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Keynote for City Debates 2015, American University of Beirut: “The Dynamics of Neighborhood Transformation: Long Term Trends and Immediate Responses to Turmoil and Civil Unrest,” Mona Serageldin

Abstract

Mona Serageldin prepared the keynote presentation “The Dynamics of Neighborhood Transformation Long Term Trends and Immediate Responses to Turmoil and Civil Unrest” for the 2015 City Debates program on Other Gentrifications: Urban Change Beyond the Core at the American University of Beirut.

The Keynote speech and presentation by Serageldin examine the impact of spatial segregation and social exclusion on gentrification in the Mashreq countries of Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestine, and Jordan. Documents include presentation slides and transcript.


[Excerpt: Key Note text, Dr. Mona Serageldin, Page 1]

“Gentrification, within or outside the urban core, conjures images of forced displacement, eviction and marginalization of poorer segments of society. However, when discussing gentrification it is important to distinguish between spatial segregation and social exclusion and between diversity and social mixity. Each of these concepts involves a different perspective on urban space. Furthermore, except in cases of clearance and redevelopment, changes in the structure and morphology of urban areas, entail longer term processes which start slowly, accelerate and reach a tipping point. Taking into consideration the time frame often alters perspectives and viewpoints.”

“Social and economic change at the neighborhood level is an inherent component of urban growth. Over time, the regional context has shaped the drivers of transformation processes. Historically, ruling elites eager to display their power, wealth, and status built exclusive precincts outside the urbanized area inhabited by the commoners, a diverse population with a wide range of economic means and social standing including different ethnicities and religions. Later, the desire of colonial expatriate communities to replicate their own living environment introduced a trend towards exclusive suburban extensions. The regulatory controls included in the charters and by laws of the companies which developed these suburbs and the boards running the select amenities tended to collapse from the mid-1960s on as the colonial era came to an end and massive capital infusion in urban real estate altered the dynamics of growth.”

“In labor sending countries, remittance-driven urbanization, formal and informal, sustained by high rates of household formation and pervasive housing shortages, sent land values skyrocketing beyond the affordability of many among the middle classes. It accelerated the proliferation and subsequent densification of informal settlements and sharpened class differentiation within them.”

See related I2UD projects below

Project Year:2015
Project Type:Presentation
Geographic Regions:Beirut, Lebanon (Program Location) / Egypt / Syria / Lebanon / Iraq / Palestine / Jordan
Reports:
Authors:Mona Serageldin; Barbara Summers
Sponsors:American University of Beirut
Categories:Informal Settlements and Urban Upgrading
  
ID:2015_03_001

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Galleries 6-7 – Egypt: Cairo and Helwan, 1986, 1990

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“National Urban Strategy for Governorates in Iraq,” Development Strategy for Phase II of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Iraq Ministry of Planning Local Area Development Programme (LADP II), 2014-2018

Abstract

The 2014-2018 project “National Urban Strategy for Governorates in Iraq” was part of the UN-Habitat’s second phase of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with the Iraq Ministry of Planning Local Area Development Programme (LADP II).

The goal of Iraq’s LADP II project was to increase the capacity for monitoring and coordination between all levels of Iraqi government, with an aim of localizing urban development strategies, sectoral/spatial planning, and structural planning at the Governorate level. These changes would ideally result in improved planning practices, higher budget execution and service delivery for Iraqi communities.

To facilitate the achievement of these goals, an I2UD team prepared a 5-part presentation for the Workshop on Strategic Urban Development Framework held from February-March 2016 in Erbil, Iraq. The project goals included analysis of the UN Sustainable Development Goals for 2030.

Documents include sections of preliminary, interim, and final reports from 2015 through 2018:

  • A summary presentation of the UN Habitat role in the Local Area Development Programme II project, followed by a GDP Computation Report and Presentation, and I2UD’s proposal for a National Urban Strategy Outline.
  • Parts 1-5 of the main Project elements: Participatory Planning Platform, Demographic Projections, Economic Analysis, Infrastructure Systems and Resource Management.
  • Interim reports, ending with a presentation to the UN Working Group from February 2017: “Presentation to the UN Working Group on Decentralisation and Service Delivery.”
  • Presentations and reports on Iraq’s Governorate “clusters”: Southern Cluster, Pilgrimage Cluster, and Central Cluster.
  • A final presentation from March 2018.

