State of the World's Cities 2006/7
The Millenium Development Goals and Urban Sustainability: Shaping the Habitat Agenda

2007 will see the world enter a period in which, for the first time in history, the majority of the world's people will live in cities. 2007 will also see the number of slum dwellers in the world cross the one billion mark, and one in every three city residents will live in inadequate housing with few or no basic services.

This UN-Habitat report shows how inequality in access to services, housing, land, education, health care and employment opportunities within cities has severe socio-economic, environmental and political repercussions. The findings reveal a "tale of two cities within one city" and unfold a new urban reality where slum dwellers die earlier, experience more hunger, have less education and fewer chances of employment in the formal sector, and suffer more from ill-health than the rest of the urban population.

What comes out clearly is that slum formation is neither acceptable nor inevitable. As the developing world becomes more urban and the focus of poverty shifts to cities, the battle to achieve the Millenium goals must be fought in the world's slums - and this book shows just what is needed to be done to win that battle.

This book is essential reading for anyone interested in the alleviation of poverty. With extensive tables, graphs, bibliography and index, it is also a tremendous resource for secondary and tertiary students in the areas of Economics or Urban & Regional Development. It should be on the shelf of every library in the country.

Format: 215 x 280, 204 pages, paperback, full colour

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