The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-HABITAT, is the United Nations agency with the mandate to promote economically, socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities and adequate shelter for all. The Millennium Declaration of the UN General Assembly has committed the world community to improve the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers by the year 2020. The priorities of UN-HABITAT’s work are to support this goal and to implement the Habitat Agenda adopted at the Habitat II Conference at Istanbul in 1996.

UN-HABITAT contributes to the overall objective of the United Nations System to reduce poverty and promote sustainable development. It cooperates with partners from governments and local authorities, the private sector, an international cross-section of non-governmental organisations and civil society groups.

www.un-habitat.org

The European Federation of Building Societies (EFBS) is an association of credit institutes and organisations, which promote and support the financing of home ownership. The EFBS represents members from 17 countries. EFBS is the only institution which promotes the idea of home ownership within the process of the political and economic integration in Europe. Its activities also comprehend the effects of the European enlargement process. In this context, it also represents the interest of its members in the European Union.

www.efbs.org