National Urbanism, Housing, and Habitat Policy of Paraguay
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Del derecho a un ambiente saludable: Toda persona tiene derecho a habitar en un ambiente saludable y ecológicamente equilibrado. Constituyen objetivos prioritarios de interés social la preservación, la conservación, la recomposición y el mejoramiento del ambiente, así como su conciliaci...
Del derecho a la vivienda: Todos los habitantes de la República tienen derecho a una vivienda digna. El Estado establecerá las condiciones para hacer efectivo este derecho, y promoverá planes de vivienda de interés social, especialmente las destinadas a familias de escasos recursos, med...
De la calidad de vida. La calidad de vida será promovida por el Estado mediante planes y políticas que reconozcan factores condicionantes, tales como la extrema pobreza y los impedimentos de la discapacidad o de la edad. El Estado también fomentará la investigación de los factores de po...
De la protección ambiental Las actividades susceptibles de producir alteración ambiental serán reguladas por la ley. Asimismo, ésta podrá restringir o prohibir aquellas que califique peligrosas. Se prohíbe la fabricación, el montaje, la importación, la comercialización, la posesión o el...
De la propiedad comunitaria Los pueblos indígenas tienen derecho a la propiedad comunitaria de la tierra, en extensión y calidad suficientes para la conservación y el desarrollo de sus formas peculiares de vida. El Estado les proveerá gratuitamente de estas tierras, las cuales serán ine...
Del patrimonio cultural Se arbitrarán los medios necesarios para la conservación, el rescate y la restauración de los objetos, documentos y espacios de valor histórico, arqueológico, paleontológico, artístico o científico, así como de sus respectivos entornos físicos, que hacen parte de...
De los latifundios improductivos Con el objeto de eliminar progresivamente los latifundios improductivos, la ley atenderá a la aptitud natural de las tierras, a las necesidades del sector de población vinculado con la agricultura y a las previsiones aconsejables para el desarrollo equil...
De la estructura política y la administrativa A los efectos de la estructuración política y administrativa del Estado, el territorio nacional se divide en departamentos, municipios y distritos, los cuales, dentro de los límites de esta Constitución y de las leyes, gozan de autonomía pol...
De los departamentos y municipios La creación, la fusión o la modificación de los departamentos y sus capitales, los municipios y los distritos, en sus casos, serán determinadas por la ley, atendiendo a las condiciones socioeconómicas, demográficas, ecológicas, culturales e históricas d...
De las regiones Los departamentos podrán agruparse en regiones, para el mejor desarrollo de sus respectivas comunidades. Su constitución y su funcionamiento serán regulados por la ley. ...
De la igualdad de derechos del hombre y de la mujer El hombre y la mujer tienen iguales derechos civiles, políticos, sociales, económicos y culturales. El Estado promoverá las condiciones y creará los mecanismos adecuados para que la igualdad sea real y efectiva, allanando los obstáculo...
De la propiedad privada Se garantiza la propiedad privada, cuyo contenido y límites serán establecidos por la ley, atendiendo a su función económica y social, a fin de hacerla accesible para todos. La propiedad privada es inviolable. ...
Formulating Institution
Ministry of Urbanism, Housing and Habitat (MUVH)
Proceso de elaboración
The National Urbanism, Housing and Habitat Policy of Paraguay is the result of a process of updating and adapting Resolution No. 1750 of July 25, 2018, which approved the National Housing and Habitat Policy of Paraguay, in order to align it with the provisions of Law No. 6152/18, “Which Creates the Ministry of Urbanism, Housing and Habitat (MUVH) and Establishes Its Organic Charter.” It is the product of an extensive and broadly participatory analytical process carried out through the National Habitat Committee, an intersectoral convergence body created by Presidential Decree to serve as a consultative and advisory entity to the institution. (Page 2)
With the support of UN-Habitat, through the project Strengthening the Capacities of National and Local Governments to Formulate and Implement Participatory and Evidence-Based Housing Policies and Strategies, a Technical Assistance agreement was established to align Paraguay’s National Housing and Habitat Policy (PNUVH) with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the New Urban Agenda (NUA), and the National Development Plan 2030 (PND). Institutionally, a working team was formed to coordinate the necessary adjustments to the policy instrument, with validation provided by the National Habitat Committee as a platform bringing together public and private stakeholders linked to urban and housing issues. The policy was then submitted to the Executive Branch for its approval as the National Urbanism, Housing and Habitat Policy of Paraguay (PNUVH), through the corresponding decree. (Page 6)
Executing Body
Ministry of Urbanism, Housing and Habitat (MUVH)
Main Challenge
While housing production is increasing, one of the key challenges to be addressed is the lack of planning and insufficient attention to the urban development demands of cities in Paraguay. (Page 18)
According to data from the 2020 Permanent Household Survey, the total national housing deficit was estimated at 1,152,215 housing solutions. With regard to the quantitative deficit, the total estimated demand for new housing is around 73,421 units. (…) In urban areas, the demand for new housing in 2020 amounted to 60,541 dwellings. (Page 18)
The country’s contemporary urbanization process displays notable characteristics, including low-density urban expansion and a lack of land-use planning and management. This has encouraged the development of housing complexes in locations with limited access to basic and general services, as well as to urban infrastructure and facilities. (Page 19)
Moreover, land management is one of the major challenges for housing and urban development in Paraguay, including aspects related to urban mobility. There are areas with a limited supply of roads and transport options, and metropolitan areas are served by public transport systems of low quality and deficient spatial and temporal coverage. (Page 20)
Urban Instrument
Through the MUVH, efforts will be made to ensure that all sectoral plans related to the development of urbanism, housing, and habitat incorporate actions aligned with the axes, strategic objectives, and lines of action established in this Policy. (Page 26)
