Background:
Baltim is located in the north of the Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate facing the Mediterranean Sea, Al Buruls Lake from the south, Al Hammul town to the east, and El-Sheikh Mabrouk and Al-Raba villages to the west. It is strategically located on one of the high hills of sand opposite Lake El-Borollos. Baltim is considered commercially and administratively active centre. However, the condition of the city has deteriorated in the recent times. It suffers from problems related to environment, ranging from huge accumulations of garbage to the absence of a system for managing solid waste as well as 20% of the total population residing in slum areas causing more pressure on the local authority to deliver social amenities. Furthermore, the city depends on artesian wells to supply clean water, which in turn is under threat by pollution caused by lack of garbage disposal system.

Rapid Urban Sector Profiling for Sustainability (RUSPS) in Baltim is one of the five similar exercises conducted in Egypt. Beside Alexandria, Suez, that are representing coastal cities, Menouf presents the small cities, Tanta represents Delta Cities and Rosetta cities where cultural heritage is vulnerable. El-Menia city is a sample of medium cities sitting along the Nile River in the Upper Egypt while Baltim is representing the non-capital agricultural cities on one of the northern lakes.

Objectives:
To contribute to urban poverty reduction and policy development in Egypt through an urban sector profile study — rapid assessment of needs, response mechanisms and capacity gaps — to be addressed at the local, national and regional levels.

Activities:

• Research on the general background of the urban sector in Baltim, based on the findings of the Baltim assessment report, a desk study, interviews, and a city consultation that was held in Baltim on 30th May 2006. The background includes data on administration, urban and economic planning, informal economy and the private sector, urban poverty, infrastructure, water, sanitation, public transport, street lighting, energy, health and education.
• A synthesis of the four main areas: - governance, gender, HIV/AIDS, slums and environment in terms of institutional set-up, regulatory framework, resource mobilisation and performance. This step highlights agreed priorities and includes a list of identified projects.
• SWOT analysis and outlining of priority project proposals for each theme. The proposals include beneficiaries, partners, estimated costs, objectives, activities and outputs.

Results:

• Study introduced to stakeholders and TORs tailored to local contexts
• Urban indicators collected, city assessment and profiling completed
• City consultations undertaken by including different stakeholders from all levels of urban society and priorities identified and agreed upon
• Capacity building gaps identified at the local level
• Priorities identified and project proposals formulated

RUSPS in Baltim exhibited the need for cooperation between NGO’s and the elected local council with focus on the local administration policymaking plans and budgets. To tackle the challenges of slum inhabitants and the alternative housing for the evictees, there is need to support and mobilise communities to participate in identifying environmental development priorities and raise environmental awareness between residents in general.

The published profile can be found under publications. (Link)