UN-HABITAT, as one of the key partners, participated in the 3rd Asia Pacific Housing Forum and Exhibition (APHF-3) in Bangkok from 7-9 September 2011. More than 700 delegates, from 220 organizations and 35 countries attended APHF-3 co-organized by Habitat for Humanity and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). The Forum gathered participants from governments, international and local NGOs, private sector, academia, civil society organizations, and local communities.
Throughout the APHF-3, with the theme "Sustainable Shelter in Age of Climate Change and Disasters", UN-HABITAT was involved in the plenary and various breakout sessions focused on Housing Policy in an Era of Climate Change; Financing Adaptation; Disaster Mitigation, Response and Sustainable Development; Building More Resilient Homes; Community Participation; Water and Sanitation; and Values, Ethics and Faith-based Development Initiatives.
Mr. Bernhard Barth, Training and Capacity Building Branch, UN-HABITAT, Nairobi, Kenya was the panellist for the first plenary session "Thought Leaders Panel" that aimed to exchange ideas and experiences on challenges, strategies and successful practices.
Mr. Lalith Lankatilleke, Senior Human Settlements Officer, UN-HABITAT ROAP, Fukuoka, Japan was involved in several breakout sessions presenting "People's Process of Recovery", "Post Disaster Shelter Reconstruction: Learning from the experiences of UN-HABITAT" and "Building Urban Resilience: Its Implications on Addressing the Problem of Poverty Housing and Homelessness in Asia Pacific". Experiences from various countries in the region and organizations were shared among the participants.
During the 3-days forum, UN-HABITAT displayed various projects, at the Exhibition site complimenting the Forum, that are undertaken in the region. The exhibition attracted a considerable number of visits and interest from the participants willing to learn on "Post-disaster Projects in Asia" and other activities of UN-HABITAT in the region, especially from Myanmar as their countries face similar problems and impacts from climate change.
