Background and objectives:
This project supports the Ministry of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities in extending technical assistance to the Higher Council for Luxor City to formulate and implement a strategic development plan for sustainable development of Luxor and for enlisting worldwide support for implementation of priority projects.

UN-HABITAT is using $120,000 of the budget for capacity-building. The project will create an efficient framework for guiding development, attracting investment from the private sector and international institutions for priority projects; prepare a strategic development plan drawing on worldwide expertise and initiate implementation of priority projects; formulate a major programme to involve local human resources in the development process and generate new jobs in tourism-related small enterprises; establish an environmental management programme to deal with pollution and environmental degradation; and accomplish an integrated training and human resources development programme for the local administration staff, community leaders and NGOs.

Activities:
The project is using urban planning and management techniques developed by the Sustainable Cities Programme, particularly consultations and working groups as a participatory interface between an international consulting consortium preparing the development plan and the interested parties. As the project is of national importance, working groups have been formed at the national and city levels. This approach ensures involvement of beneficiaries and interested parties throughout the process. Four working groups have been established on tourism, investment, development and follow-up of ongoing authorizations. The working groups have assessed the current situation, highlighting major issues, problems, developmental needs and deficiencies. These findings are conveyed to the international consulting consortium so as to be addressed in their plans. Furthermore, the working groups provide inputs to the consortium and participate in the decision-making process regarding proposals.

Results:
Through the participatory approaches used including city consultations and thematic working groups, the project has been able to ensure involvement of parties in the comprehensive development planning process. The comprehensive development plan has been completed and the implementation stage is under way.  Ministry and local staff is being trained on the job and through study tours. The project organized a donor round table to fund the plan.