CITY STRATEGIES & GOVERNANCE
Saida Urban Sustainable Development Strategy
Through USUDS and following the methodology designed by MedCities, the city of Saida launched a process of modernization and development while assuring the preservation of its historical identity.
Tags: City strategies and governance, Mediterranean cities, Lebanon
Challenges addressed
- Lack of strategic urban planning documents in a majority of Mediterranean cities.
- Lack of consensus among local public and private actors regarding the strategic objectives of the city.
- Lack of skills within municipal structures for the elaboration and implementation of City Development Strategies
Main objectives
The project’s overall objective was to promote sustainable development and social cohesion in Mediterranean cities through the elaboration of new City Development Strategies and the creation of a network of cities interested in building and implementing sustainable urban development strategies.
- Create 3 new City Development Strategies, of which the city of Saida was one.
- Disseminate the concept of City Development Strategies among Mediterranean Cities through the creation of 3 Knowledge Transfer Centers.
- Reinforce cooperation between cities to strengthen their medium and long-term management capabilities.
- Support Saida in the implementation of its City Development Strategy through the short term implementation of projects.
Facts
Project type European Territorial Cooperation Project, under ENPI CBC Med.
Promoter
MedCities
The Metropolitan Area of Barcelona
Partners
Municipality of Saida
Hariri Foundation
Urban Community Al Fayhaa in the capacity of MedCities Knowledge Transfer Centre.
Beneficiaries
Municipal technical staff and political representatives, other public and private local stakeholders, citizens of Saida.
Start date 2011 – 2014
Project description
The Urban Sustainable Development Strategy of Saida city was conceived not as a project but as a process that has been implemented in the city in order to provide a holistic approach to development in all projects and priorities set at the city level. The project has transformed the role of the Municipality of Saida by putting it in the center of the city’s development process and making it a central actor for local sustainable development.
Through USUDS, the city of Saida launched a process of modernization and development while assuring the preservation of its historical identity. The USUDS process was adopted by the Municipality of Saida to enhance transparency and accountability within the community through the effective participatory approach used in all phases of the project.
That participatory approach was key to building the ownership of the CDS by all inhabitants in Saida, thus ensuring the sustainability and implementation of the strategy through a shared vision and institutionalized dialogue. Saida was able to identify the cross-cutting issues that underpin its sustainable development through a diagnostic report. It was also able to set its vision, mission and strategic framework for the future, which included 26 strategic objectives, an action plan of 27 projects, and a system of indicators derived from both a scientific basis and effective community participation.
Impact and results
- A thorough, cross-cutting diagnostic report of the situation of the city and a strategic framework with 26 objectives.
- The identification of 27 strategic projects for implementation.
- The development of a new culture of stakeholder participation.
- The engagement of young people in the strategic planning process through the participation campaign ‘Let’s Imagine Saida.
- The implementation of 2 small-scale strategic projects focusing on the promotion of traditional hand crafts in the Old City and the urban planning of Wastani Area, respectively.
Reference images & videos
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