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Habitat III Regional Report for the Arab Region: Papers on “Inclusive cities,” “Migration and Refugees in Urban Areas,” and “Land Structure, Process, and Outcome,” for UN-Habitat (ROAS) and United Nations (ESCWA), 2015-2016

Abstract

In 2016, the Institute for International Urban Development (I2UD), led by Mona Serageldin and François Vigier, acted as main contributor to a report, “Habitat III Regional Report for the Arab Region,” implemented under the UN-Habitat Regional Office for Arab States (ROAS) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).

Topics include “Inclusive cities,” “Migration and Refugees in Urban Areas,” and “Land Structure, Process, and Outcome.” Documents are a range of preliminary draft materials, expert group meeting materials, and full report. Presentations are from Expert Group Meetings in Beirut and Cairo, and for the May 2017 ICNUP Conference. Two draft issue papers from 2015 were presented at the Habitat III conference in Quito, Ecuador in October 2016.

Project Year:2015
Project Type:Regional Report
Geographic Regions:Beirut, Lebanon and Cairo, Egypt (Meeting Locations) / Quito, Ecuador (Conference Location)
Reports:
Authors:Mona Serageldin; FrançoisVigier; Barbara Summers; Maren Larsen; Johann Friedl
Sponsors:UN-Habitat; United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA); UN-Habitat Regional Office for Arab States (ROAS)
Categories:Climate Change and Resilience Building
  
ID:2015_10_003

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

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“Social Sustainability and Citizen Engagement (SSCE),” Local Project Management for Phase 2 of the World Bank-Austria Urban Partnership Program (UPP) in Southeastern Europe, 2015

Abstract

In 2015, I2UD contributed to Phase 2 of the “Social Sustainability and Citizen Engagement” (SSCE) project. The project built off of the successful approach of the Social Sustainability Audit (SSA) implemented in Phase 1 of the World Bank-Austria Urban Partnership Program (UPP).

Local City Teams worked in Elbasan, Albania; Gjilan, Kosovo; Kumanovo, North Macedonia; Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Karlovac, Croatia; Kolašin and Ulcinj, Montenegro; and Pančevo and Šabac, Serbia, along with researchers from I2UD and the Co-PLAN Institute for Habitat Development, based in Tirana, Albania.

I2UD staff worked closely with Co-PLAN to manage the project and Local City Team partners to undertake the municipal assessments, including developing project methodologies in a participatory way, supporting Local City Teams in undertaking the local research and discussions, analyzing project outputs, and documenting best practices in increasing social accountability. Teams undertook research on the current status of participation, transparency, and feedback in municipal services and governance in each region. Teams held focus group discussions, interviews, participatory scenario development workshops and drafted City Action Plans to implement a catalyst project to enhance social sustainability and increase citizen engagement.

The project sought to increase knowledge and awareness of social accountability among local stakeholders including civil society, government officials, and marginalized urban residents; and to strengthen integrity in public service delivery by increasing the demand for good governance, social accountability, and civic participation in a regional perspective in each city.


[Excerpt: Technical Proposal]

“Phase 1 of this project resulted in detailed, analytical reports of each of the nine cities covering demographic, social, physical, economic, cultural, institutional and political issues….the city teams also identified vulnerable groups to be the focus of the second phase of the assessment. This selection was made on the basis of official information obtained from institutions responsible for the provision of various public services at a local level, findings from research studies made by international and national organizations, as well as other relevant documents (laws, provisions, local development strategies, etc.) and representatives from marginalized and vulnerable communities and NGOS consulted during the inception phase.”

Project Year:2015-2017
Project Type:Technical Assistance
Geographic Regions:Southeast Europe
Reports:
Authors:I2UD: Maren Larsen; Bruce Purdy; Carolina Morgan; John Driscoll; Hans Freidl; François Vigier;
Co-PLAN: Dritan Shutina; Aida Ciro; Elvan Dajko; Ingrid Xhafa;
AIP (Gjilan): Florina Jerliu; Mrinë Godanca;
GONG (Croatia): Maja Horvat; Nives Miošić;
CSD (Kumanovo): Sonja Damchevska;
NALED (Pančevo and Šabac): Ivana Cikik; Maja Todorovic;
ATD (Tuzla): Elma Demir;
MANS (Montenegro): Alexander Maskovic; Vuk Maras
Sponsors:World Bank
Categories:Urban Planning
  
ID:2015_09_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

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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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“National Urban Policies in Arab States,” Regional Assessment and Case Studies on NUPs in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan, 2014

Abstract

I2UD produced a regional assessment report of National Urban Policies (NUPs) in Arab States in 2014, to describe and analyze contextual factors and the evolution of policies in major Arab states. The assessment included five in-depth case studies of NUPs in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan, which reflect the geographical diversity in the area, as well as current policy objectives, opportunities and challenges in implementation for the region.

In a related report from April 2016, Mona Serageldin and François Vigier addressed a broader scope of NUPs, including European and global factors, in a paper titled “National Urban Policies and the Role of Sub-National Governments.”

Case study analysis focused on cross-cutting themes of compact and connected cities, inclusive cities, and climate-resilient cities. The final outputs included these case studies, a regional synthesis report, and a table of country profiles in relation to national urban policies.

Documents include an initial expression of interest, inception report, case studies for each country, final assessments, an executive summary, annexes and methodological notes, and an additional memo on informal settlements in Egypt.

