Posted on

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

Posted on

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

Related I2UD Projects

Posted on

“Development of Infrastructure and Initiating of Sustainable Projects in Elim, South Africa,” Report for the 2001 UN-Habitat Best Practices Leadership Programme for Elim Historic Settlement, Western Cape, South Africa

Abstract

The Center for Urban Development Studies (CUDS) at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design prepared a report “Development of Infrastructure and Initiating of Sustainable Projects in Elim” for submission to the UN-Habitat 2001 Best Practices Local Leadership Programme, based on the upgrading initiative that began in 1995 on the historic settlement of Elim in Western Cape, South Africa.

Primary initiative goals included:

  1. Upgrade the basic town infrastructure and services;
  2. Improve the living standards of the residents;
  3. Improve economic growth within the community;
  4. Preserve the historical character of the village; and
  5. Create employment opportunities, agriculture development, social health and sustainable community development in Elim.

The project assisted in upgrading sewage systems, streets and stormwater systems and the electrical reticulation system. Prior to these upgrades, sewage would flow through the streets and the town reservoir would often dry up in the summer months, causing a shortage of water.

[Excerpt: Summary, page 3]:

See related I2UD projects below

Project Year:2001
Project Type:Development Strategy
Geographic Regions:Elim, Western Cape, South Africa
Reports:Development of Infrastructure and Initiating of Sustainable Projects, Elim, South Africa: (Report, August 2001)
Authors:CUDS Team
Sponsors:United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (UN-Habitat)
Categories:Informal Settlements and Urban Upgrading
  
ID:2001_08_001

Related I2UD Projects

Posted on

“Review of Ongoing USAID Shelter Sector Activities in Morocco,” Report for USAID/Morocco Office of Housing and Urban Programs, 1992-1998

Abstract

In 1992, the Unit for Housing and Urbanization (the Unit) at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design contributed to a USAID/Morocco urban planning report, “Review of Ongoing USAID Shelter Sector Activities in Morocco,” to address challenges of rapid urbanization. These materials present a rich regional profile of public housing and land use in Morocco circa 1991-1992.

The Unit’s contributions from June 1992 presented an economic analysis with financial metrics on urban shelter programs, measuring the impact of two Moroccan agencies: the ANHI Low Income Housing Program and the Tetouan Urban Development Program. Research noted the increased demand for basic services in Morocco’s cities, like water supply and shelter, in connection to widespread unemployment and underemployment for the urban poor. Workshop elements outlined problems and objectives for future urban infrastructure programs, noting where public officials must make decisions to compromise the needs of urban communities with government economic priorities.

Documents include the final report (June 1992), with a summary by Mona Serageldin. Also included is a Phase I Report (January 1998) outlining a strategic planning workshop on supporting the long-term operation of ANHI’s programs, as well as an accompanying document containing documentation, references, and appendices.


[Excerpt: 1.1 Background – “Review of Ongoing USAID Shelter Sector Activities in Morocco” (June 1992)]

“The ongoing USAID shelter sector activities in Morocco were conceptualized in 1985 within a context of accelerating urbanization and massive rural urban migration. The urban programs initiated by USAID focused on priority areas:

— Rationalizing the land delivery process and regularizing informal land development.
— Institutionalizing sound administrative and fiscal practices in infrastructure management and finance and the delivery of urban services.
— Widening the scope of private participation in the shelter sector by increasing the production of affordable building plots and expanding the role of private developers of low cost housing.
— Reinforcing decentralization by strengthening local managerial capabilities and enhancing local revenues.”


[Excerpt: 1.0 Background – Phase I Report: “Strategic Planning Workshop” (January 1998)]

“ANHI is a state enterprise in charge of providing access to safe and sanitary housing for lower income families in Morocco. Its activities include the purchase of land, its subdivision and servicing to resettle squatters and to market affordable housing plots, as well as the upgrading of infrastructure in under-serviced and unserviced informal settlements. ANHI operates under the Ministry of Housing umbrella. It is headquartered in Rabat, Morocco and has nine regional offices throughout the country. Since its creation in 1984, ANHI has produced an average of 10,000 plots per year. ANHI’s land purchases and other investment cost are financed with beneficiary advances, foreign and local borrowing, and auto financing. It has benefited from US AID support through HG loans and grants, including the currently active HG loan of $100 million which allowed ANHI to increase production to 15,000 serviced plots in 1994 and 1995.”

