A/RES/59/239 2015, the proportion of people who are unable to reach or afford safe drinking water and the proportion of people who do not have access to basic sanitation, Recognizing that the overall thrust of the strategic vision of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and its emphasis on the two global campaigns on secure tenure and urban governance are strategic points of entry for the effective implementation of the Habitat Agenda, especially for guiding international cooperation in respect of adequate shelter for all and sustainable human settlements development, Conscious of the need to achieve greater coherence and effectiveness in the implementation of the Habitat Agenda, the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium and the relevant internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, Recognizing the continued urgent need for increased and predictable financial contributions to the United Nations Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation to ensure timely, effective and concrete global implementation of the Habitat Agenda, the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium and the relevant internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration and the Johannesburg Declaration and Plan of Implementation, Reiterating the call to the Executive Director of UN-Habitat to increase the efforts to strengthen the Foundation in order to achieve its primary operative objective of supporting the implementation of the Habitat Agenda, including supporting shelter, related infrastructure-development programmes and housingfinance institutions and mechanisms, particularly in developing countries, Recognizing that humanitarian assistance in the field of human settlements must be provided in ways that will be supportive of reconstruction and long-term development, Noting the convening of the second session of the World Urban Forum, organized by UN-Habitat in cooperation with the Government of Spain, the Autonomous Government of Catalonia and the Municipality of Barcelona, in Barcelona, from 13 to 17 September 2004, Expressing its appreciation to the Government of Canada and the city of Vancouver for their willingness to host the third session of the World Urban Forum in 2006, Emphasizing the importance of access to basic services for the urban poor, and in this regard noting the decision of the Governing Council of UN-Habitat at its nineteenth session on water and sanitation in cities, 7 Noting the commitment to integrate urban planning and management in relation to housing, transport, employment opportunities, environmental conditions and community facilities, and further noting the commitment to promote, where appropriate, the upgrading of informal settlements and urban slums as an expedient measure and pragmatic solution to the urban shelter deficit, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General; 8 _______________ 7 Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 8 (A/58/8), annex I, resolution 19/6. 8 A/59/198. 2