Scroll of Honor for Jakarta

We refer to the article Activists slam habitat award for Jakarta, published in The Jakarta Post on Oct. 4.

The city of Jakarta is a megacity with more than 10 million inhabitants. About 20 percent, or two million, are living in kampongs or slums. It is clear that many challenges remain ahead, but the city has made significant improvements.

UN-HABITAT recognizes the progress that has been made so far and is helping to address the areas that need to be improved, such as strengthening the people's process, through our collaboration with the central government, provincial governments and civil society organizations in Indonesia.

As you may be aware, UN-HABITAT currently has projects of some US$25 million under the post-tsunami reconstruction, targeting the most vulnerable households. Further, on World Habitat Day on Oct. 3, we signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Public Works, the Ministry of the People's Housing and the Association of Provincial Governments to provide a framework for introducing the Slum Upgrading Facility in Indonesia. This facility is aimed at mobilizing capital to provide affordable housing and better infrastructure for the urban poor.

It is in this context that UN-HABITAT awarded the municipality of Jakarta the Scroll of Honor to recognize the progress that has been made and to lay the foundation for further improvements in building an inclusive city.

JANE NYAKAIRU Chief, Information Services Section Office of the Executive Director, UN-HABITAT Nairobi