Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency Established its First National Platform for Discussing Adaptation Strategies and Actions

Egypt is in need of adapting to climate change. The literal “hotspots” of climate change are to be found in cities where a large portion of the country’s population resides. They live unprepared for increasing heat stress, shortages in food supply and other impacts of a changing climate.

Therefore, the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) established its first national platform for discussing adaptation strategies and actions at the city level under the name of the Advisory Board on Climate Change in Cities in Egypt (AB-CCC). The AB-CCC held its first session on Monday, August 11^th, chaired by Dr. Mohamed Ismaeel, Head of the Vulnerabilities and Climate Change Department at the EEAA. According to the latest International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report Egyptian cities are among the most affected areas by climate change. The Egyptian government together with the support of the Participatory Development Programme in Urban Areas (PDP) is currently investigating into the adaptation needs of, and potentials in, informal urban settlements, which are considered the most vulnerable parts of the Greater Cairo Region. The collaboration between the PDP and EEAA emanates from the cooperation agreement signed between both parties in 2013. The agreement comprised several points, one of which emphasized the importance of linking the central government and local governments, academia, research centers and NGOs, to mainstream the climate adaptation measures in their work, if sustainable development were to be achieved. This covers the entire process, from formulating policies to implementing projects, in addition to any other necessary activities.

In order to spread awareness about Climate Change the AB-CCC considers holding its meetings alternately in one of the climate change threatened cities in Egypt, and inviting city representatives to attend, thereby involving local policy makers and practitioners in the process.

GeziretDahab_Farming ©PDP

Third Egypt Urban Futures Workshop Tackles Urban Development from the Legal Perspective

Cairo, 29th of April 2014, The Egyptian-German Participatory Development Programme in Urban Areas (PDP) together with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) and the French Centre d’études et de documentation économiques, juridiques et sociales (CEDEJ) have successfully held the Egypt Urban Futures (EUF) Workshop at the French Cultural Centre in Mounira. In its third session, the workshop series Egypt Urban Futures dealt with the topic ‘Urban Equity: Egyptian Cities from the legal perspective’. Around 150 people participated at this full day event to listen what experts from international organisations, academic institutions, governmental bodies and civil society activists and professionals had to share. “With this workshop series we provide a platform where a dialogue on different perspectives on urban development is possible,” said Dr. Guenther Wehenpohl, Programme Coordinator of PDP. “Moreover, we are creating opportunities to share experiences, best practices and strategic developments amongst different stakeholders.”

Egypt Urban Futures (EUF) Workshop

The workshop series is a joint initiative by PDP, UN-HABITAT and CEDEJ since 2013, as a continuation of the Expert Discussion Meetings on urban development that have been carried out monthly since 2008. In each of its sessions the EUF raises topics in urban development. During the opening of the third workshop results and new perspectives from the 7th World Urban Forum (WUF) which took place in Medellin, Colombia in early April 2014, were presented by Safa Ashoub and Philipp Schuck from PDP and Katja Schaefer from UN-HABITAT Regional Office for Africa & Arab States (ROAAS). They shared key messages from WUF and shed light on what urban equity means in a global debate between urban development experts as well as how it relates to the Egyptian context. “We were part of the Egyptian representatives exhibiting at the WUF in Medellin and could get direct insights of current developments in urban equity ourselves,” said Safa Ashoub, Advisor of PDP. “It is indispensable to integrate internationally discussed objectives and strategies into locally adapted programmes. Since urban equity was the main topic of the WUF we have decided to tackle it in the third session of EUF.” Divided into three parts ‘Urban equity in the Egyptian context’, ‘The Rights and the City – Government Perspective’ and ‘The Right to the City – Civil Perspective’ the event enabled both lively discussions and the way forward based on the participant’s feedback.

Residents of Ain Shams Learn more about Environmental Challenges and Potentials

The Participatory Development Programme in Urban Areas (PDP) successfully held a workshop on community mapping in Cairo’s Ain Shams area on 25th and 31st of March 2014. While the first day addressed mainly young people the second day was directed at local residents of all ages. A special focus was given to youth and women.

Youth members visualizing their ideas

The workshops were divided in two parts. During the morning sessions, the almost 50 participants got a training on the issues of Climate Change where PDP employees illustrated causes, impacts and potential solutions in regards to rising temperatures. This was followed by a presentation of the NGO Ain Elbiaa on their current actions towards environmental interventions in various settlements in Cairo. The last presentation has trained the participants in how to read maps through digital images of their area.

In the afternoon session, the community members became active themselves. By deploying colors, clay, stickers and other tools, they pointed out environmental challenges, current actions and new ideas for future interventions on satellite images showing their neighborhood. “I really liked the usage of colours, clay, plastic trees and paper to express ideas for our neighbourhood,” said one participant. “I had lots of fun.” Different working groups developed creative and illustrative maps and introduced them together to the full plenum. As a result, several environmental issues were discovered upon which lively discussions started between the working groups.

Environmental issues, especially climate change and its impact, are considered one of the biggest challenges to development in the 21^st century. The increased vulnerability of cities is mainly caused by environmental and climate change related implications which affect both inhabitants and infrastructure. In case of Cairo’s informal settlements in particular air pollution, solid waste, heat, density, lack of green space and sewage are among the most severe challenges. Since these areas lack financial support for mitigation and adaptation measures they are increasingly at risk.

With its various activities and different workshops, the Participatory Development Programme in Urban Areas (PDP) reaches out to its communities in order to spread awareness of these problems and encourage them for active participation. During the community mapping workshop, the participants learned about the challenges of the local environment. Together they analyzed and found innovative solutions such as roof top gardens, wind catchers in houses in densely populated areas, garbage collections or biogas production. “I have learned so much about ideas on how to solve environmental challenges in my area,” said another participant. “I will try by myself to realize some of these ideas and start doing development activities in my area.”

Adding some “Green” to the area

Participants introducing their result maps to the plenum

The workshop introduced the production of maps and the participatory mapping technique to community members and local stakeholders (Urban Upgrading Unit, NGOs, Local Area Dialogue Committee). Moreover, during these two days, a variety of stakeholders were brought together, relationships were built and fostered.

The maps, as one outcome of the workshop, contribute to the knowledge and information of PDP on environmental challenges and opportunities in the area. Furthermore, they point out where future interventions are possible.

Thanks to all participants who contributed to the success of the workshop!