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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:
GOLD III Report: Basic Services for All in an Urbanizing World (Executive Summary)

Excerpt: I2UD Chapter on “Middle East and West Asia,” (p. 59-64)


Supporting Documents and Presentations:
GOLD III Report: Middle East and West Asia (I2UD Final Draft, June 2013)

GOLD III Report: (Recommendations)

GOLD III Report: Middle East and West Asia (Barcelona Overview and Conclusions Presentation, July 2013)

GOLD III Report: Middle East and West Asia (Barcelona Presentation, July 2013)

GOLD III Report: Middle East and West Asia (Barcelona Presentation, January 2013)

GOLD III Report: Mediterranean Authorities Forum, Marseille (Presentation, April 2013)
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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Seminar on “Protecting Cultural and Natural Heritage in the Western Hemisphere: Lessons from the Past, Looking to the Future,” World Cultural Heritage Convention 30th Anniversary, Conference Materials, 2002

Abstract

The CUDS seminar “Protecting Heritage of Western Hemisphere” was organized as part of the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the World Cultural Heritage Convention, held at Harvard University in December 2002.

The seminar brought together international policy makers, public officials, practitioners, and academics involved in the protection and management of national and cultural heritage sites.

Documents include a substantial list of conference materials, including lecture presentations by guest speakers, memos, conference addresses by participant transcripts of individual panel contributions and a conference booklet containing a schedule and list of participants.


[Excerpt: CUDS Internal Memo, Francois Vigier, June 2002, p. 1]

“Open to the general public, the Seminar [was] attended by senior officials of UNESCO, the World Heritage Center, The World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the Organization of American States and bring together policy makers, public officials, practitioners and academics involved in the protection and management of natural, archeological and urban cultural heritage sites in the Western Hemisphere.

“Key participants include[d] international organizations and foundations, bilateral and international development agencies and representatives of the major institutions and foundations active in promoting the conservation of the natural and cultural heritage in multiple regions:

Ecuador — Peru National Park — Colombia — Venezuela — Upper Amazon (Peru and Brazil) — Cuna language regions (Central Panama) — Galapagos Islands

“The objective of the Seminar [was] to review past and present experiences. An open discussion of the economic, social and managerial issues in the designation, conservation and use of cultural sites [addressed]:

▪ Disseminate cutting-edge approaches;
▪ Allow an exchange of successful practices; and
▪ Help the participants address emerging challenges in the preservation of the natural and manmade cultural heritage.”

Project Year:2002
Project Type:Conference
Geographic Regions:Cambridge, Massachusetts, US (Seminar Location) / Latin America / United States
Reports:
Authors:Francesco Bandarin; Mounir Bouchenaki; Orestes del Castillo; Francesco di Castri; Belia Contreras; Maureen Finnerty; Silvana Giaimo; Pamela W. Hawkes; Maria-Valeria Junho Pena; Roberto L. Klabin; Vincent J. Lujan; Claudio C. Maretti;Colonel James G. May; David Maybury-Lewis; William Moss; Bernie Perley; Eduardo Rojas; Peter Rowe; Ismail Serageldin; Bradford H. Sewell; Anthony Stocks; François Vigier
Sponsors:Center for Urban Development Studies, Harvard University Graduate School of Design; United States Committee of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (US-ICOMOS); UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Categories:Evaluations and Assessments
  
ID:2002_12_001

Related I2UD Projects

Gallery 4 – Chile: Santiago, Concepción, and Talcahuano, 1992-1993

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“Review of the South African Government’s Grant-Funded Municipal Infrastructure Programs,” Technical Reports on Nine South African Provinces, 1998-1999

Abstract

In 1998, the Unit for Housing and Urbanization reviewed the effectiveness of the South African Government’s grant-funded Municipal Infrastructure Program. The project involved field visits and detailed reports on economic conditions and progress on “Nine Noteworthy Projects” in South Africa’s provinces:

  • Klapmuts, Western Cape
  • Middledrift, Eastern Cape
  • Atteridgeville, Gauteng
  • Mhluzi, Mpumalanga
  • Itsoseng, North West
  • Ndaleni, KwaZulu-Natal
  • Cornelia, Free State
  • Naboomspruit/Mookgophong, Limpopo
  • Ritchie, Northern Cape

Documents include a letter of interest, draft contract, an inception report, multiple intermediate reports, and various supporting reports, data and maps, and presentation notes. The Unit also developed a workshop in 1999 based on this study.

