Prepared by the Commonwealth Human Ecology Council (CHEC) with the support of the International Institute of Environment and Development and Environ (Trust) and UK Department for International Development (DFID), this document draws on the experience of member states, to clarify specific development goals included in the Habitat Agenda and to explore practical responses to these challenges within Commonwealth member countries. These goals, enriched by Commonwealth contributions towards their achievement, have been encapsulated in this Commonwealth Development Framework for Human Settlements as signposts to success.

At an historic meeting held in Nairobi in May 1999, the Commonwealth Secretariat in partnership with the Commonwealth Human Ecology Council (CHEC) instigated an innovative approach to implementing the Habitat Agenda by setting up the Commonwealth Consultative Group on Human Settlements (CCGHS). The CCGHS will work through practical, hands-on approaches to providing shelter and improving human settlements by:

1. identifying areas for action
2. creating innovative and effective partnership arrangements to allow implementation of priority actions
3. monitoring and gauging progress; and
4. targeting new, and redirection of existing resources, in support of the objects of the Habitat Agenda

Link to the Commonwealth Consultative Group on the Environment (CCGE)

The Commonwealth Consultative Group, 1999