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Country Profiles on Urban Development, Housing and Land Management

 

Country Profiles on urban development, housing and land management series is a flagship product of the UNECE Committee on Urban Development, Housing and Land Management. The Country Profiles is an important tool to analyse countries’ urban development, housing and land management policies, strategies, institutional and financial frameworks and to compare the progress made internationally. 

The study is conducted on the request of UNECE member States, coordinated by the secretariat and drafted by independent international experts. UNECE’s involvement does not end with the launch of the study.  

The Committee on Urban Development, Housing and Land Management monitors and supports the implementation of country profile recommendations, for instance through technical model projects.

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The Committee initiated the Country Profiles project in 1994 (Pilot project proposal, September 1994). This project represents a tool for Governments to analyse their housing policies, strategies, institutional and financial frameworks for the housing sector and to compare the progress made internationally. The project is a high priority for the Committee.

At its 62nd session the Committee reviewed the implementation of the recommendations of the Country Profiles, discussed the usefulness of the study and possible future follow-up activities (Report on the 62nd Session, ECE/HBP/122 para IV B).

Process

The country profile is a process-oriented exercise. At its core is an analytical study on the housing sector, drafted by independent international experts. Recommendations for improving policies and practices are an essential part of the programme. It also aims to provide information to potential investors.

The Profiles constitute a strategic analysis of a country's entire housing sector. The study covers five major areas: 

  • Framework for the housing sector transition

  • Existing housing stock and new housing construction

  • Institutional framework

  • Legal framework

  • Financial framework.

As a voluntary exercise, the Country Profile study is undertaken only at the request of the country itself. The Committee or its Bureau then selects a country from the list of applicants. The project starts with a compilation of relevant data on the housing sector of the country to be reviewed. An international team of experts from all over Europe, including countries in transition, is then formed.

The conduct of the country profile exercise is enabled by an extra budgetary fund, to which a number of UNECE member countries contribute. Some member countries have also provided experts as a contribution in kind to the project.

The project involves a preparatory mission and a research mission of the team of international experts to the country under review. In the host country, the team also interviews officials, experts, NGOs, international organizations and their project personnel, and visits development sites.
The study is published in English and translated to the national languages for distribution to interested parties.

Procedural guidelines

Guidelines for the preparation of ECE country profiles on housing and land management (ECE/HBP/2017/5)     ENG     FRE     RUS

Country impact

Impact of country profile studies on countries that were reviewed.

Evaluation of the Country Profiles programme

Report of the evaluation

Management response to the report's recommendations

Guidelines for the preparation of UNECE Country Profiles on Urban Development, Housing and Land Management

Available in English and Russian. Click here to download.

Meetings and events

A list of meetings under the Country Profiles programme.

Country Profiles

(click on the country to view reports)
Albania (2002)

Country Profiles on the Housing Sector: Albania (2002)

Contents  

Preface

 
Chapter I Framework for the housing sector transition
Chapter II Existing housing stock and new construction
Chapter III Institutional framework
Chapter IV Legal framework
Chapter V Financial framework
Bibliography  
Conclusions and recommendations  
Full report ECE/HBP/130 (English)
Armenia (2004, 2017)

Country Profiles on Housing and Land Management: Armenia (2017)

 Country Profiles on the Housing Sector: Armenia (2004)  

Contents  

Preface

 
Chapter I Framework for the housing sector transition
Chapter II Existing housing stock and new construction
Chapter III Institutional framework
Chapter IV Legal framework
Chapter V Financial framework
Conclusions and recommendations  
Bibliography  
Full report ECE/HBP/132 (English)
Azerbaijan (2010)

Country Profiles on the Housing Sector: Azerbaijan (2010)

Contents
Executive summary
Chapter I Socio-economic conditions and housing policy framework
Chapter II Spatial planning and land administration
Chapter III Existing housing stock, new construction and utilities
Chapter IV Financial framework for the housing and land sectors
Chapter V Recommendations
Bibliography
Full report ECE/HBP/156 (English) PDF
Full report ECE/HBP/156 (Russian) PDF
Belarus (2008, 2019)

Country Profiles on Housing and Land Management: Belarus (2019)

