Access to basic services for all

The session aims to:

• Deepen the understanding of “access to basic services with a focus on those furthest behind first” and the importance of an integrated approach to improve “universal access to basic services” as part of the implementation of the New Urban Agenda towards achieving Agenda 2030.
• Strengthen multi-stakeholder partnerships towards delivering universal access to basic services with a focus on those furthest behind first.

Access to urban basic services including water and sanitation, drainage, waste management, sustainable energy, urban mobility and information and communication technology is essential to meet the basic human needs, eradicate poverty and ensure healthy lives of people. However, in an increasingly urbanized world, there is an enormous backlog in the provision of urban basic services despite the economic growth.

Over 1.3 billion people – almost 20% of the world’s population – still has no access to electricity. About 769 million people worldwide lack access to clean water, and 2.5 billion do not have adequate sanitation; 2.8 billion people still cook their food with solid fuels (such as wood). One billion people live more than two kilometres from an all-weather road; more than 1.2 million people are killed in road traffic accidents. 2 billion people are without access to solid waste collection and 3 billion people lack access to controlled dumpsite.

To improve this situation through the provision of equitable and affordable access to urban basic services, the efforts on the ground should be cross-sectoral taking an integrated approach. Currently, many urban interventions aiming at providing access to basic services are following a sectoral approach since the demand from the ground is coming in a sectoral way. However, cities can benefit and reduce the financial burden by pursuing a more integrated planning and management of basic services that cuts through different sectors including water, sanitation, mobility, energy, waste management and ICT following fast track mechanisms, neighbourhood centred approaches through multiple routes, bridging the financial gap and continuous monitoring.

This Special Session will explore what benefits and opportunities integrated urban basic services planning and management can bring for cities and how this integrated approach can be implemented to realize Agenda 2030 and the New Urban Agenda. In line with the Secretary General’s reform of the United Nations Development System, the session will specifically explore how those furthest behind can be given priority in access to basic services. UN-Habitat’s Urban Basic Services Trust Fund provides a framework to strengthen partnerships for attaining access to basic services for all.

Q1: How to measure ‘access to basic services’ with special focus on those furthest behind?

Q2: How can an integrated urban basic services management approach help cities to improve ‘access to basic services for all’?

Q3: How to ensure that the financing of service delivery reaches the poorest of the poor and vulnerable groups?

Q4: What are feasible models for Public-Private-Partnerships in service delivery and how to ensure they reach the poor and vulnerable?

Q5: What mechanisms of community empowerment in service delivery do exist and how can they be integrated into other approaches?

Q6: What is the role of service delivery operators in delivering on the Agenda 2030 and New Urban Agenda?