The Urbanization Knowledge Platform (UKP) for the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA) stems from a partnership between Center for Mediterranean Integration (CMI), the World Bank (WB), and the Arab Urban Development Institute (AUDI). The Platform was officially launched on September 17-18, 2012, during a high-level workshop entitled “Sustainable Development and Inclusive Growth for MENA Cities at the Crossroads” held at CMI.

The event will bring together representatives from national governments, mayors, practitioners, research institutions and academics in the field of urban development from Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia.

About the Urbanization Knowledge Platform

The objective of this Platform is to bring together city mayors, urban practitioners and specialists, and researchers to exchange experiences and viewpoints about priority urban issues, capitalizing on the momentum which has developed within the MENA region, to ultimately harness urban growth for better development outcomes.

The UKP will build on core themes in response to key priorities which have emerged in the MENA region following the Arab revolutions. 

Documents

• Agenda, available in English and French
• Presentation of Workshop sssions in English/French
• Participant list in English/French
• Press Release in English

Conference Agenda

Day 1

SESSION 1 – Welcome remarks: the Challenges of Urbanization for MENA Cities

• Mr. Ahmed Al Salloum, Director, Arab Urban Development Institute
• Mr. Mats Karlsson, Director, Center for Mediterranean Integration
• Mr. Franck Bousquet, Sector Manager, Urban, Social and Disaster Risk Management, The World Bank Group

SESSION 2 – Challenges of Urban Development from the perspective of a National and Local decision makers

• Presentation: Mr. Fathallah Oualalou, Mayor of Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco

SESSION 3 – Urbanization Knowledge Platforms and MENA

• Presentation: Mrs. Nancy Lozano Gracia, Economist, Urban Development Unit, The World Bank Group

SESSION 4 – Panel Discussion 1: Empowering Local Governments Local Governance-Administratively and Technically

• Expert Presentation: Mrs. Maria Camila Uribe Sanchez, Inter American Development Bank (IADB) Representative in Chile
  The promises and the challenges: lessons from Bogotá
   
• Panel Discussion:
  • Mr. Saadani Ali, Deputy Director, Public Local Authorities Direction, Ministry of Interior, Republic of Tunisia
  • Mr. Nejib Abdelmoula, Mayor of Sfax, Republic of Tunisia
  • Mr. Hassan Ghamrawi, Mayor of Beddawi, Lebanese Republic
  • Mr. Mohamed Benchakroun, Advisor to the Mayor of Marrakech, Kingdom of Morocco
  • Dr Khaled Samy, Professor of Urban Planning, Helwan University, Urban Planning Expert, Arab Republic of Egypt

SESSION 5 – Panel Discussion 2: Empowering Local Governments - Financially

• Expert Presentation: Mr. Mateu Hernandez, Director, Economic Development Council of Barcelona, Spain
  Cities as political bodies, competitive assets, and efficient managers.
   
• Panel Discussion:
  • Mr. Ahmed Guesmi, Director, Ministry of Finance, Republic of Tunisia
  • Mr. Angus Gavin, Head of Urban Development Unit, Solidere, Lebanese Republic
  • Mr. Abdelaziz Adidi, Director of National Institute of Architecture and Urban Planning, Kingdom of Morocco
  • Mr. Adel Ben Yekhlef, General Director, Training and Support to Decentralization Center, Republic of Tunisia
  • Mr. Talel Labidi, Finance Department Director, Caisse des Prets et Soutien aux Collectivités Locales, Republic of Tunisia

Day 2

SESSION 1 – Panel Discussion 3: Strengthening Cities for Economic Growth and Service Provision

Expert Presentation:

• Dr. Sungsoo Kim, Research Fellow, Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements (KRIHS)
  Experiences of Urbanization and Urban Policy Issues of Korea
   
• Mr. Kamal Fahmy Salama, Engagement Manager, McKinsey Global Institute
  Building the cities of tomorrow
   
• Panel Discussion:
  • Mr. Mohamed Riadh Lazzem, Mayor of Bizerte, Republic of Tunisia
  • Mr. Nader El Ghazal, President of Urban Community El Fayhaa and Mayor of Tripoli, Lebanese Republic
  • Ms. Dalia El Maraghy, Advisor to the Cairo Governor for Transport and Environment, Arab Republic of Egypt
  • Mr. Rachid Afirat, Director of Heritage, Ministry of Interior, Kingdom of Morocco
  • Dr. Mousbah Rajab, Architect and Urban Planner, Lebanese University, Lebanese Republic
  • Mrs. Henda Gafsi, President of Association of Tunisian Urban Experts, Republic of Tunisia

CLOSING SESSION – UKP and the Way Forward

• Mr. Ahmed Al Salloum, Director, Arab Urban Development Institute
• Mr. Mats Karlsson, Director, Center for Mediterranean Integration
• Mr. Franck Bousquet, Sector Manager, Urban, Social and Disaster Risk Management, The World Bank Group