The virtual launch event of the Connective Cities network in MENA was held on the 15th June 2021. The launch event aimed at showcasing the accomplishments and pave the way for the growth of the network, as it brought together a diverse range of stakeholders including representatives of municipalities in MENA, regional city associations and development agencies.
The launch event was held as a virtual session in which more than 70 local urban practitioners have participated, representing 40 municipalities and six countries from the MENA in addition to Germany. Below is an overview of the program and content:
The event was commenced with opening remarks and keynote speeches from Mr. Bouraoui Limam (ambassador of Tunisia in Lebanon) and Prof. Dr. Nouha Ghoussaini, (Lebanese University and Former Mayor of Baakline & Former President of the Federation of Chouf Souayjani Municipalities). This was followed with a video display showcasing the accomplishments and activities of the network including partnerships between municipalities, followed by a video display of Connective Cities achievements in MENA. The highlights of this part were the statements of support the network in MENA has received, in terms of its impact on human capacity development, as well as ensuring the creation of dynamics for partnership, networking, communication and cooperation of administrative decentralizations. The network’s significant role in supporting municipalities was highlighted regarding promoting inclusiveness and citizen’s right in the city, as well as the ambitious commitments to achieve local economic development and climate-resilient cities.
Furthermore, the participants have praised the involvement of both rural and urban areas in the network, and addressed the importance of gender balance, as it is key to promoting women’s engagement in local governance.
In the second part of the event, a roundtable discussion with diverse range of stakeholders including representatives of regional city associations and development agencies was held, namely: UCLG-MEWA, the Center for Mediterranean Integration, the Democracy Reporting International, the Association of Palestinian Local Authorities, the UNDP bureau for Arab states and the Hague academy for local governance. The discussion tackled the following topics:
In the third part, representatives from MENA have worked in 3 working groups to participate in developing the network’s charter, membership, objectives, and action plan. The groups mainly discussed: Mission & vision, roles & responsibilities, objectives, resources, and visibility of the network.
In the fourth part, Mr. Rami Kanaan (Founder of Accumapping, GIS expert in Hazmieh Municipality) presented a cross-cutting issue: Digital municipality pitch in Hazmieh, which was proposed as an activity for the network members interested in digitalising their municipal services.
At the end, the roadmap of the network activities till the end of the year has been presented, followed by an announcement of Connective Cities Day (29th October) and the Loyalty Award to committed members.
The launch event has revealed the impact of Connective Cities newly established network in the MENA region. With a significant potential for growth, Connective Cities will pursue further cooperation with regional urban development actors and city associations to ensure the sustainability and compatibility of the network’s activities.