(SGS) - World leader in terms of audit, verification, tests and certification, SGS (Société Générale de Surveillance) is launching a new service “SGS Land Management” to support local, national and regional African organisations for more land tenure security.

Global urbanization is an unprecedented challenge. From 37.9% of the world population living in urban areas in 1976, that proportion has increased to 54.5% in 2016. In 1976 as governments began to recognize the need for sustainable development of human settlement, exponential urbanization and its impact throughout the world raised concerns about equity, welfare, shared prosperity and environmental consequences.

At that time the United Nations General Assembly decided to convene every 20 years a global summit to build a worldwide commitment to sustainable urbanization. The HABITAT I summit was convened in Vancouver in 1976 and created the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements recognizing that shelter and urbanization are global issues to be addressed collectively.

20 years later in Istanbul world leaders adopted the HABITAT agenda as the global action plan for adequate shelter for all and sustainable cities recognizing that urbanization is an engine for global growth with stronger role for local authorities.

In October this year in Quito, Ecuador, during the HABITAT III conference (www.habitat3.org ), the world will “secure and renew political commitment for sustainable urban development, assess accomplishment to date and adopt a New Global Urban Agenda driving commitment together with an action plan to address urban challenges within the framework of the Paris Agreement and the newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”. From 17 to 20 the HABITAT III summit will bring together Member States, multi-lateral organizations, local governments, private sector and civil society to rethink the urban agenda around appropriate policy to foster urban planning, ensure equity and prosperity for all.

In that framework land management plays a critical role and is cornerstones for the success of the New Urban Agenda implementation. “Transparent, inclusive, participatory spatial planning and creating tenure security for all segments of society are pre-requisites for almost all if not all issues of the New Urban Agenda” (UN-HABITAT). Land policy, legal framework, inclusive tenure rights and effective and cost efficient decentralized land administration are foundation for urban development sustainability and practitioners together with policy-makers will agree upon action plan to advance the new agenda.

Equitable and systematic land value will also be explored as a tool to deliver and sustain public infrastructure.

Businesses, investors and civil society are increasingly considered to be a positive force for sustainable development and are expected to play an important role in implementing the SDGs.

Private sector has a new relevant framework to guide strategic priorities and efforts towards society and human settlement development – representing a huge opportunity to drive sustainable business, implement global policy and action plan that have been agreed during global summit and create shared values.

In Quito the private sector will have an opportunity to present innovative ideas, products, technologies and concept, contributing to green cities, sustainable urban planning, basics services, waste management, transport and many other critical thematic for sustainable urbanization.

“Société General de Surveillance” (SGS), the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company has recently embarked into a new service “SGS Land Management” designed for local, national and regional institutions to improve land governance and strengthen inclusive land and natural resources sustainable management. The service has been developed to respond to increasing global demand for land tenure security as a driver for economic development in emerging economies. Focusing on land policy formulation, legal framework, reform and modernization of land management process and system, SGS land management provides to Governments and Institution a unique comprehensive solution to connect people to land.

Through the modelling of a fit for purpose decentralized and inclusive land administration the new SGS land management service is a translation of the wide range of tenure rights, parties and spatial information required for transparency and service delivery to all.

 From 15 to 20 October, HABITAT III exhibition will be a unique opportunity for practitioners to showcase innovation, proposals and commitment to New Urban Agenda implementation. This will be the opportunity for Member States, multi-lateral agency, local  governments and regional institutions to learn about this new SGS land management service, explore collaboration and way-forward for strengthening security of land tenure, implement the Africa Land Policy Initiative and improve municipal finance.

For additional information as well as to schedule a meeting with SGS Land Management team in Quito exhibition hall during the summit please contact either your local SGS office and/or

Florian Bruyas
Governments and Institutions (GIS)
Land Management Project Manager

SGS Group Management SA
1 Place des Alpes
CH 1211 Geneva 1

Phone: +41 22 73 99 345

Mobile:+41 (0)79 74 21 435
e-mail: Florian.Bruyas@sgs.com