See related I2UD projects below

Project Year:2014
Project Type:Regional Report
Geographic Regions:Egypt / Jordan / Morocco / Saudi Arabia / Sudan
Reports:

Case Studies:
Authors:Mona Serageldin; François Vigier; Maren Larsen; Lucie Charles
Sponsors:United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (UN-Habitat)
Categories:Urban Planning
  
ID:2014_08_001

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

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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

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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

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

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“GCC Regional Spatial Strategy – Elements and Considerations,” Urban Development Plan, UN-Habitat Gulf States Regional Office Workshops, 2013

Abstract

The “GCC Regional Spatial Strategy” is an urban development plan presented by Mona Serageldin, along with I2UD, as part of a series of regional workshops for high-level municipal officials organized by the Gulf States Regional Office of UN-Habitat.

Serageldin authored another report, “Elements and Considerations,” and a presentation the workshops held in Amman, Jordan in June 2013. Workshops discussed challenges and priorities for regional urban development among GCC countries. Topics stressed the importance of national and regional spatial development strategies for individual member countries, and aimed to utilize growth centers and development corridors to achieve better economic and social integration.

Documents include the general planning process framework from October 2010, a regional summary memo, a presentation on “Regional Spatial Strategy Experiences from China and South Africa,” as well as the “Elements and Considerations” paper by Serageldin.

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Project Year:2010-2013
Project Type:Regional Report
Geographic Regions:Gulf Cooperation Council (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates)
Reports:
Authors:Mona Serageldin
Sponsors:UN-Habitat Regional Office for Arab States (ROAS)
Categories:Urban Planning
  
ID:2010_10_001

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

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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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“State of African Cities,” Research for Regional Chapter on North African Cities for UN-Habitat Reports, 2008 and 2010

Abstract

In 2008, a team from I2UD prepared research for regional chapters on Northern Africa for the first UN-Habitat “State of African Cities” report. Topics covered demographics and urban growth, cities as engines of economic growth, urban poverty and housing conditions, environmental challenges in urban areas, and urban governance. Countries addressed in the North Africa regional chapter included Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia, and Sudan.

Documents include I2UD’s North Africa regional report for the 2008 State of African Cities report, as well as two full State of African Cities documents from 2008 and 2010.

Project Year:2008-2010
Project Type:Research Paper
Geographic Regions:North Africa
Reports:
—
Authors:Mona Serageldin; François Vigier; Christa Lee-Chuvala; Erick Guerra
Sponsors:United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (UN-Habitat)
Categories:Urban Planning
  
ID:2008_03_001

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“Urban Strategies for Economic Development: Towards an Agenda for the 90s,” Regional Report and Workshop for Amman, Jordan, 1987

Abstract

A 1987 report, authored by the Unit for Housing and Urbanization and funded by the World Bank, “Urban Strategies for Economic Development: Towards an Agenda for the 90s,” addressed the growth of informal settlements and the lack of adequate housing opportunities for low-income families in Amman, Jordan.

Documents include a Background Report on Amman, Jordan by John Driscoll, a report by Mona Serageldin from September 1989 titled “Infrastructure Financing and Land Development,” and a workshop summary from October 1989.

Excerpt



[Excerpt: “Infrastructure Financing and Land Development,” Context, Mona Serageldin, pp. 1]

“Within a given economic context, the ability of urban areas to stimulate and drive development is determined by the range and quality of their infrastructure. Throughout the 80’s, intractable budget deficits and increasing debt burdens have led to the curtailment of funding for urban infrastructure in all but one of the OECD countries. In developing nations weak urban institutions inherited from colonial times almost collapsed in the face of mounting needs and dwindling resources. The dynamic private sector could neither muster the capital nor the organizational capabilities needed to operate on the scale required for infrastructure development. Throughout the 70’s and BO’S informal developers maximized profits by externalizing the environmental cost of unplanned urbanization; a cost that the public sector is now forced to absorb. Municipalities struggling to simultaneously service building plots and retrofit uncontrolled settlements have been stretching distribution networks without improved trunk capacity. In many cities, overload well in excess of design capacity risks to collapse whole sectors of the system.”

___


[Excerpt: “Introduction, Background Report on The Urban Development Department” of Amman, John Driscoll, pp. 3, 5.]

“According to World Bank studies, 34% of the urban population lives (ca. 1987) in cramped conditions with four or more persons per room in contrast to the national average of 2.6 persons per room. Development standards prescribing a minimum plot size of 250 to 300 sq. meters with high land prices have made it difficult for the moderate income households to obtain serviced land. Rent control has also distorted the housing market and led to the typical situation of substantial key money requirements, a condition which severely affects new families altering the housing market. Urban population growth, estimated at 5%, coupled with the lack of affordable legal alternatives resulted in the growth of informal settlements on the urban periphery. Ninety percent of housing construction is done by the private sector. Public sector construction is distributed between the UDD, the government owned Jordan Housing Cooperation and smaller housing programs.
….
“In 1980, UDPl represented a major change in government policies regarding the provision of low-income housing and basic services for the urban poor. New development standards made housing more affordable for lower-income groups. The process of comprehensive community upgrading of selected informal settlements and the development of new sites-and-services projects employing cost-recovery principles were a departure from past government practices and policies.”

Project Year:1987
Project Type:Regional Report
Geographic Regions:Amman, Jordan
Reports:
Authors:John Driscoll; Mona Serageldin
Sponsors:World Bank
Categories:Reconciliation and Development
  
ID:1987_09_001

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