Background:The city falls under the jurisdiction of Menia Governorate, and following the Local Unit of County and City of Menia, it is located on the western bank of the river Nile in Upper Egypt. The city is approximately 247 km from Cairo with a total area of 11km2. Menia is one of the main agricultural governorates estimated to be sitting on the Egyptian’s agricultural areas totalling to 6.5%.
The population of Menia in 2005 was over 200000 people of which it is estimated that more than 100000 reside in 14 informal areas. These informal areas cover an area estimated at more than 1.3 km2 in the western region with a population density of 87000 persons/km2; this is equivalent to five folds of the average population density. It is located on the El-Mouhiet drain, which suffers from multiple sources of pollutants coming from agricultural and industrial factories discharging directly in to the drain. There are sanitary services that cover most of city but lack in most of the surrounding villages. The treatment plant does not have the capacity to handle the huge amounts of sewage generated in the city.
The aim of RUSPS in Menia therefore is to develop options for formal inter-agency collaboration in order to create a coordination body integrating a wide range of stakeholders in a single response mechanism.
Objectives:To contribute to urban poverty reduction and policy development in Egypt through an urban sector profile study — a 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 Menia, based on the findings of the Menia assessment report, a desk study, interviews, and a city consultation that was held in Menia in October 2005. 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
It was agreed there is need to put in place plans and policies that will effectively deal with issues related to secure tenure, suitable shelter provision and resource mobilization targeting low-income earners. Environmental issues will be mainstreamed in development plans and projects.
It is hoped that Menia will become one of the leading Governorates in environmental protection, establishing a union of community associations working in the environmental field. These activities will be supported by additional measures in terms of Basic Urban Services and Local Economic Development.
The published profile can be found under publications. (Link)
