Jordan’s New Urban Landscape: Achieving Inclusive Urban PlanningJuly 2010

Introduction

Background

In response to the mega development projects and the momentum towards urban development, the research project aims at:

assessing and evaluating the impact on local residents.

soliciting opinions and reviewing perceptions of residents in an effort to evaluate how Jordan is living up to its democratic reputation- Do development efforts follow a participatory approach? - Are they concerned with socially inclusive growth? etc.

Methodology

Macro-level: Analyze official narratives and public perceptions of these mega-projects.

Meso-level: Investigate the local perception of inclusiveness in urban planning initiatives in selected development areas.

Micro-level: Gauging the perception of specific interest groups with regards to certain aspects of planning initiatives and the extend to which these initiatives

meet local needs.

This research project will take place at three levels:

Components

1. Theoretical

2. Methodological

3. Empirical – Online surveys and focus groups

Results and Follow up

Key value: This research is the first of its kind in Jordan and therefore its findings will be of interest to a diverse set of audiences

This project aims at laying the groundwork for longer-term comparative research on inclusive urban planning in the Middle East.

Timeline & Resources

Timeline: June 2010 – May 2011

Resources Two University of Waterloo Scholars with a background in

Planning and Middle Eastern studies AI researcher for a period of six months AI Review Committee reviewing research findings

Thank You