According to documentation of the UN Global Urban Observatory (http://www.urbanobservatory.org/indicators/ ) "The purpose of the Urban Indicators Programme is to build national and local capacity to collect and use policy-oriented indicators as part of a strategy for the development of sustainable human settlements… How we anticipate, recognize, measure and interpret urban problems and how we respond to them in policy will determine the overall sustainability of human development." In addition to broad national and urban indictors, the geographical distribution of urban indicators within human settlements and their immediate environs is an essential component of the measurement and assessment of urban quality and for the evaluation of the effects of policy.

In response to the request for proposals, West Virginia University proposed a project in co-operation with UCGIS and the HUD Office of Policy Development and Research that has the following long-term objectives:

1. Gain knowledge on the state of urban quality within Beira, Mozambique, which can be used to evaluate existing urban conditions and monitor change.

2. Establish a quantitative baseline of spatial data within a geographic information system (GIS), grounded on the UN Urban Indicators Programme, that can be used by a variety of stakeholders to evaluate the effectiveness of policies and programs intended to improve socially and economically distressed communities, increase homeownership, and reduce homelessness.

3. Transfer expertise in evaluating urban indicators using spatial analytical techniques and GIS from West Virginia University (WVU) to the Catholic University of Mozambique (UCM). The transfer of knowledge will be through web-based training programs.

4. Assist in developing and evaluating policies and programs that are intended to improve the quality of life.

The selected study city, Beira (Province of Sofala), is already enrolled in the UN urban indicators project. A GIS has been installed at CIDDI-UCM which has the necessary infrastructure, offices, and means of communications, qualified staff and students.

Four primary goals were identified in the original project proposal:

Goal 1: Baseline indicator data are identified and acquired; a database is designed, implemented, and managed.

Goal 2: Methods for estimating disaggregated indicators are designed and evaluated

Goal 3: A long-term, web-based GIS training and education program with disaggregated indicators is developed and implemented for students and professionals.

Goal 4: A business plan is set up to make CIDDI-GIS an indicator service center and to disseminate web-based instruction from WVU and UCM.

These goals have been achieved in year one.