See related I2UD projects below

Project Year:1998-1999
Project Type:Technical Assistance
Geographic Regions:South Africa
Reports:
Authors:Mona Serageldin; David Cook; John Driscoll; David C. Jones
Sponsors:World Bank; Development Bank of Southern Africa
Categories:Evaluations and Assessments
  
ID:1998_08_001

Related I2UD Projects


“Review of the South African Government’s Grant-Funded Municipal Infrastructure Programs,” 1998-1999

2001 Best Practices Leadership Programme: “Development of Infrastructure and Initiating of Sustainable Projects in Elim,” Western Cape, South Africa

“Township Development Strategy for Emfuleni Municipality,” Sedibeng, Gauteng, South Africa, 2009

“Technical Assistance to Ladysmith/Emnambithi Local Municipality,” South Africa, 2010

“Technical Assistance to Lesedi Local Municipality,” Gauteng Province, South Africa, 2011

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Habitat II Conference Research Papers: “Cities of the Global South” – “Leadership and Best Practices”- “Tenure Rights and Development Control,” Istanbul, Turkey, June 1996

Abstract

In June 1996, Dr. Mona Serageldin, representing the Unit for Housing and Urbanization, presented research papers for the United Nation’s Habitat II Conference, in Istanbul, Turkey. Documents here include three papers presented by Mona Serageldin:

1. “Cities of the Global South,” for a dialogue on Land Policy and Rural Urban Linkages.

2. “Leadership and Best Practices,” for a panel on Governance and Best Practices.

3. “Tenure Rights and Development Control,” for a forum on Building Housing to Feel at Home.

Panels were sponsored by the Urban Management Program (established by UN-Habitat, World Bank, and UNDP), the Institute of Public Administration (New York), and the Center for the Global South at American University (Washington, D.C). An additional document, “GSD Participation,” summarizes the Unit’s overall representation at the conference, through affiliates’ presentations and awards given to municipalities where the Unit had been previously involved.


[Excerpt: “GSD Participation,” with Summary of CUDS at the Habitat II Conference]:

“Habitat II was the largest global conference on urban issues since 1976, when Habitat I was held in Vancouver. It attracted over 20,000 participants who debated critical issues, discussed the policy agenda and set directions for the coming decades…

“At the United Nations’ Habitat II Conference held in Istanbul June 3-14, 1996, two cities with whom the Unit for Housing and Urbanization at the GSD has worked over the past few years received Global Best Practices Awards for “excellence in improving the living environment.” They are Lublin, Poland, the Adjame district in Abidjan, Cote d’lvoire. The Unit also organized a special training program for a third recipient, the ANHI housing agency of Morocco.

“Nicolas You, coordinator for Best Practices and Local Leadership Program at Habitat explained that the object of the Awards is to highlight particularly successful actions that improve the human environment. The secretary general of the United Nations, Dr. Boutros – Ghali, presented the awards to the recipients in plenary session.”

“Secretary General of Habitat, Dr. Wally N’Dow stated: “The collection and dissemination of Best Practices will be an important and lasting heritage of Habitat II.” The Initiative will establish a database accessible on the Internet and a video library documenting these outstanding experiences in order to encourage transfer of knowledge, experience, and expertise. The Unit will participate in this interactive mode of exchange of ideas and learning.”

“Mona Serageldin, Professor of Urban Planning and Associate Director of the Unit participated on panels discussing “Best Practices and Good Govemance,” “Cities in the South, Preparing for the Next Millennium,” “Building Capacity for Better Cities,” and “The Dialogue on Land Policy.”

