The Canadian Urban Institute
(CUI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in
urban areas across Canada and around the world. The Institute is an independent
body committed to improving policy making, governance and management for city regions
by encouraging a better understanding of contemporary urban issues among communities,
business, government and other key institutions. The CUI pursues its mission to
translate ideas and knowledge into action by offering the following services:
- public consultation
- leadership and capacity
development
- knowledge mobilization
- applied research
- seminars and conferences
- communication
An important aspect
of the Institute's work is to share with the world Canada's experiences of governing
and managing its urban regions. The CUI's "International Urban Partnerships Program"
is helping to advance the United Nations’ Habitat Agenda and Millennium Development
Goals in cities of the south by connecting people, resources and ideas to build
sustainable urban regions.
CUI has been active
in
Jamaica since 1998. The Institute supports the implementation of the
Government of Jamaica’s ongoing local government reform program, which includes
innovations to the country’s planning framework. In coordination with the Ministry
of Local Government and
Environment (MLGE) and its agencies such as the National Environment and Planning
Agency (NEPA), CUI works with the Manchester Parish Development Committee and the
Manchester Parish Council. The project supports the Manchester local sustainable development planning process,
which is helping to envision a better future for the parish. The project is working
to enhance capacity for long-range planning within the parish council, to build
citizen and community involvement in local government affairs and planning, and
to encourage local partnerships for development.
CUI's International
Urban Partnerships Program, including its work in Jamaica, is implemented with the financial support of the
Government of Canada provided through the Canadian International Development Agency
(CIDA). For more information about CIDA, please visit their website at
www.acdi-cida.gc.ca 
or go to the
website of the Canadian High Commission in
Kingston at
http://geo.international.gc.ca/latin-america/jamaica
For more information
about CUI, please visit its website at
www.canurb.com.