Un-Habitat – Usmid Technical Assistance For Territorial And Metropolitan Planning

Based on the problem-what is the purpose of this project?

The project will represent UN-Habitat's contribution to an endeavour that would culminate in a longer – term and more comprehensive advisory service aiming to address the urban planning problems and help Ugandan Government officials to find their own responses for good urban/spatial planning and provide better services within the local authorities. The main purpose is to develop the capacity of selected Ugandan Government Officials to manage sustainable urban development for different scales of cities beyond this initiative and in longer terms, enhance intersectoral and interdepartmental approaches by training them to “think out of the/their box”, jointly work on strategies and concrete projects (where applicable), enhance collaboration with national and international experts and academia and give a long-term support by providing technical advisory services and tools for physical planning.

What specific aspect of the problem is the project addressing?

The project will develop the capacity of both the local government officials from municipalities covered by the USMID program by improving their knowledge and capacity in urban/spatial planning as well as governance and finance aspects (three pronged approach). As USMID is assigned to enhance institutional performance of 14 municipal councils across Uganda, in order to improve their urban service delivery, a more integrated territorial development can be expected as major outcome.

Who and how do target populations benefit directly from the project?

The target groups that stands to benefit most from the project are the urban poor and vulnerable groups both those living in the metropolitan areas and small and secondary cities as well as peri-urban areas as they are mostly affected by poor planning (suffering from congestion, poor access to sanitation, poor housing, informality etc.). Well planned and efficiently managed cities and municipalities that are more socially inclusive and institutionally integrated, compact and better connected and resilient to climate change have proved to influence economic growth. One mayor tool to be used for the capacity building will be the promotion of the International Guidelines for Urban and Territorial Planning. Improved living conditions, enhanced connectivity and land tenure regulations ensure that urbanisation can become an engine for economic development, leading to increased employment opportunities and reduced poverty. An improved economic situation, due to newly developed strategies for boosting the economy not only in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area will also benefit youth due to better employment opportunities throughout the country. In the second phase of the project, trainings and advisory services on physical planning aspects such as beautification and public space will support women and youth in the municipalities. Those trainings will be included a strong gender perspective. During the planning studios, environmental issues such as flooding can be chosen as main issue, based on the need of the respective municipality.

How does the project respond to real needs and high-priorities of the target group?

The Ugandan population needs a balanced economic growth and improved living conditions as well as equal opportunities for all. Among the main challenges are the rapid growth of populations combined with low levels of economic activity due to inadequate physical and human capital plus the insufficient capacity to generate new jobs. The lack of evidence-based and anticipating planning lead to growth of slums and informal settlements, dilapidated housing, and poor sanitation; weak coverage of basic infrastructure services, notably water, energy, and sanitation, which makes it difficult to improve welfare in either urban or rural environments; youth bulge in urban areas; and very high  traffic congestion. 

In consequence, those issues hindered economic growth and employment opportunities; they should be addressed by a well-planned urbanisation, promoting of inclusive and participatory urban planning, management and governance processes, but also by improved coordination among various institutions involved in urban and physical planning and enhanced the capacity of key players to effectively continue building on past achievements. In addition to this, promoting local economic growth and creating job opportunities from infrastructure and urban development projects as well as an improved security situation due to well-planned urban areas (public spaces) will also have a direct impact on women and youth and will support the economic and social development in the 14 communities.

What and how does your project aim to change/solve in regard to the identified problem?

The project is a contribution to enhancing the capacity of Ugandan Government officials in order to provide better urban services in the phase of the up-coming adoption and (in longer terms) implementation of the National Urban Policy geared towards resolving urban planning problems. Main focus of the project is on the support of the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) Program to improve the capacity of local authorities to manage increased urbanisation.  

What are the proposed solutions for the problem and why are they the most appropriate to the problem?

Enhancing the capacity of Ugandan Government Officials on the one hand, and providing improved methods and tools on the other will be achieved through training activities. In addition to this, a participatory and inclusive dialogue among stakeholders (including peer-to-peer learning) will result in a better appreciation of challenges and support finding tailored solutions in collaboration with local academia and the support of the other municipalities covered by the USMID program. After a profound assessment of the capacity needs, the capacity development activities will  include input sessions on planning, finance and governance (based on the three pronged approach), dialogues with international experts and discussions on good (international and Ugandan) practices and case studies as well as exchange visits and field trips to successful projects. One important aspect should be a sound assessment (profiling) and data collection in the municipalities in order to develop evidence based strategies. The collected data will be gender specific. The participatory and intersectoral /interagency team work as well as additional advisory services during the planning studios to plan (and in long term) implement projects and the increased capacity of urban key players will be leading the way forward in managing urban development in the Republic of Uganda, without imposing prefabricated models that are not apt to the local context.Certain capacity development activities will be based on the UN-Habitat MetroHUB methodology, which not only includes planning, governance and finance aspects, but integrates social and environmental components, capacity building and acupuncture projects. 

Who are the possible partners, internal and external that will help in implementing the solution?

• Several UN-Habitat Branches/Units (Urban Economy; Urban legislation, land and governance; Urban Basic Services, Regional Office for Africa;) (The branches provided input and advised at the formulation stage of the project. Their role during the implementation stage is need based and might not need inhouse agreements.)
• Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) Program
• African Development Bank
• Makerere University Kampala (MUK)