Sustainable Urban Development in the MENA Region

Introductory Workshop of Connective Cities' Regional Network

To launch the third phase of the project in the MENA region, Connective Cities brought together representatives of Jordanian municipalities, local municipal councils and the Ministry of Local Administration for an introductory workshop in Amman on 4th December 2019. Donor and international development organizations, academia and civil society organizations were also represented by a number of participants. Besides announcing Phase III of Connective Cities, the workshop aimed at showcasing the outcomes of activities and learning processes from the previous phases as well as discussing urban development challenges and priorities in the MENA region within the thematic focus of Good Urban Governance, Integrated Urban Development, Local Economic Development and Municipal Service Provision.

Programm

The workshop program commenced with a welcome speech from Mr. Hussein Mheidat representing the Ministry of Local Administration. It was followed by a presentation by Connective Cities' regional coordinator in MENA, in which she introduced the methodology of promoting exchange of municipal expertise and mediating between supply of and demand for practical experience. The regional coordinator presented to the audience the identified thematic priorities for learning processes for MENA, which are Conflict Prevention and Urban Safety, Local Economic Development, and Decentralisation. She also highlighted that good practices within these thematic focuses will have to incorporate climate- and gender-sensitive aspects. Furthermore, the regional coordinator highlighted the regional approach adopted in the project's third phase, which will result in the establishment of regional networks for urban practitioners within MENA. This introduction was followed by presentations by representatives of Greater Amman, Juneid and Jerash municipalities in which they discussed examples of good practices developed during the previous phase of Connective Cities.

Agenda 

Results

The second half of the workshop was dedicated to defining the specific thematic scope and setting the scene for future learning processes. Through an Open Space exercise, participants nominated project ideas that they prioritize for implementation within their municipalities. The nominated projects varied: some ideas provided integrated solutions that incorporated economic and environmental aspects while other ideas focused on municipal capacity development support.

Presentations


Keynote

Regional Urban Coordination Instruments for the MENA Cities
Myriam Ababsa, Connective Cities

Perspective on challenges of implementing locally-driven urban development processes
George Hartman, USAID-CITIES

 

Presentation of project ideas developed during the previous phases of Connective Cities

Renovation of Public Family Centre in Amman, Jordan for Energy Efficiency
Dr. Ing . Farah Al Atrash, German Jordanian University

Ecolodge Project by Al-Juneid municipality
Jameel Al-Momani, AL-Juneid municipality

Green infrastructure project
Eng. Wafa  Hawamdeh, Local Development Unit- Jerash municipality

 

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