Cities can serve as centers of employment, growth, and innovation, the report emphasizes. Improving the urban environment and quality of life requires action on a number of fronts including alleviating poverty, creating productive employment, improving resource management, increasing women's participation, and building capacity for urban governance and management. These actions are often promoted jointly by UNDP, UNEP, the World Bank, and other partners within and outside the UN system. World Resources 1996-97 reflects the World Resources Institute's ongoing collaboration with UNEP and UNDP, as well as a new partnership with the World Bank. Published in seven languages, the report is distributed worldwide.
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