As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries requested their citizen to ‘stay at home’ to stay safe. Not for everyone home is actually a safe place. Housing conditions and density of informal settlements often do not allow residents to follow basic hygienic measures or to keep the minimum social distance to reduce spreading the virus.

This joint UNECE - FIG online workshop looked at the situation of informal settlements in the pan-European region and ways to formalize informal developments. The Guidelines for the Formalization of Informal Constructions, illustrated by case studies from the region, was launched during the workshop. The publication was developed jointly by the UNECE Working Party on Land Administration (WPLA) and the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG). It is a brief, practical and easy-to-read guide, explaining how to structure a programme for the formalization of informal constructions.

As countries are preparing for post-COVID recovery, these Guidelines may be of particular interest. Benefits from formalizing informal settlements could contribute to economic recovery by integrating them into land markets, with clear ownership titles and registration. Security of tenure, right to ownership of land and property provides access to credit and environmental, planning, construction, and utility-provision improvements can be initiated to a standard where people can live in adequate and healthy homes.

The publication was planned to be launched at the FIG Working Week 2020 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands at a special joint UNECE - FIG session. As the Working Week was cancelled, the launch has been converted into this online workshop.