See related I2UD projects below

Project Year:2014-2018
Project Type:Development Strategy
Geographic Regions:Erbil, Southern Kurdistan, Iraq (Workshop Location) / Iraq Governorates
Reports:
Preliminary Reports:

Presentations Parts 1-5:

Interim Reports:

Cluster Reports:
Authors:Mona Serageldin; Daniel Tsai; Tarek Waly; Alejandra Mortarini; Saad Mahdi; Johann Friedl; Barbara Summers; Anna Soave; Bozhan Hawizy; Rania Kamel; Erfan Ali
Sponsors:UN Habitat; United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); European Union Local Area Development Programme (LADP-EU)
Categories:Urban Planning
  
ID:2014_11_001

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“World Migration Report,” Background Papers on Displacement, Migration and Resettlement in MENA (Middle East and North Africa), International Organization for Migration, 2014

Abstract

In 2014, an I2UD research team produced a set of background research materials for the International Organization for Migration’s 2015 “World Migration Report,” addressing issues of displacement, migration and resettlement in the Middle East and North African (MENA) geographic region. In the Background Paper, the MENA region is further delineated as the Mashreq, Maghreb, Gulf Cooperation Council, and Southern Tier regions.

I2UD staff prepared of a series of case studies and facilitation of training course for Iraqi officials, discussing durable shelter solutions for internal displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees in Iraq, Syria, Spain, Italy, Sudan, and Yemen. The project aimed to: support local authority’s capacity to deal with migration patterns, review shelter needs for refugees, address reforms and challenges for accommodating migrants, and offer support for returnees.

Documents include a MENA Background Paper and a corresponding outline and work plan from 2014. Supporting materials include a display of “Project Statistics and Refugee Camps” in the region, a “Provincial Action Plan” for Van, Turkey, and an outline of “Durable Housing Solutions and Livelihoods for Georgian IDPs.”

Project Year:2014
Project Type:Research Paper
Geographic Regions:Middle East and North Africa / Van, Turkey / Georgia / France / Spain / Italy / Germany / United Kingdom
Reports:
Authors:Mona Serageldin; François Vigier; Maren Larsen; Barbara Summers; Sheelah Gobar
Sponsors:International Organization for Migration (IOM)
Categories:Reconciliation and Development
  
ID:2014_09_001

Related I2UD Projects

Gallery 1: Algeria: Algiers (1987-1988)

Gallery 3: Bahrain: Manama and Muharraq (1980s)

Galleries 6-7: Egypt: Cairo and Helwan (1986, 1990)

Gallery 14: Turkey: Tarsus, Adana, Mersin, Iskenderun, Istanbul, and Batikent (1987)

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UN-Habitat Spatial Regional Plan and Assessment for the Kurdistan-Iraq Region Housing Program, 2014

Abstract

In 2014, I2UD provided an analysis and overview of the Kurdistan Iraq-Region Housing Program, which proposed an investment into meeting the housing needs of lower-income households in three Iraqi governorates. Documents include a Synthesis Paper and presentation on capability enhancement solutions for refugees in Baghdad, Iraq, and case studies on housing programs in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Georgia for a workshop for the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat). Additional materials include training program notes, presentations on spatial regional planning, preliminary assessments and case studies.

See related I2UD projects below

Project Year:2014
Project Type:Local Development Strategy
Geographic Regions:Southern Kurdistan, Iraq (also Baghdad, Iraq; Bosnia and Herzegovina; and Georgia)
Reports:
Authors:Mona Serageldin; François Vigier; Daniel Tsai; Sheelah Gobar; Maren Larsen; Barbara Summers; Warren Hagist
Sponsors:United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (UN-Habitat)
Categories:Informal Settlements and Urban Upgrading
  
ID:2014_06_001

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“Economy of Historic Preservation” in Erbil, Kurdistan, Report for Strengthening Urban & Regional Planning (SURP), UN-Habitat, 2014

Abstract

Mona Serageldin directed a report series titled “Economy of Historic Preservation” in 2014, in collaboration with the Ministry of Municipalities and Tourism (MOMT) and the Iraqi-Kurdistan Erbil Governorate. The project fulfilled a UN-Habitat program “Strengthening Urban and Regional Planning” (SURP), with support from François Vigier and Barbara Summers.

