UNDP's Local Initiative Facility for Urban Environment (LIFE)
Strengthening Participatory Local Governance - Global Programme
LIFE is a UNDP global flagship programme to promote local-local dialogue and partnership between NGOs, CBOs, Local Governments and Private Sector for improving the living conditions of the urban poor and influencing policies for participatory local governance. Using "upstreaming - downstreaming - upstreaming" approach, LIFE provides small grants (up to US$50,000) directly to NGOs and CBOs for need based participatory community-based projects in urban poor communities; supports capacity development of local actors and promotes advocacy and policy dialogues using the experience of the projects. LIFE is in operation in 12 developing countries where the LIFE national programmes are managed and monitored by multi-stakeholder National Steering Committee. In addition LIFE supports regional and global NGOs and Cities Associations to demonstrate and advocate participatory local governance for sustainable human development.
Selected LIFE Publications
Pro Poor Urban Governance: Lessons from Life
LIFE is a UNDP global programme that has focused on local governance and urban environmental issues since 1992, supporting community-based and local initiatives to realize immediate improvements to the lives of the urban poor and to influence policy. This report applies LIFE's 13 years of experience to localizing the MDGs.
Global
Step By Step Guidelines to Implement LIFE (2004)
Technical Paper 1: Participatory Local Governance, Method and Experiences of LIFE (1997)
Brazil
Case Study: Project ASMARE Association of Paper Carton and Recyclable Material Pickers (1998)
Case Study: Agricultural and Ecological Experience Center (CEVAE)/Taquaril (1998)
Egypt
Case Study: Solid Waste Management in El-Ramad District, Beni Suef
Case Study: Urban Development Of El-Dayora Shiakha Old Cairo District
Case Study: Environmental Upgrading and Community Development in Ein Helwan
Case Study: Environmental Sanitation Of El-Hekr
Case Study: Management of Household Wastewater in Gezieret El-Sheir
Case Study: Partners Group - A Local Initiative Calling For Partnership in Development
Jamaica
Project Report: National Dialogue on Sanitation towards Policy Formulation (1998)
Kyrgyzstan
Case Study : Ak-Buura River Pollution
Case Study : Dzhal Micro-District watering Project
Case Study : Manas-Ata Public Toilets Project
Case Study : Tash Zhol
Case Study : Osh City Anar and Tuleyken Districts
Case Study : New Water Pipeline in Tegerek-Bakybek
News Coverage: Times of Central Asia (April 2003)
Lebanon
Case Study : Arab Salim Solid Waste Management (1999)
Case Study : Nabatiyeh Solid Waste Management
Case Study : Becharre Solid Waste Management (1999)
Case Study : TERRE The Environmental Visitor (1998)
Case Study : Environment Information Center (1998)
Pakistan
Case Study : Solid Waste Management Projects Implemented by Aurat Association Mansehra (1998)
Case Study : CAWA Supporting Grassroots Initiatives for Women and Small Entrepreneurs in the Rawalpindi Area
Case Study : Organization for Participatory Development Gujranwala
Case Study/Evaluation Report : Pak Social Welfare Society, Hyderabad (1998)
Case Study : Katchi Abadis (Squatter Settlements) and Some Viable Alternatives (2002)
Case Study : Taraqee Extension of Low-Cost Sanitation Programme in Nawan Killi, Quetta (1998)
Case Study : Lodhran Pilot Project (2002)
Senegal
Case Study : Cesspool Building and Training in Health Activities, Yeumbeul (1998)
Tanzania
Case Study Evaluation : Selected Local Initiatives for Improving the Urban Environment and People's Livelihoods in Tanzania (1998)
Thailand
Newsletter (January 2003)