English  

Country Profiles on the Housing Sector: Belarus (2008)

Contents  
Executive Summary  
Chapter I Socio-economic trends and housing policies
Chapter II Existing housing stock and new construction
Chapter III Housing finance
Chapter IV Land administration and spatial planning
Chapter V Recommendations
Annex  
Bibliography  
Back cover  
Full Report ECE/HBP/150 (English) PDF
Full Report ECE/HBP/150 (Russian) PDF
Bulgaria (1996)

Country Profiles on the Housing Sector: Bulgaria (1996)

Contents  

Preface

 
Introduction  
Country Profile graph  
Chapter I The role of housing in societies undergoing transition
Chapter II Population
Chapter III Housing quality and construction of new dwellings
Chapter IV Housing economics and affordability
Chapter V The legal framework
Chapter VI Institutional framework and decision-making processes
Annexes  
Full report ECE/HBP/101 (English)  
Georgia (2007)

Country Profiles on the Housing Sector: Georgia (2007)

Contents  
Executive Summary  
Chapter I Socio-economic conditions and housing policy framework
Chapter II Institutional framework
Chapter III Existing housing situation, new construction, urban planning and utilities
Chapter IV Affordable housing for vulnerable households
Chapter V Financial framework
Chapter VI Recommendations
Bibliography  
Full Report ECE/HBP/143 (English) PDF
Full Report ECE/HBP/143 (Russian) PDF
Kazakhstan (2018)

Country Profiles on the Housing Sector: Kazakhstan (2018)

Contents  
Executive summary  
Recommendations  
Overview  
PART I HOUSING SECTOR
Chapter 1 Legislative and institutional framework of the housing sector
Chapter 2 Housing Policies and Programmes
Chapter 3 Provision of Adequate, safe and Affordable Housing and Basic Services
Chapter 4 Housing Management and Maintenance
Chapter 5 Housing Construction
Chapter 6 Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving in Residential Sector
PART II FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE HOUSING SECTOR
PART III SUSTAINABLE URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND SMART CITIES: ACHIEVEMENTS, OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FOR ASTANA TO BECOME A MODEL OF SMART AND SUSTAINABLE CITY
Full report ECE/HBP/181 in English and Russian             
 
Kyrgyzstan (2010)

Country Profiles on the Housing Sector: Kyrgyzstan (2010)

Contents
Executive summary
Chapter I Socio-economic conditions and housing policy framework
Chapter II Institutional framework
Chapter III Land administration and land management
Chapter IV Housing conditions and new housing construction
Chapter V Financial framework
Chapter VI Recommendations
Bibliography
Full report ECE/HBP/157 (English) PDF
Lithuania (2000)

Country Profiles on the Housing Sector: Lithuania (2000)

Contents  

Preface

 
Conclusions and recommendations  
Country Profile graph  
Chapter I Framework for the housing sector
Chapter II Existing housing stock and new housing construction
Chapter III Financial framework
Chapter IV Legal framework
Chapter V Institutional framework
Annexes  
Full report ECE/HBP/117 (English)
Poland (1998)

Country Profiles on the Housing Sector: Poland (1998)

Contents  

Preface

 
Introduction  
Conclusions and recommendations  
Country Profile graph  
Chapter I Framework for the housing sector transition
Chapter II Existing housing stock and housing development
Chapter III Housing economics and affordability
Chapter IV Legal framework
Chapter V Institutional framework
Annex  
Full report ECE/HBP/107 (English)
Republic of Moldova (2002, 2015)

Country Profiles on Housing and Land Management: Republic of Moldova (2015)

Contents  
Executive summary  
Introduction  
PART I   LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORKS FOR HOUSING, URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND LAND ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT
PART II HOUSING SECTOR
Chapter I Existing housing stock, condition, maintenance and management
Chapter II Policy and financial framework for housing
PART III SPATIAL PLANNING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
PART IV LAND ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT; REAL ESTATE MARKETS
Chapter I Land administration and management
Chapter II Real estate markets
RECOMMENDATIONS  
ANNEXES  
REFERENCES  
Full report ECE/HBP/181 English              
Full report ECE/HBP/181 Russian
 

Country Profiles on the Housing Sector: Republic of Moldova (2002)

