Berlin University of Technology School VI Planning - Building - Environment Department of Architecture

Ain Shams University Faculty of Engineering Department of Urban Planning and Design

The New Urban Revolution in Greater Cairo

Summer School from September 30th to October 9th 2011

- CALL FOR APPLICATIONS -

West Asia North Africa Cooperation Unit

WANACU

Abstract
The current transformation process in the Arab world and particularly in Egypt is intensely related to a growing demand for public participation in political decision making processes. On the level of urban development and especially in the field of regeneration of informal settlements, the participation of residents is a new experiment challenging the involved stakeholders and institutions. On an international scale, the academic debate and practical examples shows a rich variety of models and best practices of residents participation in urban planning and neighborhood revitalization, which might provide valuable input and lessons learned to be critically reflected in this current phase of transformation. Therefore, the Berlin University of Technology (TU Berlin) together with its Egyptian partner, Ain Shams University, will facilitate a Summer School entitled as New Urban Revolution in Greater Cairo sponsored by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) in early October 2011 for 25 Egyptian students from different related fields of study. Local and international experts from academic and practical fields will introduce concepts of participatory regeneration, on the basis of which intense exchange will take place during interdisciplinary thematic workshops. Finally, a community action planning activity will be conceptualized and practically carried out in one particular neighborhood of Greater Cairo involving local residents in the planning of their community. The results of this community workshop will be then presented to the involved stakeholders and institutions.

Background
According to the United Nations, over half the global population currently live in cities. Rapid urbanization trends are generating complex problems with significant detrimental effects for cities and well beyond. Most urban population growth in developing countries occurs in slums and low quality housing areas that lack basic services. The urbanization rate in Egypt increased from 38% in 1960 to more than 42.6% by 1996. Today, Egypts population has doubled since 1960. The population of Greater Cairo is currently estimated to comprise around 20 million inhabitants, which represents almost one quarter of Egypts 82 million inhabitants and almost half of the countrys urban population. Housing constitutes a critical problem in Greater Cairo. The government, in response to extreme population growth in Cairo during the 1960s, adopted a low cost housing strategy. However, urban expansion, which was primarily led by the private sector without regard to state building laws, concurrently resulted in the rapid growth of informal areas. According to the census of 2006, it is estimated that about 65% of the Greater Cairo population (10.5 out of 16.2 Million inhabitants officially counted) live in informal settlements and the growth rate in these areas is substantially higher than the citys average. Such informal areas respond to housing demands of the growing population of Greater Cairo, however they suffer dangerous building conditions and often lack public infrastructure and services. Dealing with the problems and potentials in these areas in order to integrate them into the city with a clear focus on sustainable regeneration is a major task for the public sector. The practical realisation of such a goal requires collaboration of all stakeholders from public institutions, private sector and civil society. Especially, the involvement of community organizations and active participation of inhabitants is crucial. However, this is not the case in urban upgrading and regeneration in Egypt today. The revolution in Egypt has clearly shown that Egyptians demand their due share of involvement in political processes and decision-making. Urban regeneration is a field highly interwoven with politics. Problems in urban politics accurately reflect the general problems that have afflicted Egyptian politics, which include: insufficient expenditure directed towards the urban poor, unilateral and unbalanced policies, inadequate governance, corruption, inappropriate regulation, centralized and hierarchical structures and an overall lack of public participation and democracy.

Reacting to this dire political condition, the Egyptian people demanded democracy and rights which led to the Egyptian revolution and has resulted in a transformation phase which is still ongoing. The mass uprising, which is inspiring other MENA countries such as Yemen, Bahrain and Syria, raised expectations of society for substantial changes in the political system. This also includes a radical transformation of urban politics. Hence, the Egyptian Revolution should also be recognized as a New Urban Revolution. In view of Cairos critical housing issues and new opportunities for participatory regeneration of informal areas within this transformation phase, WANACU (West Asia North Africa Cooperation Unit) and the Habitat Unit of Berlin University of Technology (TU Berlin) in collaboration with its Egyptian partner, the Department of Urban Planning and Design (DUPAD) of Ain Shams University, are hosting a Summer School Program in Cairo. The Habitat Unit is a teaching and research unit at the School for Planning Building and Environment (School VI) of the TU Berlin. Its activities focus on development-related and socio-cultural issues of architecture and urbanization. WANACU is a special unit at TU Berlin to support activities in the above-mentioned fields in the MENA region. The Department of Urban Planning and Design (DUPAD) of Ain Shams University branches from the Department of Architectural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering. DUPAD offers specialized courses in Urban Planning and Design and multidisciplinary Postgraduate studies and has been involved in various international academic and research projects. The Summer School will be sponsored by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

Summer School: Topic and Objective

The overall objective of the Summer School The New Urban Revolution in Greater Cairo is to develop and support necessary capacities and qualification for active stakeholder participation in urban politics in Egypt. The Summer School shall address issues related to the urban regeneration of existing informal areas in Greater Cairo. Following the uprising against the government and demand for participation and collaboration, this Summer School is seeking to develop the knowledge and skills of selected Egyptian students as future experts and urban managers in this transition phase.

