The main objective of this component is to experiment with and combine innovative approaches to urban environmental management by under-privileged populations.

The projects supported by the Preceup, while located in very different geographical contexts, have certain common characteristics :
- The implementation of alternative environmental management systems designed and managed by grassroots organisations (youth and women's organisations, for instance). These systems rely on a strong mobilisation of the community, in particular women;
- The commitment and participation of municipal authorities and state services;
- The participation of the private and co-operative sectors, in particular micro-enterprises;
- The creation of spaces for dialogue, as well as mechanisms and tools facilitating partnerships between grassroots organisations, municipalities and the state, and the private sector. Another characteristic is the experimentation and validation of mechanisms for the contractualisation of the relationships between these actors;
- The research and implementation of new technologies adapted to the conditions of under-privileged populations, produced and maintained locally, simply and at a low cost. These technologies are at the forefront of the struggle against poverty;
- The implementation of social, financial and institutional innovations. These are linked to operational and institutional structures initiated by the project, which call upon the social engineering capacities of operators, and which frequently constitute innovations which can be duplicated or adapted in various contexts. This is one of the strengths of the Preceup, since it accounts for socio-cultural and institutional realities as a prerequisite to the success of any project.

During the second phase, new projects located in Bogota and Rabat have obtained financing. On the other hand, the Rufisque project, which was selected as a " best practice "at the Habitat II conference, will no longer be financed. The lessons learned from this experience will be disseminated by the Preceup.

An international dimension

Common themes between the projects of the focal points participating in the Preceup programme guarantee a comparability of actions. On the other hand, the comparison of projects located in different contexts makes it possible to pin-point other strategies, technologies and institutional structures particularly adapted and which can possibly be transferred. Differences in the development level of these countries, the degree of formalisation of the associative field, and the level of technologies used, become an advantage in comparing these experiences.

The projects taking part in the Preceup rely on popular dynamics an stimulate the creation of jobs abd revenues.

Urban Environmental Management in Bogota : from community practice to political dialogue (Enda América Latina)

Agricultural Use of Household Refuse in Thies, Senegal (Enda Graf)

Community Environmental Project in Ho Chi Minh City (Enda Viet Nam)

Participatory Management of the Urban Environment in Santo Domingo (Enda Caribe)

Local Environmental Initiative Support Project - PILE (Enda Maghreb)