The report examines the interrelationship of cultural heritage preservation and urban development, in light of globalization, urbanization shifts, and technological innovation. The analysis aligned with the SURP program goals, which support the capacity of officials in Erbil, the capital city of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, to stimulate financing for local infrastructure, and promote land value capture and community participatory processes.

Documents include the main report in two sections, an outline, slides for the full presentation, and supporting presentations with photographs. Case studies cover cultural heritage sites in the Medina of Tunis, Tunisia; Icheri Sheher in Baku, Azerbaijan; and in Quito, Ecuador.

See also: “National Urban Strategy for Governorates in Iraq,” Development Strategy for Phase II of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Iraq Ministry of Planning Local Area Development Programme (LADP II), 2014-2018 (Project ID: 2014_11_001)

See related I2UD projects below

Project Year:2014
Project Type:Capacity Building Project
Geographic Regions:Erbil, Southern Kurdistan, Iraq (also Medina of Tunis, Tunisia; Icherisheher, Baku, Azerbaijan; and Quito, Ecuador)
Reports:

Authors:Mona Serageldin; François Vigier; Barbara Summers; David C. Jones
Sponsors:United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (UN-Habitat)
Categories:Historic Districts
  
ID:2014_06_002

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“Basic Services for an Urbanizing World,” Third Global Report on Local Democracy and Decentralization (GOLD III, UCLG). Chapter on “Middle East and West Asia” by Mona Serageldin, I2UD, 2013

Abstract

In 2013, I2UD prepared a chapter on the Middle East and West Asia (MEWA) region, for the Third Global Report on Democracy and Decentralization (Gold III): “Basic Services for an Urbanizing World.”

I2UD’s Chapter on “Middle East and West Asia,” (p. 59-64) (see below) addressed four components:

  1. Assessing the role of local and regional authorities in the provision of basic local public services;
  2. Determining obstacles to local authority and services;
  3. Exploring best practices underway or in development in the region; and
  4. Proposing recommendations to improve service delivery through the greater involvement of local and regional authorities.

Documents include a complete Gold III Report “Executive Summary,” with the I2UD Chapter on “Middle East and West Asia.” Presentations relate to case studies presented by I2UD on Barcelona and Marseille. The I2UD research team was led by Mona Serageldin, with Sheelah Gobar, Warren Hagist, Carolina Morgan, and François Vigier, also from I2UD, and Ozdemir Somnez from the Istanbul Metropolitan Planning and Urban Design Centre of Turkey.

See related I2UD projects below

Project Year:2013
Project Type:Research Presentations
Geographic Regions:Middle East / Western Asia
Reports:

Supporting Documents and Presentations:
Authors:Mona Serageldin; François Vigier; Sheelah Gobar; Warren Hagist; Carolina Morgan; Ozdemir Somnez
Sponsors:United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG)
Categories:Urban Planning
  
ID:2013_02_001

Related I2UD Projects

Gallery 3: Bahrain: Manama and Muharraq (1980s)

Gallery 14: Turkey: Tarsus, Adana, Mersin, Iskenderun, Istanbul, and Batikent (1987)

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World Bank MNA Urban Action Plan – Policy and Strategy Papers: “The Evolving Regional Urban Agenda: Key Challenges and Opportunities” and “From Spring to Renaissance: Repositioning the Arab Cities,” 2013

Abstract

In 2013, I2UD researchers co-wrote material for the 2013 “World Bank MNA Urban Action Plan,” an urban development policy and strategy plan for the Middle East and North Africa (MNA/MENA) region.

