[This is a monthly roundup of news articles, and other materials related to urban issues in the region, and beyond. It does not reflect the views of the Cities Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send recommendations for inclusion in the Cities Media Roundup to cities@jadaliyya.com, mentioning “Roundup” in the subject line. We also welcome your submissions to the Cities Page]
Main image source: The city of Chefchaouen, Morocco, by Yotut on Wikipedia (Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic)
Urban Development
Multi-City Urban Development Program in Lebanon Urban Projects Finance Initiative (UPFI) reports on their multi-city urban development program designed to strengthen the resilience of Lebanese cities and empower them to provide Lebanese and refugee populations with the urban infrastructure and services needed for socio-economic development.
National Multi-City Regional and Local Development Program (Phase 2) Urban Projects Finance Initiative (UPFI) reports on their support of Jordanian authorities in the definition and implementation of a second regional and local development program aimed at building capacities and investments in Jordan municipalities.
عواصمنا الجديدة: حديث ما بين "حبر" الأردن و"مدى مصر" Reem Al Masri and Mustafa Mohi report for Mada Masr on the proposals made by the governments of Jordan and Egypt to develop new capital cities as a solution to overcrowding and traffic congestion.
Conflicts and Reconstruction
The Road to Rebuilding Raqqa Mona Alami reports for Al-Monitor on the reconstruction challenges faced by the city of Raqqa, which has been newly liberated from the Islamic State.
L’électricité dans Alep en guerre: un nouveau mode de gestion urbaine? Youssef Diab and Abboud Hajjar report for Métropolitiques on the new modes of production employed by individuals in Syria to remedy the shortcomings of the public sector.
Environmental Issues
Lebanon Needs a Long-Term Waste-Management Strategy Bassam Khawaja reports for Human Rights Watch on the lack of a comprehensive waste management system in Lebanon, and the open dumps which arose in response to the mismanagement.
Water is Scarce in Egypt; So Are Research Funds Tarek Abd El-Galil reports for Al-Fanar Media on the weak public funding for projects in Egypt that address the country’s water-scarcity problems.
Gestion des déchets en Tunisie: la nécessité d’un dialogue parmi les acteurs Chiara Loschi reports for 15-38 Méditerranée on the gap between local NGOs and public authorities in addressing pollution and waste in Djerba, South Tunisia.
Au Maroc, les marchands de sable dépouillent les plages Ghalia Kadiri reports for Le Monde on the social and environmental impacts of the rising demand for sand in the construction sector.
Au Maroc, Chefchaouen, la ville bleue qui se veut verte Atlas Info reports on the Moroccan town Chefchaouen, which is on its path to becoming an ecological and sustainable city.
Everyday Life
A New Generation of Protests in Morocco? How Hirak al-Rif Endures Arab Reform Initiative reports on the accumulated frustration in northern Morocco towards the authorities’ security approach and lack of prospects for a political solution after a year of protests.
Grimshaw-Designed Botanic Gardens in Oman will become the World’s Largest Ecological Oasis Isabel Narea reports for Designboom on the design of the eco-park project in Oman, which will celebrate and conserve the country’s botanic diversity, and house education and research facilities.
AUB Walks the Talk in Jeanne d’Arc Street The Municipality of Beirut collaborates with the American University of Beirut to improve the design of Jeanne D’arc Street, in a project to create more accessible and pedestrian-friendly sidewalks in Lebanon.
Beyond the Spectacle: An Urban Assessment of Louvre Abu Dhabi Yasser Elsheshtawy critically examines the Louvre Abu Dhabi museum, and its relationship with the city which surrounds it in a report for Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington.
Yalla Bus, The App Making Public Transportation Accessible in Lebanon Celine Bteish conducts an interview with the co-founder of the ‘Yalla Bus’ application, which was created to encourage the use of public transportation, and facilitate the average commuter in Lebanon.
12 Important Films About Refugees Deutsche Welle lists 12 films that artistically document and portray the global phenomenon of refugee flows.
Essaouira se refait une beauté Stéphanie Jacob reports for L’Economiste on the reconstruction of the former Jewish district of Essaouira, Morocco, which was recently reopened to the public.
Resources
New Report: The Role of Informal Systems in Urban Sustainability and Resilience The Issam Fares Institute, in partnership with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung conduct a research project that explores informality in the urban systems of transportation, water and wastewater, energy, solid waste management, and the use of public space.
New Report: Water, Crisis and Conflict in MENA: How Can Water Service Providers Improve their Resilience? The International Institute for Environment and Development analyses the responses of local water service providers and other actors towards continuing the supply of water during conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa region.
Policy Brief: Electricity Facts 2017/2018 | Price Hikes Continue Yahia Shawkat examines the effects of the increases in electricity prices on poor and middle-income households in Egypt, and recommends the introduction of transparency and restructuring of financial management within the electricity sector in a report for The Built Environment Observatory.
Recently on Jadaliyya
The Waste Crisis and Urban Fabric in Beirut Eric Verdeil critically examines the waste management crisis in Lebanon, and the strong civic mobilization it gave rise to.
Reflecting on Multiple Fragmentations in a City of Men Zahra Ali poetically narrates her trip to Baghdad, shedding light on the social, political and economic divisions that were prevalent in her everyday observation and experience of the capital’s public and outdoor spaces.
تقرير: خمسون عامًا على احتلال القدس الشرقية: سياسات القضم والإبعاد والتهويد تتواصل Abd El Raouf Arnaout reflects on the failure of Judaization policies in East Jerusalem, as the Palestinian population continues to grow fifty years after the occupation.