Our experts (pre-LUGARIT) were commissioned by the Municipality of Saida and MedCities to prepare the Saida Sustainable Urban Development Strategy (Saida USUDS); a comprehensive participatory planning process, aimed at developing the metropolitan area of Saida. 

Initiated by the Municipality of Saida with a grant from MedCities, the project involved a large team of consultants and emphasized community engagement. The process began with gathering oral and bibliographic data to build a collective memory of the city. This led to addressing cross-cutting issues, thorough analysis, and the creation of a strategic spatial plan and theme-specific proposals. An overarching strategy was formulated, complete with a monitoring and evaluation framework and prioritization of action projects, ensuring stakeholder involvement at each stage.

The project, still active and under observation, yielded two main outputs: the Strategic Framework and Action Plans.

Strategic Framework 

This framework was developed based on a Strategic Diagnosis of Saida’s six transversal issues. It identified specific strategic objectives within each issue, later grouped into broader clusters. These general objectives included improving socio-economic conditions, sustaining environmental health, enhancing city connectivity, fostering coordination and networking, lobbying for legal framework changes, and ensuring security and stability. The objectives, refined through various stakeholder meetings, were integrated into a cohesive strategy, facilitating synergies among different sectors and stakeholders. The framework's development was influenced by local political instability, leading to the addition of security and stability as a strategic objective. A crucial aspect of this phase was the articulation of Saida's vision and mission, shaped by extensive discussions with various groups.

Action Plans 

These 27 plans, derived from the strategic framework, aimed to fulfill the city’s vision and mission. They addressed the six general objectives of the strategic framework. The plans varied in nature, from short-term initiatives to long-term projects, and included both soft and hard approaches. Concurrently, the team reviewed 50 ongoing or proposed projects for Saida, assessing them against the city's vision and mission. This review categorized projects as approved, recommended, suspended, or rejected, aiding the Municipality in aligning its projects with the strategic vision.

In summary, the Saida USUDS represented a holistic approach to urban development, blending strategic planning with active community involvement. It not only produced a guiding framework and actionable plans but also integrated these elements into the existing urban landscape and political context of Saida.