THE Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) have begun discussions on the development of a National Housing Strategy and the IDB has committed to providing much need support in this regard.
It is expected that the Strategy when completed will address several critical areas including improving the institutional capacity of the CH&PA to design, manage and implement housing and Urban policy; Strengthen CH&PA’s capacity to manage and analyse territorial information and to facilitate multi-sectoral knowledge-sharing on housing and urban development topics.
According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), the housing strategy will be built on the existing housing profile which was created by the United Nations (UN) Habitat in collaboration with the CH&PA in February this year.
The Housing Strategy is intended to form the basis on which the housing sector will advance while addressing the expansion of housing supply, improving affordability and access to adequate housing.
Last December, the IDB upon request from the Government of Guyana approved US$517,250 in support of the development of the National Housing Strategy.
Meanwhile, through the IDB’s Housing and Urban Development Division, the CH&PA will receive support to develop the Strategy as part of the broader Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
Wednesdays meeting saw IDB’s Housing and Urban Development Specialist, Patricio Zambrano-Barragan, meeting with CH&PA’s Chief Executive Officer, Lelon Saul, Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), Dr. Richard Van-West Charles, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communities, Emile McGarrell and representatives from the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), Ministry of Education, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Environmental Protection Agency, Guyana Power and Light and Mayor and City Council.