News in 2025
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The Joint UNECE, FIG, and World Bank Conference—titled “Build Back Better the Self-Made Cities in Europe”—was convened in Athens, Greece, from 18 to 22 June 2025. At the invitation of Professor Chryssy A Potsiou (FIG Honorary President) and Nikos Zacharias, President of EGoS, FIG President Diane Dumashie attended along with FIG VP Michalis Kalogiannakis.
This conference is an important milestone in the ongoing efforts to address the formalization of informal constructions, enhancement of geospatial ecosystems, and advancement of robust land tools and policies across Europe.
The event was spearheaded by UNECE and the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG), with critical support from the Hellenic Ministry of Environment and Energy and the Hellenic Ministry of Digital Governance.
The focus was to promote international best practices for the formalization of informal constructions, the improvement of geospatial data ecosystems, and the development of innovative land administration tools. Additionally, the event sought to reinforce partnerships among key European and international organizations and professionals who shape the future of urban land policy. Importantly this conference was planned and organised within the Work Plan of FIG Commission WG 9.4 jointly with UNECE WPLA.
Accordingly, the conference organisation was a collaboration that included the UNECE Working Party on Land Administration (WPLA), Real Estate Market Advisory Group (REM), European Group of Surveyors (EGoS), FIG Commission 3 (Spatial Information Management), FIG Commission 9 (Valuation and Management of Real Estate), the World Bank, and the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA).
Organisation representatives left to right: Paul Prettitore (World Bank), D Dumashie (FIG), Chryssy Potsiou (NTUA, Vice Chair UNECE WPLA and Cahir FIG WG 9.4) Maike Salize (WPLA), Prof Paloma Taltavull de la Paz (Chair REM)
This international forum forms a continuation of the vital research and policy work initiated by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and the International Federation of Surveyors in 2007. The focus is on informal construction and the progressive formalization of self-made cities—urban environments that have developed rapidly beyond the reach of traditional cadastral systems and planning regulations.
Self-made cities often comprise a complex mixture of formal and informal developments. Their challenges include a lack of clear property titling, insufficient compliance with building regulations, and numerous socio-economic issues such as limited access to services, increased exposure to disaster risks, unregistered residents, and incomplete cadastral and geospatial records. Frequently, these areas foster informal property markets and contribute to an unregulated economy, thereby complicating their integration into broader urban and national strategies for sustainable development.
The conference also contributed to the ongoing work of the FIG Working Group 9.4, which is dedicated to increasing transparency and resilience in self-made cities through the formalization of informal development and the systematic improvement of geospatial ecosystems.
Spanning five days, the conference was organised across multiple venues. The primary sessions and technical workshops were held at the School of Rural, Surveying and Geoinformatics Engineering (NTUA), complemented by a full day of high-level proceedings at the Ministry of Digital Government. The final two days featured study tours on the Island of Santorini, providing delegates with direct exposure to real-world urban development scenarios and challenges.
The proceedings opened with addresses from distinguished academic leaders, including Prof. Ioannis Chatzigeorgiou, Rector of NTUA, and Prof. Maria Tsakiri, Dean of the School of Rural, Surveying & Geoinformatics Engineering. Both speakers emphasized the critical role of integrating Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into educational and research agendas for the ultimate benefit of society. Their remarks directly echoed the current FIG Vision (2023–2026), rooted in the UN Agenda 2030.
Further, Pilar Verdejo Garcia (WPLA Chair) and Maike Salize (Secretary, UNECE WPLA) provided a comprehensive background on the activities and strategic importance of the WPLA, highlighting its board membership—which includes notable professionals such as FIG’s former commission chair Hartmut Mueller—and its significant contributions through webinars and publications, al of which have direct relevance to the FIG community.
Maike Salize (Secretary, UNECE WPLA)
A particular focus was placed on two recent UNECE publications: the original Informal settlement guidelines (2007*) and the 2019 COVID-19 Recovery Action Plan*. The latter was the subject of a FIG conference paper (2022), co-authored by Steven Nystrom (USA). These documents underscore the urgency of addressing informal settlements in Europe, where over 50 million people in 20 UNECE member states reside in such areas. Housing affordability remains a pressing concern, particularly in large, prosperous urban centres in Southern and Eastern Europe, where rising costs have outpaced household incomes.
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| UNECE Guidelines relevant to Informal constructions | COVID-19 Recovery Action Plan for Informal Settlements in the ECE Region |
Paul Prettitore from the World Bank (Europe and Central Asia region) outlined the Bank’s strategic approach to land administration in Europe region, underlining the essential role of professional networks in operationalizing effective land governance and management.
Nikos Zacharias, President of EGoS, affirmed the relevance of EGoS’s work plan to the conference’s objectives, further reinforcing the value of strong institutional partnerships.