Dersa, Vertical Expansion of Buildings with Ground Floor Micro-Enterprises. See more photo Excerpts, below.

Taza, Low Cost Housing with Commercial Ground Floor

Figure 6-4 City of Taza, Al-Qods 1 Project “Residential Plots, Commercial Lots, Community Facilities, Green Areas”

See related I2UD projects below

Project Year:1992
Project Type:Report
Geographic Regions:Morocco
Reports:
Authors:Samir Kanoun (TSS, Inc.); Mona Serageldin
Sponsors:USAID Office of Housing and Urban Programs; International City/County Management Association (ICMA)
Categories:Informal Settlements and Urban Upgrading
  
ID:1992_00_004

Related I2UD Projects

Posted on

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

Abstract

The Design Studio from Spring 1988, “Urban Infrastructure: Planning and Programming in Developing Countries” was developed by Mona Serageldin, with students and scholars from the Aga Khan Unit for Housing and Urbanization at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design.

The 1988 Design Studio outlined problems and urban infrastructure programs, illustrated by maps, demographics, and case study reports. Curriculum materials give particular attention to support for the urban poor, with case studies on Indonesia, Bahrain, and Zhejiang Province in China. Seven chapters address infrastructure issues in light of rapid urbanization, including unemployment and underemployment in urbanizing countries, and an increased demand for basic needs like water supply and shelter.

A final Design Studio student report on Bahrain, features 99 pages of rich spatial, social, commercial, and architectural overview of historic Muharraq, Bahrain’s third largest city. Section 5.0 features a paper condensed from Arabic, by Tareq Wali, “Traditional Urban Fabric and Architecture,” including a substantial list of tables, maps, and references. Additional sections cover the historical evolution of the district:

  • 5.1: The Development of Muharraq;
  • 5.2: Morphology of the Traditional Urban Fabric & The Organization of Space;
  • 5.3: Commercial Element;
  • 5.4: Residential Elements; and
  • Annex: Notes on Building Materials and Architecture.



[Excerpt, Chapter 6, Paper B, The Urban Operational Perspective. “Introduction to the Course Background,” for “Urban Infrastructure, Planning and Programming in Developing Countries, p. 1.1]

“Virtually without exception in the cities and towns of the developing world, the ability to plan, finance and implement urban development programs and infrastructure programs in particular, is in a state of crisis. Severe deficiencies exist and are growing in nearly all sub-sectors. Explosive population growth, partly through immigration from rural areas and in the cases of the largest cities, natural growth, have placed pressures on city authorities for increased services. For instance, the population of the urban areas in developing countries is likely to grow by 1 billion over the next two decades. Simultaneously with growth to date, the state of existing services has universally deteriorated.”

“At the same time the governments in these countries are trying valiantly to cope with what are prime concerns; large and growing unemployment and under employment, and raised expectations by their peoples of access to minimum basic needs in water supply, shelter, etc. These pressures though countrywide, are visibly focused in the urban areas, and thus influence political, administrative, financial, and economic decisions, not always in a coherent or rational manner.”

“Urbanization involves costs to the public sector which amount to large shares of total public spending. Dense human settlement requires levels of servicing – for health reasons, if no other – which are not as essential elsewhere. Rising incomes increase demands for water, electricity, road space, telephones are similar public services. Expectations for urban amenities and appearances are high, and the costs of providing them are also high. Growth of the larger cities often involves diseconomies of scale – longer pumping distances for water and traveling distances for commuters, for example. In some of the largest metropolitan areas, geographical shape and terrain accentuate the costs of growth: Bangkok, Bombay and Mexico City come to mind. Soaring land prices add to the costs of private and public sector development.”

See related I2UD projects below

Project Year:1988
Project Type:Urban Design Studio
Geographic Regions:Indonesia / Muharraq, Bahrain / Zhejiang Province, China
Reports:
Authors:David B. Cook; Mona Serageldin; Geeta Pradhan; Tarek Waly; Jens Lorentzen; John Kirke; David Gilmore
Sponsors:Unit for Housing and Urbanization, Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Categories:Design Studios; Education
  
ID:1988_00_004

Related I2UD Projects

Gallery 3 – BAHRAIN: Manama and Muharraq, 1980s