I2UD gave a preliminary presentation in October 2012 at a special meeting of the urban sector team at the World Bank. Team members presented priority issues at the in-person session, and from the field via video conferencing. Inputs and comments were solicited from all MNA colleagues, to enrich urban challenge assessments, and proposals presented in the Urban Action Plan.

Documents include an Executive Summary by Mona Serageldin, a March 2013 presentation titled “The Evolving Regional Urban Agenda: Key Challenges and Opportunities,” and a January 2013 working paper, “From Spring to Renaissance: Repositioning the Arab Cities.” Supporting materials include a statistical annex, country spatial profiles, and a slideshow compendium. The draft paper and PowerPoint slides were forwarded to the whole MNA urban group, for review and commentary.


[Excerpt: October 1st, 2012 MNA Urban Action Plan, Executive Summary by Mona Serageldin.]

“This inception report expands on the four themes presented in the Key Pillars of the MNA urban strategy and identifies the development priorities that must be addressed to implement MNA’s Action Plan. The objective is to raise issues for discussion and solicit inputs and comments from MNA colleagues in order to expand on the assessment of key urban challenges and enrich the proposals to be presented in the action plan. The region is 62% urbanized and has one of the World’s most rapidly expanding populations. By 2030, the region will have experienced a 45% increase of its urban population with over 106 million additional urban inhabitants. Some countries will see their urban populations double between 2030 and 2050: Egypt, Djibouti, Kuwait, Iraq, OPT, Syria and Yemen.”

“A long history of settlement, along the great rivers, smaller watercourses and the main oases, has led to imbalances in the geographical distribution of urban development, income and wealth. These patterns have been reinforced by the focus of colonial governments on the export of commodities and port cities and, in the post-colonial period, by the migration of rural populations caused by the increasing severity of droughts. The development of oil, gas and petrochemical industries has favored the industrial dominance of coastal cities.”

“The region’s urban dynamics and relatively weak institutions, particularly at the local level, have resulted in unplanned and often chaotic urban growth. Few national spatial development strategies have been elaborated and most regional development plans suffer from a lack of coherence among sectoral investments. The sub-national plans that have been prepared are project-driven with a bias towards primary urban centers and locations where real estate development is lucrative. There is an urgent need for the elaboration of national urban development frameworks and the preparation of integrated regional development strategies to guide and structure growth along development corridors and nodes in order to open up opportunities in the hinterland. Coordinated investments in transport and water supply are critical to start alleviating regional disparities.”

See related I2UD projects below

Project Year:2013
Project Type:Policy Papers; Presentations; Urban Action Plan
Geographic Regions:Middle East / North Africa
Reports:
Supporting Materials:
Authors:Mona Serageldin; Sheelah Gobar; Warren Hagist; Carolina Morgan
Sponsors:World Bank
Categories:Reconciliation and Development
  
ID:2013_01_001

Related I2UD Projects

Galleries 6-7 – Egypt: Cairo and Helwan, 1986, 1990

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State of Arab Cities, UN-Habitat Report & Conference, “Challenges of Urban Transition: Municipal Management and Urban Development Conference for Sustainability in Arab States,” 2012

Abstract

In 2012, UN-Habitat launched the first State of Arab Cities report and conference to address urbanization trends and challenges in the four major Arab and Middle Eastern regions: Mashreq, Maghreb, Gulf Cooperation Council, and the Southern Tier Countries (defined below). With Mona Serageldin as team leader, I2UD contributed a significant body of research for the conference, “Challenges of Urban Transition: Municipal Management and Urban Development Conference for Sustainability in Arab States.” The conference was hosted by the UN-Habitat Regional Office for Arab States (ROAS) and the Kuwait Knowledge Development Regional Centre.

The I2UD team compiled urban housing and demographic data for nations in Maghreb and Mashreq. The I2UD team reviewed 180 documents for each region, covering topics such as the following:

  • “Population and Urbanization;”
  • “Growing Role of Economic Cities;”
  • “Urban Development and Housing Conditions;”
  • “Transportation and Mobility;”
  • “Urban Environmental Challenges;”
  • “Urban Governance Systems;”
  • “Transnational Migration;” and
  • “Emerging Urban Issues and Innovations.”

