social Development. At the request of the partners, UN-HABITAT is taking the lead in setting up the Community.

The ‘Latin American Community of Urban Poverty Stakeholders’ aims to develop strategies to address urban poverty and social inclusion. An open, voluntary network, it will establish an information and dialogue platform to provide knowledge management and promote exchange of experiences and knowledge within the Latin American region. The Community is expected to organize two regional meetings in 2016 and 2017, among other activities. It will also issue a publication on the results of the Community’s work.

The Community will facilitate opportunities to “showcase effective approaches of the New Urban Agenda in Latin America that will be presented during Habitat III,” said UN-HABITAT’s representative in Mexico, Erik Vitrrup. Habitat III – the third UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development – will take place in Quito, Ecuador, on 17-20 October 2016. [UN-HABITAT Press Release] [Habitat III Website]