“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 (Irbīl), Iraq. The project goals included analysis of the UN Sustainable Development Goals for 2030.

Documents include sections of Preliminary, Interim and Final report documentation, 2015-2018:

  • 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 on Iraq’s Governorate “clusters”: Southern Cluster, Pilgrimage Cluster, and Central Cluster.
  • A final report 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 (Al-Anbar, Babil, Baghdad, Basra, Dhi Qar, Diyala, Duhok, Erbil, Karbala, Kirkuk, Maysan, Muthanna, Najaf, Ninawa, Al-Qādisiyyah, Salah Al-Din, Sulaymaniyah, and Wasit)
Reports:

Preliminary Reports:
NUS for Iraq Governorates: UN Habitat Role in the Local Area Development Programme II (Presentation, December 2015)


NUS for Iraq Governorates: GDP Computation (Report, Technical Brief, April 2016)


NUS for Iraq Governorates: GDP Computation (Presentation, Technical Brief, April 2016)


NUS for Iraq Governorates: National Urban Strategy Outline, I2UD (Presentation, June 2016)





Presentations Parts 1-5:

NUS for Iraq Governorates: Part 1, “Participatory Planning Platform,
Demographic Projections, Economic Analysis” (July 2016)



NUS for Iraq Governorates: Part 2, “Infrastructure Systems and Resource Management – Conceptual Approach” (July 2016)


NUS for Iraq Governorates: Part 2 Methodology (Presentation, January 2016)


NUS for Iraq Governorates: Part 3 Project Platform (Presentation, March 2016)


NUS for Iraq Governorates: Part 4 GDP Calculation Methodology (Presentation)


NUS for Iraq Governorates: Part 5 Role of Local Authorities (Presentation)





Interim Reports:

NUS for Iraq Governorates: Developing a National Urban Strategy (Presentation, October 2016)


NUS for Iraq Governorates: Progress Update on Assessment of Governorate Plans (Presentation, October 2016)


NUS for Iraq Governorates: Indicator Technical Brief (November 2016)


NUS for Iraq Governorates: Presentation to UN Working Group (February 2017)





Cluster Reports:

NUS for Iraq Governorates: Southern Cluster (Report, March 2017)


NUS for Iraq Governorates: Southern Cluster (Presentation, March 2017)


NUS for Iraq Governorates: Pilgrimage Cluster (Presentation, August 2017)


NUS for Iraq Governorates: Pilgrimage Cluster (Report, November 2017)


NUS for Iraq Governorates: Central Cluster (Presentation, November 2017)





Final Report

NUS for Iraq Governorates: (Final Presentation, March 2018)

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

Related I2UD Projects

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

“The Development and Morphology of Informal Housing,” Research Paper, Published with Aga Khan Award for Architecture Seminar Proceedings, Dr. Mona Serageldin, 1988.

Design Studio 1984: “The Revitalization of a Traditional Urban Quarter” for the Medieval Darb al Ahmar District, Cairo, Egypt, Seminar Curriculum

“Best Practices and Local Leadership Programme,” Review of International Urban Development Projects, for the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (UN-Habitat), 1995

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

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

“Comprehensive Plan for Makkah, Madinah and Mashaer,” Urban Development Strategy for Ancient Holy Sites in Saudi Arabia, 2009

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

“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

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

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,” Dr. Mona Serageldin

“Inclusive Cities and Access to Land, Housing, and Services in Developing Countries,” Urban Development Series: Knowledge Papers, February 2016, No. 22. World Bank’s Social, Urban, Rural & Resilience Global Practice, 2016

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

“Migration, Remittances and Housing in Sub-Saharan Africa,” Study on Senegal, Kenya, and South Africa, with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), 2007-2008

“Migration, Remittances and the Empowerment of Women in Central America and the Andean Region,” for PROMESHA, Lund University, 2007-2008

“Habitat III Regional Report for the Arab Region,” for UN-Habitat (ROAS) and United Nations (ESCWA), 2015-2016

“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

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

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

“Inclusive Cities and Access to Land, Housing, and Services in Developing Countries,” Urban Development Series: Knowledge Papers, February 2016, No. 22. World Bank’s Social, Urban, Rural & Resilience Global Practice, 2016

“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

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

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

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

“Comprehensive Plan for Makkah, Madinah and Mashaer,” Urban Development Strategy for Ancient Holy Sites in Saudi Arabia, 2009

Executive Training Course 2006: “Strategic Planning for Sustainable Infrastructure Development,” Workshop Curriculum with Case Studies, Pretoria, South Africa, 2006

“Development Corridors and Urban Development Strategies” and “Slum Improvement Strategies and Social Inclusion,” Presentations by Dr. Mona Serageldin, 11th United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, São Paulo, Brazil, 2004

“Migratory Flows, Poverty and Social Inclusion in Latin America,” Research Report by Dr. Mona Serageldin with Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), 2004

