PhD Thesis: What Happened to Participation? Urban Development and Authoritarian Upgrading in Cairo’s Informal Neighbourhoods

Elena Piffero’s PhD thesis with the title “What Happened to Participation? Urban Development and Authoritarian Upgrading in Cairo’s Informal Neighbourhoods” is based on sound empirical evidence and a fascinating reading for anyone interested in Cairo and in the contradictions between development theories and practices.
Her analysis follows three sets of questions: the first set regards the way ‘participation’ has been interpreted and concretised by PUMP and PDP. The second is about the emancipating potential of the ‘participatory approach’ and its ability to ‘empower’ the ‘marginalised’. The third focuses on one hand on the efficacy of GIZ strategy to lead to an improvement of the delivery service in informal areas (especially in terms of planning and policies), and on the other hand on the potential of GIZ development intervention to trigger an incremental process of ‘democratisation’ from below.

Download: PhD Thesis “What Happened to Participation? Urban Development and Authoritarian Upgrading in Cairo’s Informal Neighbourhoods” published by Elena Piffero

PDP’s Presentation on the International Symposium on Exchanging Global and Egyptian Experiences in Deal with Informal Areas

International Symposium on Dealing with Informal Areas 2008

The International Symposium on “Exchanging Global and Egyptian Experiences in Dealing with Informal Areas within the Wider Urban Management Context” was held by the Participatory Development Programme (PDP) of the GIZ and several Egyptian partners in Cairo from 14th to 15th October 2008.

On behalf of the PDP, Dr. Khaled Abdelhalim was giving a comprehensive presentation on PDP’s experiences in advising decision-makers on the local, regional and national level on how to upgrade informal areas. The presentation highlights the responsibilities of the district, governorate and ministerial level and shows instruments to be applied for dealing with informal areas on each level.

Download: PDP Presentation Symposium 2008

PDP launches new publication on Cairo’s Informal Areas

“Cairo’s Informal Areas Between Urban Challenges and Hidden Potentials: Facts. Voices. Visions”

The Egyptian-German Participatory Development Programme in Urban Areas (PDP) launched its new book “Cairo’s Informal Areas Between Urban Challenges and Hidden Potentials: Facts. Voices. Visions” with a Book Reading and Photo Exhibition at the Goethe Institute in Down Town Cairo on July 8th, 2009.

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PDP Delegation visits slum development projects in India

A PDP Delegation visits Mumbai, Pune and Kolkata to network with Indian counterparts on urban development strategies from March 21 to April 3, 2009.

Marion Fischer, PDP Programme Manager, and Gundula Löffler, Leader of PDP’s Capacity Development Unit, undertook a two-week experience exchange visit to the Indian cities of Mumbai, Kolkata and Pune in Spring 2009. The trip’s objective was to meet up with urban development experts, politicians and non-governmental activists in three Indian cities in order to exchange experiences, discuss participatory approaches to urban development and visit field sites of slum improvement, urban housing and community development.

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DPU International Experience Exchange Workshop

Specialists from DPU-Associates train PDP’s staff and Egyptian counterparts in participatory urban development and governance strategies from 8th to 12th February, 2009 in Cairo.

The GIZ Participatory Development Programme in Urban Areas (PDP) commissioned DPU-Associates to conduct an International Experience Exchange workshop, which was held between 8-12 February 2009 in Cairo. DPU-Associates is an association of experienced independent professionals engaged in consultancy, research and training who have been members of the academic staff of the Development Planning Unit, University College London.

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