Contents  

Preface

 
Conclusions and recommendations  
Chapter I Framework for the housing sector
Chapter II Existing housing stock and new housing construction
Chapter III Institutional framework
Chapter IV Legal framework
Chapter V Financial framework
Bibliography  
Full report ECE/HBP/125 English  
Romania (2001)

Country Profiles on the Housing Sector: Romania (2001)

Contents  

Preface

 
Chapter I Framework for the housing sector
Chapter II Housing stock and construction
Chapter III Institutional framework
Chapter IV Legal framework
Chapter V Financial framework
Summary and recommendations  
Annex  
Full report ECE/HBP/124 (English)
In October 2002 a roundtable discussion to follow-up the country profile was initiated by the Government of Romania. The roundtable brought together once again all the parties which were involved in the country profile. The aim of the round table discussion was to assess the developments in the Romanian housing sector since the international expert team visited Romania in 2000, to evaluate the implementation of the recommendations given by the experts, to discuss future strategies for the Romanian housing sector and to assess the significance of the country profile for Romania’s housing policy.
The main findings of the roundtable discussion are summarized in the report of the Bucharest roundtable.
Russian Federation (2004)

Country Profiles on the Housing Sector: Russian Federation (2004)

Contents  
Foreword  
Preface  
Conclusions and Recommendations
Part I FRAMEWORK FOR THE HOUSING SECTOR DEVELOPMENT
Chapter I The Socio-economic framework
Chapter II Housing Reform
Chapter III The Housing Stock
Chapter IV Institutional framework
Chapter V Legal framework
Chapter VI Financial Framework
Part II CURRENT SITUATION, GOALS AND CHALLENGES IN PARTICULAR AREAS OF THE HOUSING SECTOR REFORM
Chapter VII

Management and operation of the existing housing stock

Chapter VIII Utility services
Chapter IX Social housing
Chapter X New construction and urban planning
Chapter XI Land management and real property market development
Bibliography  
Full Report ECE/HBP/131 (English) PDF
Full Report ECE/HBP/131 (Russian) PDF
Serbia and Montenegro (2006)

Country Profiles on the Housing Sector: Serbia and Montenegro (2006)

Contents  
Chapter I The socio-economic framework for the development of the housing sector
Chapter II Existing housing stock and new construction
Chapter III Institutional framework
Chapter IV Legal framework for housing
Chapter V Financial framework
Chapter VI Social housing
Chapter VII Land administration and housing market development
Chapter VIII Conclusions and recommendations
Bibliography  
Full Report ECE/HBP/139 English
Slovakia (1999)

Country Profiles on the Housing Sector: Slovakia (1999)

Contents  

Preface

 
Conclusions and recommendations  
Country Profile graphs  
Chapter I Framework for the housing sector
Chapter II Existing housing stock and new housing construction
Chapter III Financial framework
Chapter IV Legal framework
Chapter V Institutional framework
Annex  
Full report ECE/HBP/111 (English)
Tajikistan (2011)

Country Profiles on the Housing Sector: Tajikistan (2011)

Contents  
Executive summary  
Chapter I Socio-economic conditions and housing policy framework
Chapter II Housing conditions, housing construction and public utilities
Chapter III Housing financial and legal framework
Chapter IV Urban planning and development
Chapter V Land administration
Chapter VI Recommendations
Bibliography  
Full report ECE/HBP/163 (English)
Full report ECE/HBP/163 (Russian)
Ukraine (2013)

Country Profiles on Housing and Land Management: Ukraine (2013)

Contents  
Executive summary  
PART I  HOUSING SECTOR
Chapter I Legal, Institutional and Policy Framework for Housing
Chapter II Housing conditions
Chapter III Housing allocation, needs, demand and supply
PART II  SPATIAL PLANNING AND LAND MANAGEMENT
Chapter IV Spatial planning and urban development
Chapter V Land management and registration system
PART III  FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE HOUSING AND LAND SECTORS
RECOMMENDATIONS  

Bibliography

 
Full report ECE/HBP/176 (English)
Full report ECE/HBP/176 (Russian)
Uzbekistan (2015)

Country Profiles on Housing and Land Management: Uzbekistan (2015)