UNICEF’s Urban Basic Services Programme in Illegal Settlements in Guatemala City

This article describes the Urban Basic Services Programme that UNICEF’s Guatemala Office developed in Guatemala City between 1984 and 1993. Working initially with other NGOs and subsequently with government agencies, the programme developed a variety of community based, community directed initiatives for water, sanitation and drainage, housing improvement, health promotion, health care and child development in the illegal or informal settlements in which close to half of Guatemala City’s population live. The programme included an innovative network of health promoters elected from their own community and new models of community based day care