“Community-Based Urbanization and Favelas Rehabilitation Processes,” Case Study in Academy Editions, “The Architecture of Empowerment: People, Shelter and Livable Cities,” for Fortaleza, Brazil, 1997

“Review of Ongoing USAID Shelter Sector Activities in Morocco,” Report by Dr. Mona Serageldin with ICMA, TSS Inc. for USAID/Morocco Office of Housing and Urban Programs, 1992-1998

Design Studio 1989: “Rabat’s Urban Fringe,” Urbanization Analysis of Rabat, Morocco – Seminar Curriculum

Design Studio 1988: “Urban Infrastructure Planning and Programing in Developing Countries,” Chapters 1-7, Seminar Curriculum

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“Local Authority-Driven Interventions to Improve the Lives of Slum Dwellers,” Dr. Mona Serageldin for UN Millennium Task Force 8, on “Improving the Lives of Slum Dwellers,” 2003

Abstract

In October 2003, Dr. Mona Serageldin participated on “Task Force 8,” a working group for the United Nations Millennium Project, directed by Professor Jeffrey Sachs Special Advisor to the UN Secretary General.

The Task Force 8 sought to recommend strategies to achieve the defined Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), adopted by world leaders at the UN Millennium Summit in September 2004. MGGs were targets to reduce global poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation, and gender discrimination for populations around the world.

Dr. Serageldin and CUDS authors prepared an assessment of 50 best practices worldwide as a background paper for the Task Force 8. Their paper highlighted the key features underlying their success, namely, partnerships, strategic priorities, multi-sectoral action plans, and focused on programs targeting vulnerable populations and marginalized “informal settlements,” here also termed “slums.”

Documents include the October 2003 Report, Goal Indicators, a case study on the Tsiganes in Greece, and a presentation titled “Partnerships and Targeted Programs.”

See also, the UN-HABITAT Mandate for the Millennium Development Project initiative, which includes a guide section on “The Do’s and Don’ts of Slum Upgrading.”


[Excerpt: Report, October 2003, 1. Executive Summary – Overview, p. 5]

1.1 Overview

“This background paper is based on an extensive review of local authority-driven initiatives that managed to improve the lives of slum dwellers. The review discusses the growing role of local authorities with reference to the institutional context conditioning government action. The imbalances created by asymmetrical decentralization of powers, responsibilities and resources is a cross cutting theme prompting local authorities to seek strategic partners for their initiatives. The conceptual framework used to define the range of locally driven initiatives that can improve the lives of slum dwellers underscores their breadth and diversity. The review focuses on process, strategy and action, and how these were shaped by the nature of the challenges that local authorities had to cope with and the partnerships they managed to structure in order to access resources, engage poor communities, reach marginalized populations and address vulnerable groups.”

“The performance of these institutional frameworks and decision making processes are assessed with reference to the difficulties encountered and results achieved. The selected initiatives presented in the different sections of the paper are grouped under headings highlighting recent trends and pointing to future directions. The paper focuses on initiatives implemented during the past decade in different economic, social, political and cultural settings. Emerging trends with regard to processes, strategies, and actions highlight the expanding scope of partnerships and the emphasis on empowerment and social inclusion.”

Project Year:2003
Project Type:Research Paper
Geographic Regions:Weihai, China (Conference Location) / Sofades, Greece (Case Study)
Reports:



Authors:Mona Serageldin; Elda Solloso; Luis Valenzuela; Peter Stathopoulos (Athens Technological Institute)
Sponsors:UN-Habitat Millennium Development Goals Task Force 8 on Improving the Lives of Slum Dwellers
Categories:Informal Settlements and Urban Upgrading
  
ID:2003_10_001

Related I2UD Projects

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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:Dr. Wally N’Dow, Secretary General of UN-Habitat; François Vigier;
Sponsors:United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (UN-Habitat);
Categories:Evaluations and Assessments;
  
ID:1995_00_007

Related I2UD Projects

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

“The Development and Morphology of Informal Housing,” Research Paper, Published with Aga Khan Award for Architecture Seminar Proceedings, Dr. Mona Serageldin, 1988.

Design Studio 1984: “The Revitalization of a Traditional Urban Quarter” for the Medieval Darb al Ahmar District, Cairo, Egypt, Seminar Curriculum

“Best Practices and Local Leadership Programme,” Review of International Urban Development Projects, for the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (UN-Habitat), 1995

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

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

“Comprehensive Plan for Makkah, Madinah and Mashaer,” Urban Development Strategy for Ancient Holy Sites in Saudi Arabia, 2009

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

“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

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

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,” Dr. Mona Serageldin

“Inclusive Cities and Access to Land, Housing, and Services in Developing Countries,” Urban Development Series: Knowledge Papers, February 2016, No. 22. World Bank’s Social, Urban, Rural & Resilience Global Practice, 2016

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