The Challenge of Slums: Global Report on Human Settlements 2003

* The most authoritative and up-to-date review of the development of the world's cities and other human settlements
* The first global assessment of urban slums, the challenges they present and the ways to improve the lives of slum dwellers
* Statistical annexes provide essential information on demographic, spatial & economic, housing, and environment & infrastructural indicators

This is the only reliable and comprehensive assessment of the world's cities, and an essential tool and reference for academics, researchers, planners, public authorities and civil society organizations around the world. The 2003 report addresses the growing problems presented by slums in an increasingly globalized world. Using extensive case studies, it analyzes the factors behind the creation of slums and reviews the policies taken towards them. It demonstrates that to meet the UN's Millennium Goals of significantly improving the lives of over 100 million slum dwellers by 2020, policies must go beyond traditional infrastructural approaches to create livelihoods, and hope, for the urban poor.