Partners
Partnership
IFHP congresses and conferences in particular, but also other events, are usually prepared in partnership with cities, who use the long-standing reputation of IFHP and its world-wide network to help organise an important event, often as part of broader celebrations. For example, in 2008, Liverpool is organising an IFHP annual international conference as part of its ‘Cultural Capital of Europe’ programme, whilst Puerto Rico is organising the 52nd world congress to celebrate the 5th centenary of the founding of its capital San Juan.
A city hosting one of these major IFHP events will have an excellent opportunity to present itself to participants from a wide area. The organisation of the programme brings together national and local professional input in the organizing committee. In the case of a congress, particular activities, such as a simultaneous schools' conference or youth forum, a student competition or a film and video competition serve to broaden its impact.
Hosting a congress also involves presenting the city at the preceding congress, thus providing an opportunity for national companies to market their products abroad or for local government to draw attention to the city as a location for business.
Another example is the use of the IFHP logo for an event. It helps organisers to attract the international audience which they seek. The IFHP Secretariat can offer assistance through marketing, mailing and advice.
Relationships with intergovernmental organisations
IFHP has, as a non-governmental organisation, traditionally maintained official relationships with a number of intergovernmental organisations. Being a global network, the UN is probably the most important of these, and by its very nature, IFHP focuses its efforts on UN-Habitat, UNEP in Nairobi and UNESCO in Paris.
At the European level, IFHP makes its voice heard in NGO meetings of the UN-Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) in Geneva and at the Council of Europe in Geneva. As IFHP represents a whole range of members and therefore of opinions, it does not take a position on any matters being discussed in these organisations, but acts more as an information broker for its members.
Special partnerships
IFHP works very closely with a number of specialised regional, national and international NGO’s. The most important of these is the Conféderation Française pour l’Habitation, l’Urbanisme, l’Aménagement du Territorie et l’Environnement (COFHUAT), who functions as IFHP’s French-speaking partner.
Others are the Eastern Regional Organisation for Planning and Housing (EAROPH) in Malaysia, the Japanese Society for Planning and Housing (JASOPH), the Netherlands Institute for Housing and Planning (NIROV) and the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG) in Frederiksberg, Denmark.