FIG President Diane Dumashie delivered a keynote on the profession’s contribution to “Building Back Better” in alignment with the FIG Work Plan. She stressed the need to bridge the gap between policy and practical implementation, maintaining public trust through adherence to high ethical standards, and to keep our professional curiosity alive to continuously build our capacity that in turn is essential for sustainable land management.
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| Peter Ache Chair (FIG C9/ DVW) | Hartmut Muller (Board ENECE WPLA) |
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| Enrico Rispoli (FIG Foundation Director, CNG) | Grazyna Wiejak-Roy (UWE) |
FIG Commissions 3 and 9 shaped the technical programme, linking commission work plans to the conference themes. Notable contributors included Hartmut Muller (on behalf of Chair Sagi Dalyot) and Peter Ache, focusing on SDGs and transparency in property markets, respectively.
In addition, there was good participation from the students and young surveyors, from both the university but also beyond. This made the opening remarks and presentation from Enrico Rispoli Director FIG Foundation particularly impactful as he outlined the remarkable support over the years that the FIG Foundation has given to Young Surveyors’ to enable them to engage.
The Young surveyor thread was picked up again later in the conference when Grazyna Wiejak-Roy (uwe.ac.uk) announced the new Aubery Barker Fund research grant, supporting young graduates from developing countries in Africa and Asia to address land access and affordable housing challenges. Applications are due by 1 September 2025 (GMT). See: ABF-UrbanKickstart - Aubrey Barker Fund
The opening session concluded by Prof Chryssy Potsiou, (NTUA, WPLA Vice Chair), setting out the reason why the conference on informal construction has been convened. The rationale, is that “We are here to discuss and search for fit for purpose solutions to Build back better” and importantly that the communities of FIG and UNECE can continue to progress this agenda, specifically through the joint FIG/ UNECE Working Group 9, as it will continue the research on Improving the Self-Made Cities & Informal Settlements in the UNECE region.
Ministries Plenary held at the at the Ministry of Digital Government: Chair C Potsiou and Rapporteur D Dumashie
Day two of the conference was dedicated to high-level discussions at the Ministry of Digital Government, organized in close cooperation with the Hellenic Ministry of Environment and Energy and the Hellenic Ministry of Digital Governance. The session commenced with formal addresses from several senior Greek officials:
Starting the rest of the day, Prof C Potsiou chaired the high-level plenary session, with Dr D Dumashie as rapporteur. The day included insightful presentations from a range of Hellenic Ministries covering all sections of government. Covering topics such as environment and energy, health, digital governance, economy and finance, development, tourism, climate crisis and civil protection, and social cohesion and family affairs.
A particularly notable initiative discussed was the development of a unified digital database platform, designed to be accessible by all government departments. This platform, set to launch in the coming months, promises to enhance interdepartmental collaboration and ensure that all state officials operate from a consistent data framework.
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| Ministerial conference hall. | Uzbekistan Land Commission Delegates |
On the third day, delegates participated in parallel technical sessions that explored a spectrum of themes, including cultural heritage, geoinformatics, and tourism. FIG chairs, vice-chairs, and chair-elects not only moderated sessions but also shared their expertise, contributing to a rich exchange of knowledge and best practices.
Commision 9 Chair Peter Ache and Chair Elect Malgorzata Renigier-Bilozor presenting.
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| Italian CNG delegates | Speakers at Session 1: Formalization of Informal Settlements: Progress and Challenge Chair D Dumashie (FIG) Rapporteur Paul Prettitore (WB) |
With more than 150 delegates in attendance over three intensive days of knowledge exchange, including 120 presentations by professionals, academics, and government officials, this conference has contributed to collaborative action in land administration, geospatial science, and urban policy.
As the conference 3 days concluded there was a sense that resilience is for Now; it must be embedded in current and future policy frameworks, operational practices, and partnerships. It is recognized that robust governance is only effective when driven by a commitment to societal benefit and sustained public trust. The conference’s developed a mantra, “It cannot be business as usual,” captured the spirit of innovation and urgency that permeated all sessions—from opening remarks and plenaries to technical workshops and high-level briefings.
Looking forward, the joint FIG/UNECE Working Group that will continue to advance research and policy development for improving the quality and resilience of self-made cities and informal settlements throughout the UNECE region.
The proceedings and papers will be available for further reference and will serve as a valuable resource for ongoing and future initiatives.
Diane A Dumashie FIG President, July 2025
Further reading:
Conference Program and
flyer
Diane Dumashie Opening presentatation
UNECE PUBLICATIONS:
FIG Paper presented 2022: COVID-19 Recovery Action Plan for Informal Settlements in the ECE Region Goals, Targets and Actions (11654) Authors: STEVEN NYSTROM (USA), CHRYSSY POTSIOU (Greece), RIK WOUTERS (Netherlands) and AMIE FIGUEIREDO (Switzerland),
