Access to safe drinking water is one of the basic rights often denied to populations in developing countries. Photo: Peter Bennett.

The main emphasis of UPE's work from 2005-2010 is the Focus Cities Research Initiative (FCRI). UPE is funding integrated research projects in eight cities, in order to generate sustained and in-depth research.
To learn more about this initiative, please visit the
Focus Cities web page.

UPE produces a newsletter to share information about our work and related activities on urban issues throughout the world. To subscribe, send an e-mail to the following address indicating that you wish to subscribe to our bulletin: upe@idrc.ca.

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Urban agriculture: Rosario, Argentina reaps the benefits 2010-07
Thousands of families in the city of Rosario, Argentina, were able to feed themselves during the country’s recent economic crisis by growing their own food. Now more than 800 community gardens in the city feed some 40,000 people and produce surplus for sale.

Breaking the Cycle of Urban Poverty 2008-09
Team members from the Focus Cities Research Initiative spent five days sharing their challenges and successes in tackling urban poverty and environmental decay in eight cities in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Update #5 of Moreno Focus City Project 2009-12-25
Thematic park of Barrio  San Jorge

Update #4 of Moreno Focus City Project 2009-12-25

Update #2 of Moreno Focus City Project 2009-12-25

Update #3 of Moreno Focus City Project 2009-12-25
Water for all at “Barrio Alem”

Update #1 of Moreno Focus City Project 2009-12-24

The WHO Wastewater Guidelines: A Reality Check on the Ground 2009-09-29

IDRC grantee recognized by the Parliament of Bolivia 2009-07-02
IDRC grantee the Sociedad de Gestión Ambiental Boliviana (SGAB) was recognized by the Parliament of Bolivia at a ceremony to mark World Environment Day on June 5. 

UPE Team Announces the Winners of the Ecopolis Awards Program for 2009! 2009-08-17

Through Children's Eyes 2008-09
How do children perceive environmental issues in their community? In this audio slideshow, former IDRC intern Sarah McCans describes the innovative project she undertook, working with children in Kampala, Uganda, as they communicated their experience through drawings.

Launch of the "Global City Indicators Program" 2009-04-29

Salvaging Hope 2008-10
Article on an urban planning experiment in Dakar.

News from the Urban Poverty & Environment (UPE) Program Initiative 2008-12-18

Points of view: Coming clean on wastewater irrigation 2008-09-18
Read water experts' points of view on wastewater irrigation.

Urban Agriculture Project Wins Canadian Urban Design Award 2008-08
An innovative urban agriculture project led by McGill University’s Minimum Cost Housing Group — an IDRC partner — has been honoured with a National Urban Design Award.