See related I2UD projects below

Project Year:1996
Project Type:Conference
Geographic Regions:Istanbul, Turkey (Conference Location)
Reports:
Habitat II Conference: Cities of the Global South (Mona Serageldin, June 1996)

Habitat II Conference: Leadership and Best Practices (Mona Serageldin, June 1996)

Habitat II Conference: Tenure Rights and Development Controls (Mona Serageldin, June 1996)

Habitat II Conference: GSD Participation (June 1996)
Authors:Mona Serageldin
Sponsors:UN-Habitat; Center for the Global South, American University; Institute of Public Administration (New York); World Bank; United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Categories:Evaluations and Assessments
  
ID:1996_06_001
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“Best Practices and Local Leadership Programme,” Review of International Urban Development Projects, for the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (UN-Habitat), 1995

Abstract

In 1995, the Unit participated in the “Best Practices and Local Leadership Programme” by the the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (UN-Habitat). In addition to 28 national profiles, documents include a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ between the Unit and Habitat agency, and Best Practices guidelines for pre-screening cases. See an Excerpt from the Memorandum below.

The Programme highlighted international urban development projects as candidates for the UN’s Best Practices database. Documents address human settlement case studies in twelve nations: India, Australia, Austria, Kenya, Egypt, Argentina, Norway, Venezuela, Angola, Greece, Scotland, Philippines, Brazil, Germany, Turkey, and South Africa.

The Unit evaluated 28 city programs, following UN-Habitat’s programme goals:

  1. To develop and maintain a knowledge base on best practices in improving the living environment including their corresponding sources of knowledge, experience and expertise;
  2. To promote the dissemination, sharing and exchange of lessons learned from the above-mentioned best practices and others by and amongst all key groups of actors and stakeholders in the human settlement and development process;
  3. To facilitate the transfer of the knowledge, experience and expertise associated with best practices in improving the living environment through new and improved means of cooperation on a north-north, north-south and south-south basis including decentralized forms of cooperation;
  4. To assist scholars and practitioners in their investigation of innovative approaches to urban development.


[Excerpt, “Guide to Documenting and Learning from Best Practices,” 1996. Introduction, page 6]

“The Best Practices Initiative began as a world-wide search for human settlements success stories. An official part of the preparatory process for The City Summit – the second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) – held in Istanbul, Turkey, in June 1996. Best Practices Initiative generated over 600 submissions from 80 countries by the official deadline. These initiatives are testimonials to human ingenuity in the face of the challenges of an urbanizing world.”

“A two-stage, independent selection process produced a list of 104 Best Practices and highlighted 12 initiatives to receive the Tokyo and Dubai Awards for Excellence in Improving the Living Environment. The twelve Award recipients and many other initiatives were also on display at the Best Practices Exhibition, the largest single-theme exposition ever organised by the United Nations. The enthusiasm and interest generated by the Best Practices Initiative has led to its incorporation as an ongoing programme of UNCHS (Habitat): the Best Practices and Local Leadership Programme (BLP). The BLP will operate as a network of leading capacity-building institutions from around the world. Mandated to support the implementation of the Habitat Agenda – the Global Plan of Action adopted at Habitat II – through the continued sharing and transfer of Best Practices knowledge, experience and expertise, the BLP is launching a second call for submissions, culminating in a second round of Awards for Excellence in Improving the Living Environment in October 1998.”

“The purpose of this guide is to provide a framework for identifying, documenting and learning from BEST PRACTICES. In addition, this guide explains how individuals, groups and organizations can participate in a continuous exchange of know-how, experience and expertise in sustainable human settlements development.”

See related I2UD projects below

Project Year:1995
Project Type:UN-Habitat Best Practices and Local Leadership Programme
Geographic Regions:Tamil Nadu and Delhi, India / New South Wales and Queensland, Australia / Vienna, Austria / Jua Kali Sector, Nairobi and Kisumu, Kenya / Helwan and Cairo, Egypt / Tucumán, Argentina / Oslo Old Town, Norway / Caracas, Venezuela / Sambizanga, Angola / Keramitsa and Perama, Greece / Glasgow, Scotland / Naga, Philippines / Santos, São Paulo, Brazil / Potsdam, Mannheim, and Kiel Mettenhof, Germany / Eryaman and Çankaya, Ankara, Turkey / Nkonkobe (Alice), South Africa
Reports:
Authors:François Vigier
Sponsors:Untied Nations Centre for Human Settlements (UN-Habitat)
Categories:Evaluations and Assessments
  
ID:1995_00_007

Related I2UD Projects

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

Gallery 8 – Kenya: Mombassa and Nairobi, 1987

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

Gallery 16 – Venezuela: Caracas, 1989