المملكة: "Municipalities and housing" The United Nations continues to strengthen partnership in developing urban policy

continued Ministry of Municipalities and Housing The work of developing the national urban policy, by organizing the second workshop within the current phase of the project, in partnership with the United Nations Development Program and the United Nations Human Settlements Program (Habitat), and with broad participation from representatives of government agencies, the private sector, academic institutions, and a number of international partners.

This workshop comes within the participatory process of preparing the first national urban policy for the Kingdom, which contributes to the unification and integration of national efforts in city planning and management. and development, and establishing a comprehensive national framework that guides Urban developmentAnd raises the efficiency of the planning system, in line with the objectives of the Kingdom’s vision and the best international standards and practices.

The workshop aimed to review and develop draft proposed policies and procedures, enhance coordination between sectors and at various levels of governance, in addition to improving the alignment of national priorities with regional and local planning frameworks, and finding participatory solutions to develop practical mechanisms for implementation, follow-up and monitoring, to ensure achieving the targeted impact.

Developing urban policy

He stressed Undersecretary of the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing for Urban Planning and Lands, Khalid bin Muhammad Al-Ghamlas, during his speech at the opening of the workshop, said that developing the national urban policy represents a strategic step towards enhancing the efficiency of responding to current and future urban challenges, stressing the importance of continuing complementary work among the relevant authorities. To ensure the formulation of a policy that reflects the Kingdom’s priorities and keeps pace with the rapid urban transformations.

Al-Ghamlas added: “This stage constitutes an important station in the process of preparing the policy, as the visions and proposals presented will contribute directly to developing the next version of the policy and formulating its executive framework in a more integrated and clear manner.”

During the workshop, the resident representative of the United Nations Development Program in the Kingdom, Nahid Hussein, and the representative of the United Nations program confirmed Human Settlements (Habitat), Ms. Taina Christensen, stressed the importance of integrating national and international expertise and strengthening institutional cooperation; To ensure the development of an urban policy capable of supporting sustainable development, achieving inclusiveness, and enhancing the quality of life in the Kingdom’s cities.

Tangible Results

Ms. Nahid Hussein said that what is particularly encouraging is the strong focus on coordination, participation, and implementation, as these are essential elements in any national policy that aims to achieve tangible results on the ground.

In turn, Ms. Taina Christensen pointed out that a strong national urban policy can act as a connecting fabric that brings together Economic diversification, housing, infrastructure, environmental sustainability and quality of life across the cities and regions of the Kingdom, noting that this policy supports coordination between institutions and different levels of government, ensuring that urban development contributes to achieving national priorities in a systematic and long-term manner.

Senior Department for Policy Integration and Strategy at the Assistance Agency for Sustainable Development at the Ministry of Economy and Planning, Al-Jawhara Al-Qaid, also participated in the workshop, stressing that sustainable urban development is a national priority, and reviewed the aspects of integration between national initiatives in the field of sustainable development and policy. National urban planning, in a way that enhances the consistency and integration of efforts within a comprehensive development framework.

Empowering urban development

The workshop witnessed interactive discussion sessions that addressed the priorities of urban challenges and opportunities, mechanisms for enhancing spatial integration, improving the efficiency of resource use, and supporting institutional coordination between various parties, in addition to discussing paths for implementation, operation and follow-up of the national urban policy in its next stages.

This initiative is part of a comprehensive program led by the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing to develop the urban planning system in the Kingdom. In partnership with a number of national and international bodies; With the aim of strengthening the regulatory and legislative frameworks for urban planning, building institutional capacities, and enabling integrated and sustainable urban development in various regions of the Kingdom.

National urban policies are among the internationally approved tools for enhancing coordination between various sectors and levels of governance, directing the future path of urban development, setting fair priorities, and stimulating investments towards more productive, comprehensive and sustainable cities.

The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing confirms its commitment to continuing to develop a national urban policy that reflects the Kingdom’s aspirations towards more balanced and flexible cities. And sustainability, based on a comprehensive participatory approach that ensures the involvement of various stakeholders in all stages of preparation and development.

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