This National Policy will lead to the formulation of a National Urbanism, Housing and Habitat Plan, which will operationalize the actions necessary to guarantee the exercise of the right to adequate housing, in accordance with the guidelines recommended in relevant international instruments. Together with the Institutional Strategic Plan, these instruments will serve as the guiding frameworks for management within each fiscal year. (Page 42)
Main Objective of the Urban Dimension
- Sustainable urban–territorial planning, management, and development with social cohesion
- Access to adequate housing for all (addressing both quantitative and qualitative housing deficits and promoting secure land tenure)
- Economic and financial mechanisms to implement housing, urbanism, and habitat projects
Operational Instrument
This National Policy will lead to the formulation of a National Urbanism, Housing and Habitat Plan, which will operationalize the actions necessary to guarantee the exercise of the right to adequate housing, in line with the guidelines recommended in relevant international instruments. Together with the Institutional Strategic Plan, these instruments will serve as the guiding frameworks for management within each fiscal year. (Page 42)
Lines of Action under S.O.1. “Promote Inter-institutional Coordination”: c. Promote the formulation, implementation, and updating of Sustainable Development Plans and Urban and Territorial Planning Plans at the local government level, in coordination with the central government, through the Technical Secretariat for Economic and Social Development Planning, within the framework of the international agreements signed by the country and the current national sectoral plans. (Pages 29–30)
Resilience, Adaptation, and Mitigation Planning
The PNUVH recognizes the need to develop plans, programs, and projects that take into account adaptation to anthropogenic and natural risks, in order to design and deploy new resources and capacities in territories. This approach enables territories to adapt more effectively to the transformation dynamics they may face in the future. In addition, the PNUVH acknowledges the need to apply climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies, as well as disaster risk reduction measures, across all proposed housing solutions and in all cities and communities where interventions take place. (Page 15)
Lines of action of S.O.10 Promote the creation and strengthening of alternative financing mechanisms for housing and habitat development, based on assessments of the needs and demands of the target population: (...) b. Prioritize the creation of financing instruments and the promotion of financial products, in coordination with State entities and private stakeholders working on environmental issues, with the aim of financing projects focused on environmental adaptation and climate change mitigation and adaptation. (Page 39)
Main Objective
The overall objective of the PNUVH is to define the main priorities and strategies for sustainable development and management, based on a comprehensive urban vision, with an emphasis on an inclusive, resilient, efficient, and sustainable housing component, in order to ensure access to adequate housing for all inhabitants of the Republic of Paraguay. (Page 26)
Cross-cutting Principles
Universality; Comprehensiveness; Sustainability; Participation and Transparency; Evaluability; Co-responsibility; Social Function of Property; Territorial Resilience.
Conceptual Approaches
- The human right to adequate housing and habitat
- Housing, urbanism, and habitat as State policies
- The participatory approach of the National Urbanism, Housing and Habitat Policy
- Equality of opportunities
- Housing and habitat production as drivers of the economy and mechanisms for national development
- The right to the city and to territory as settings for democratic life in the context of a multicultural country
- Evidence-based public policy grounded in up-to-date information
Strategic Objectives
Thematic Axis: Governance and Institutional Framework
- S.O.1. Promote inter-institutional coordination.
- S.O.2. Foster citizen participation and transparency in planning, implementation, and evaluation processes.
- S.O.3. Strengthen human resource capacities in integrated urban vision and, consequently, in housing implementation.
- S.O.4. Adapt existing legal frameworks and promote new or improved instruments in line with the national context.
Thematic Axis: Planning and Design
- S.O.5. Promote sustainable urban–territorial planning, management, and development with social cohesion.
- S.O.6. Promote the development of a comprehensive and integrated information system for the design and formulation of public policies related to urbanism, housing, and habitat.
- S.O.7. Foster secure land tenure.
- S.O.8. Promote coordinated actions to overcome qualitative and quantitative housing deficits.
Thematic Axis: Economic and Financial
- S.O.9. Promote the optimization of the use of available resources from the State and other sectors to strengthen public investment in the housing sector.
- S.O.10. Promote the creation and strengthening of alternative financing mechanisms for housing and habitat development, based on diagnoses of the needs and demands of target groups.
- S.O.11. Foster increased economic efficiency in the production of housing, urbanism, and habitat.
- S.O.12. Promote territorial development financing options and access to affordable housing.
Gender
The PNUVH proposes encouraging productive inclusion processes aligned with the economic potential and characteristics of the regions and ecoregions defined by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MADES), in order to stimulate the housing and labor markets. This includes promoting professional training and incentives for education—especially for women living in poverty—with the aim of expanding autonomy and income generation, thereby facilitating the reintegration of individuals and families into the formal economy as a long-term socioeconomic strategy. (Page 24)
Technical Instruments
The preparation of the following performance monitoring reports is proposed:
- Semiannual reports;
- Mid-term management reports (two years after the start of each administration);
- End-of-term reports (upon completion of each five-year administration);
- Reports after ten years of Policy implementation (midpoint of the implementation horizon); and
- Reports after twenty years of Policy implementation (end of the implementation horizon).
Periodic evaluations will also be conducted:
- At the end of each administration (after five years in office);
- After ten years of Policy implementation (midpoint of the horizon); and
- After twenty years of Policy implementation (end of the implementation horizon). (Page 43)