Memorandum of Understanding concerning Co-operation between
the International Labour Organisation and the United Nations
Centre for Human Settlements (HABITAT)

Preamble

The Director-General of the International Labour Office and the Executive Director of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements, desirous of fostering co-operation between the two institutions, have agreed within the framework of the Agreement between the United Nations and International Labour Organisation and supplementary thereto, upon the following provisions which define their common objectives and areas of mutual interest and set forth the modalities of such co-operation.

1. Common objectives and principles of co-operation

1.1 UNCHS and the ILO agree that one of their common objectives is to promote sustainable satisfaction of basic human needs in urban and rural settlements, and especially in respect of shelter and access to essential services, such as safe drinking water, sanitation and transport. Availability of productive and satisfying employment is considered both a means to, and an aspect of, the satisfaction of basic human needs. The ILO and UNCHS recognise that human settlements should be developed rationally and in the best long-term interests of societies, so that an improved quality of life results for all. Informed popular participation and involvement through self-help institutions are essential to the improvement of human settlements and for the rational use of natural resources. In the view of both organisations, it is necessary that the development and spatial patterns and structures of human settlements be carefully directed so that they contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of the lower income population in particular. The ILO and UNCHS will co-operate in the improvement of the quality of human life with regard to overcrowding of population and of production activity in relation to land-carrying capacity, infrastructural facilities and the quality of physical surroundings.

1.2 The ILO recognises that UNCHS has a co-ordinating role in respect of the activities relating to human settlements within the UN system as a whole. Both organisations agree that in performing this role, UNCHS will endeavour to stimulate the human settlement related activities falling within the competence of UN agencies and bodies, while engaging in direct action in matters within its mandate. The ILO agrees to co-operate with UNCHS in the discharge of this role, both in a bilateral and a multilateral framework, in particular through consultation on programmes and projects at the planning and implementing stages and by other appropriate means.

1.3 UNCHS recognises that the ILO has a mandate and special competences in the fields of employment promotion (including migration for employment), and of vocational and managerial training for the construction sector, rural development, water supply and sanitation systems, co-operatives and hotels and tourism, as well as in respect of improving workers' living and working conditions. UNCHS agrees to co-operate with ILO in the discharge of this role and to consult in relevant activities.

2. Areas of mutual interest and co-operation

2.1 Settlements planning and policies

Integrated physical and socio-economic settlements planning cannot be dissociated from employment policy. In providing policy guidance and technical co-operation to governments, both organisations will consult and take into account each other's work. The ILO will concentrate principally on the employment aspects of settlements policies, rural non-farming employment, co-operatives-type institutions for self-help, and the promotion of the urban informal sector. UNCHS will concentrate principally on physical planning, land-use policies and the strengthening of national settlements institutions.

2.2 Shelter, community services and infrastructure for low-income settlements

The ILO will be responsible for questions concerning organisational training for self-help schemes in housing and community services. The ILO further provides training for the building construction sector and water supply, including basic vocational and entrepreneurial skills, choice and application of employment-oriented technology. This training includes both the urban informal and the urban and rural formal sectors. Furthermore, the ILO will be responsible for providing guidance on employment-oriented technology and for technical co-operation in the planning and execution of large-scale employment-oriented public works programmes. UNCHS will be responsible for the development of appropriate building codes, regulations and related technologies and the training of national and local officials concerned with human settlements, shelter, infrastructure and services.

2.3 Development of the indigenous construction sector

The ILO contribution in this field is principally in vocational and managerial training, through formal and informal training systems. The ILO also promotes governmental encouragement of small-scale enterprises and associates employers' and workers' organisations in this process. The ILO provides advisory services, guide-lines and technical co-operation on employment-oriented technology for the production of building materials, tools and equipment and for construction. UNCHS promotes the development of the construction sector at the macro-economic level through guidance on resource allocation, investment policies, appropriate building materials, technology and information.

3. Modalities of co-operation

3.1 In accordance with Article II of the Agreement between the United Nations and the International Labour Organisation, representatives of UNCHS will be invited to attend the meetings of the International Labour Conference and its committees, the Governing Body and its committees, and such general, regional or other special meetings as the ILO may convene. UNCHS may participate, without a vote, in the deliberations of these bodies with respect to items on their agenda in which UNCHS has indicated that it has an interest.

3.2 Representatives of the ILO will likewise be invited to attend the meetings of the United Nations Commission on Human Settlements, as well as its committees, and to participate, without a vote, in the deliberations of these bodies with respect to items on their agenda in which the ILO has indicated that it has an interest.

3.3 The operational means of continuing UNCHS/ILO co-operation will include the following:

- consultation in the formulation and the implementation of work programmes and projects of common interest;
-jointly convened technical and promotional meetings in the areas of mutual interest;
-association in relevant technical co-operation missions/projects, with due regard to the respective areas of competence;
-continuing exchange of information in areas of common interest and on pertinent institutional matters;
-close liaison through the respective focal points established in each organisation.

3.4 If compliance with a request for assistance made by either organisation to the other would involve substantial expenditure for the organisation complying with the request, consultation shall take place with a view to determining the most equitable manner of meeting such expenditure.

3.5 The present Memorandum will come into effect upon signature by the Executive Director of UNCHS and the Director-General of the ILO. It may be modified at any time by agreement between the parties and may be terminated by either party at six months' notice in writing.

Nairobi, June 1983:

(Signed) Arcot RAMACHANDRAN,
Executive Director,
United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (HABITAT)

Geneva, June 1983:

(Signed) Francis BLANCHARD,
Director-General,
International Labour Office

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Published in: Official Bulletin of the ILO, Vol. LXVII, 1984, Series A, No. 1