Criteria governing multilateral financing of housing and human settlements

XXVII. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE SECOND COMMITTEE
2998. Criteria governing multilateral financing of housing and human settlements

The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment,[1] Recalling its resolutions 1393 (XIV) of 20 November 1959, 1508 (XV) of 12 December 1960, 1676 (XVI) of 18 December 1961, 1917 (XVIII) of 5 December 1963, 2036 (XX) of 7 December 1965, 2598 (XXIV) of 16 December 1969, 2626 (XXV) of 24 October 1970 and 2718 (XXV) of 15 December 1970, Recalling also Economic and Social Council resolution 1170 (XLI) of 5 August 1966, Mindful of the aims expressed in the Preamble of the Charter of the United Nations to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples, as well as in Articles 55 and 56 of the Charter, Taking into account the World Plan of Action for the Application of Science and Technology to Development,[2] Considering the important role assigned to housing as part of the International Development Strategy for the Second United Nations Development Decade,[3] Further recalling resolution 2718 (XXV) in which the General Assembly set out broad directions and measures essential for the improvement of human settlements, Noting the report of the Secretary-General entitled Proposals for Action on Finance for Housing, Building and Planning,[4] Taking into account the annual report of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development for 1970,[5] in which the Bank, inter alia, considered that priority should be given to housing and human settlements, Taking note of the policy statement on urbanization of 1972 of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which, inter alia, reaffirms the important role of housing and human settlements in overall national development, Further taking note of the recognition by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development of the need to establish appropriate national finance institutions to mobilize domestic capital to finance these activities, Reaffirming in particular recommendations 1, 15, 16 and 17 of the Action Plan for the Human Environment[6] adopted by the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment,

1. Recommends that all development assistance agencies such as the United Nations Development Programme and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development should in their development assistance activities also give high priority to requests from Governments for assistance in housing and human settlements;

2. Recommends that, in its lending policies in this sector, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development should provide funds on terms and conditions which fully reflect the unique nature and characteristics of housing and related investments.

3. Recommends that in establishing criteria for eligibility for loans under more favourable terms and conditions the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development should take into account, in addition to economic and monetary criteria, such critical socioeconomic factors as levels of unemployment, rates of urban growth, population density, and the general condition of the housing stock in the developing countries;

4. Further recommends that as a matter of priority the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, in agreement with requesting Governments, should implement its stated policy of providing seed capital loans on favourable terms, taking into account the recommendations in paragraph 3 above, for the establishment of domestic financial institutions and organizations to mobilize and allocate capital for housing and related investments;

5. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its twenty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution.

2112th plenary meeting
15 December 1972

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[1] A/CONF.48/14 and Corr.1. [2] United Nations publication, Sales No.: E.71.II.A.18. 47 Resolution 2626 (XXV). [3] United Nations publication, Sales No.: E.73.IV.4. [4] United Nations publication, Sales No.: E.71.II.A.18. [5] International Bank for Reconstruction and Development-International Development Association, Annual Report, 1970 (Washington, D.C.). [6] See A/CONF.48/14 and Corr.1, chap. II.