Documents include I2UD’s inception report, progress report, a I2UD board meeting presentation on the project, and a conference presentation (from the “Municipal Management and Urban Development Conference for Sustainability in Arab States,” from Kuwait, May 2012). The final report for the 2012 UN-Habitat State of Arab Cities lays out urban development and migration issues in the Middle East and North Africa, including I2UD’s contributions. Additional materials include data on regional food and water security, energy security, and air pollution.

Maghreb includes Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia; Mashreq includes Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria; the Gulf Cooperation Council includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates; the Southern Tier includes Comoros, Djibouti, Mauritania, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

Excerpts, Final Report, “State of Arab Cities,” December 2012
Project Year:2010-2012
Project Type:Regional Report
Geographic Regions:Middle East / North Africa
Reports:
Authors:François Vigier; Mona Serageldin; María-Luisa Fernández; Kendra Leith; Linda Shi
Sponsors:UN-Habitat Regional Office for Arab States (ROAS)
Categories:Urban Planning
  
ID:2010_07_001

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Design Studio 1984: “Design, Technology and Logistics for Large Housing Projects,” in Algeria, India, Iraq, Malaysia, Mali and Singapore, Seminar Curriculum

Abstract

The 1984 Design Studio, “Design, Technology and Logistics for Large Housing Projects” was held by the Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology from July 23-27, 1984.

Documents include a workshop schedule and summary, a bibliography, a table of contents with list of guest speakers, and background documents on Algeria, India, Iraq, Malaysia, Mali, and Singapore.



[Excerpt: 1984 Design Studio: Workshop Schedule and Summary, p7-8]

Note: See page 7-8 for full Workshop Topic Summaries:

1) Making Large-scale Housing Livable
2) Building Technologies for the Future
3) Alternative Approaches in Low-Cost Housing
4) Implementation and Management Strategies

Project Year:1984
Project Type:Urban Design Studio
Geographic Regions:Algeria / India / Iraq / Malaysia / Mali / Singapore
Reports:
Authors:François Vigier; Mona Serageldin
Sponsors:Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture
Categories:Design Studios; Education
ID:1984_07_001

Related I2UD Projects

Gallery 1: Algeria: Algiers (1987-1988)

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Design Studio 1981: “Housing Design in Islamic Cultures” in Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iraq, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia, Seminar Curriculum

Abstract

The 1981 Design Studio, “Housing Design in Islamic Cultures,” was held jointly by the Unit for Housing and Urbanization at the Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design and the MIT Laboratory of Architecture and Planning in August 1981.

Documents include a program syllabus, an essay on “Determinants of Housing Design” by Professor Vigier, an essay on the “Role of the Public Sector” by Ismail Serageldin, and a bibliography on “Housing and Housing Design in the Muslim World” by Aga Khan/MIT librarian Richard Dewey.

Supporting materials include background papers on M’Sila, Algeria; Dhaka, Bangladesh; El Mounira Imbaba, Egypt; Iraq National Context; Karachi, Pakistan; Yanbu Industrial City, Saudi Arabia; and Indonesia.

See related I2UD projects below

Project Year:1981
Project Type:Urban Design Studio
Geographic Regions:Dhaka, Bangladesh / Karachi, Pakistan / Yanbu Industrial City, Saudi Arabia / Iraq / Egypt / M’Sila, Algeria / Indonesia
Reports:
—
—
National Urban Context Background Papers:
Authors:Mona Serageldin; François Vigier; Ismail Serageldin; Assia Khellaf; Altaf Mulla; Aminul Haq Khan; Nadia Al Hasani; Akhtar Badshah; Isam Alimam; Javed Sultan; Mohamed El-Sioufi; Richard H. Dewey
Sponsors:Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture
Categories:Design Studios; Education
  
ID:1981_08_001

Related I2UD Projects


Gallery 1: Algeria: Algiers (1987-1988)

Galleries 6-7: Egypt: Cairo and Helwan (1986, 1990)