This goal shall be reached by several topical elements of the Summer School: Exploration of the academic debate and assessment of international practical experience in the field of urban regeneration with particular emphasis on stakeholder participation and good governance; Raising awareness regarding problems of informal settlement in Cairo and Egypt, as well as the necessity for sustainable and participatory urban regeneration; Provision of theoretical knowledge about state-of-the-art concepts and strategies; Practicing of communication, participation and management skills and practical application of knowledge in development of strategies. Implementation of a participatory planning process within one informal area in Greater Cairo (through Community Action Planning) Relevant sub-topics in this context comprise: technical infrastructure, transportation and communication, social infrastructure, waste and resource management, social segregation, gentrification, employment creation, public participation, upgrading, design of architecture, urban structures and open spaces, integrated planning instruments and institutions.

Organization and Course of Event

The Summer School will be carried out in three phases during a 10-day stay in Cairo from September 30th to October 9th 2011. Each phase is conceptualized applying appropriate methods with gradual increase of interaction and integration. Experts (professors, university teachers) from Germany and Egypt will instruct and supervise participants throughout the working program. PHASE 1: INTRODUCING CONCEPTS FOR URBAN REGENERATION: In order to create a common understanding among the participants and lay the ground for group work and discussions throughout the Summer School, the topic of urban regeneration as well as state-of-the-art concepts will be generally introduced by experts at the beginning of the workshop. A special emphasis will be put on models and instruments of stakeholder participation in planning processes. PHASE 2: UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGES: Key aspects of urban regeneration will be investigated in a selected informal settlement of Greater Cairo in working groups that focus on 1) Ur-

ban Economics, 2) Governance and Participation, 3) Physical Improvement and Infrastructure and 4) Social Development. Each working group will do rapid field analysis in order to assess the current situation of their respective topic in the particular area. This will then be discussed and reflected by each group with each individual participant providing inputs from their field of expertise and share experiences. The outcome of the four groups will then be presented to and discussed in a plenary session followed by a feedback session of the external experts. This provides a basis for participants to understand the area for community action planning throughout the next phase. PHASE 3: PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Based on the inputs of phase 1 and 2, participants will jointly design a strategy and a process of participatory planning (Community Action Planning) focused on urban regeneration in a particular informal area of Greater Cairo. This process will be practically implemented in the area together with residents. The results will be assessed and will finally be presented to the stakeholders involved (resident groups, neighborhood organizations, private sector representatives, public authorities etc.) A variety of didactic methods will be applied throughout the different phases of the Summer School in order to facilitate knowledge transfer, exchange of experiences and practical application. There will be a continuous increase of interaction between participants. Starting with the provision of inputs from experts during the first phase, the workshops of the second phase will demand a substantial increase of the level of interaction though group discussions and self-guided group work. During phase 3 participants will take over a substantial share of responsibilities as they will design an implement the community planning process by themselves demanding highest mode of interaction and active participation. The concepts developed will be published as a report and disseminated to all involved stakeholders and other appropriate institutions.

Eligibility for Participation

The Summer School is open for 25 Egyptian students in relevant fields such as architecture, urban planning, urban design, landscape planning, economics, infrastructural engineering, social and political sciences (graduate and under graduate). An active contribution throughout the Summer School is expected by each participant. Fulltime participation during the whole event is compulsory. Certificates of participation will only be

issued if these requirements are met. If you wish to participate in the Summer School The New Urban Revolution in Greater Cairo, you are requested to apply by sending the following documents until Monday, August 8th 2011: Curriculum Vitae; Letter of Intent (not more than 1000 words) including your motivation for participation, the relevance of your profession for the topics dealt with during the Summer School as well as a paragraph on what you expect to contribute with.

Arrangements
The organizers will provide transport from the workshop venue to the field. Participants are expected to arrange for accommodation and transport to the workshop venue themselves. The participants will be selected based on the quality of their submitted contribution according to the above-mentioned criteria and the proficiency in English. The participants will be informed about the jurys decision by 25th August 2011. Please send your documents for application by email to: nur_2011@wanacu.tu-berlin.de Contact: Tooska Mosavat, Daniel Karsch, Hassan El-Mouelhi WANACU (West Asia North Africa Cooperation Unit) School VI: Planning - Building - Environment Technische Universitaet Berlin Sekr. CAR-B2, Carnotstr. 1a, 10587 Berlin, Germany Tel.: +49 (0)30 / 314-78521 Fax: +49 (0)30 / 314-78520 Dr. Mohamed A. Salheen Ain Shams University; Faculty of Engineering Urban Planning and Design Department Internet: http://www.wanacu.tu-berlin.de/menue/summer_school_2011 Facebook Profile: The New Urban Revolution in Greater Cairo