Guinea/Planning: the development of the national urban policy in debate in Labé

How to make urban planning a lever for integrated and sustainable national development? This is the main objective of the regional workshop for the development of the national urban policy launched this Saturday, August 13, 2022 in Labé by the Ministry of Urban Planning, Housing and Land Management with the DATU in partnership with UN-Habitat under funding from the European Union. This framework for exchange and sharing has mobilized all actors involved in the sector as noted on site Guinéenews.

This Urban Development and Sanitation Program in Guinea (SANITA) - Sustainable Cities whose institutional anchorage of the action is ensured by the Ministry of Urbanism, Housing and Land Management (MUHAT), through the National Directorate of Urban Planning.nagement du Territoire (MUHAT), through the Direction Nationale de l'Aménagement du Territoire et de l'Urbanisme (DATU), is financed by the European Union within the framework of the National Indicative Program (PIN) of the 11th European Development Fund (EDF). The project is executed by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme/UN-Habitat.

"The general objective of the SANITA Sustainable Cities project is to strengthen urban governance at the local and national level with the following specific objectives To improve in a participatory manner the legal, regulatory and institutional framework for urban development and; to strengthen the institutional capacities and skills of stakeholders in the elaboration and implementation of policy and planning documents.Mamadou Oury Diallo, head of the study and planning section of the Department of Land Use and Urban Planning, said that "the project's context is to improve the legal, regulatory and institutional framework for urban development in a participatory manner and to strengthen the institutional capacities and skills of stakeholders in the development and implementation of urban and territorial policy and planning documents through a participatory approach, taking into account the gender issue.

Before the opening of discussions, the honor fell to Younoussa Baldé, councilman, representing the mayor of the town to reassure the full support of his institution to this project before welcoming the guests. "We all know, who speaks of urban policy, speaks of policy of life. Therefore, a set of actions aimed at upgrading certain prefectures (as we are at a regional level), certain sub-prefectures, why not certain municipalities. Then, to reduce certain inequalities between territories. This means that the urban commune of Labé adheres to this project, adheres to this policy of development of the cities. So, with these words we welcome you to the city of Karamoko Alpha," he said.

Then, it was Karamoko Bela Diallo, the regional inspector of urban planning and housing and land use of Labé who followed with the reforms in prospect. "The Ministry of Urban Planning, Housing and Land Management, concerned about the welfare of our people, has initiated profound reforms for the proper management of our cities and villages. The regional workshop on the definition of the national urban policy that we are organizing this morning with UN-Habitat through the Sanita sustainable city program follows the regional forum on the elaboration of the national land use plan.The regional workshop on the definition of the national urban policy is a follow-up to the regional forum on the elaboration of the national land use plan held in Labé on November 18 and 19, 2019, one of the recommendations of which was to provide our country with a coherent national urban policy in a participatory manner. It is more than necessary for our country to have a national urban policy because the challenges that await us are immense and complex," he began.

And to continue: "the urbanization of our cities no longer meets the requirements of modern cities. The poor distribution of wealth creates a difference between our cities and our countryside, which leads many people to leave the countryside for urban centers. The basic social facilities of our cities are becoming insufficient. The public domains reserved by the State are invaded and sold off by the populations. Most subdivisions do not provide for public facilities. The agricultural areas are transformed into living spaces, the banks of the rivers, the forests, the mountain sides are occupied by constructions preventing a good ventilation of our cities and the normal flow of water. The refoundation of the State desired by his Excellency Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, President of the Transition, Head of State, leads us all to bring tracks of solution for a reorganization of the sector" announces Karamoko Bella Diallo.

Thus, after holding regional forums in the interior of the country, Guinea organized its first National Urban Forum (FUNAGUI) in December 2019 which mobilized all the actors and stakeholders in urban development, which allowed a diagnosis of the sector to be carried out in order to take stock of the situation and identify prospects. This has shown the need to have a reference document to guide initiatives, promote harmonious development and make urbanization, a lever of integrated and sustainable national development, which is the main objective of the project.Mamadou Oury Diallo, head of the study and planning section at the Department of Land Management and Urbanism, recalls the context of the project.

"With this objective and in an inclusive approach, a workshop for the development of the National Urban Policy is organized in each administrative region, which will be followed by a national workshop in Conakry with the actors and stakeholders. Conakry with the actors and stakeholders of urban development including administrative and local authorities, technical services of the State, private sector, civil society organizations, customary authorities, professional orders, etc. ...) "adds Mamadou Oury Diallo.

Finally, it was Colonel Robert Soumah, the governor of the administrative region of Labé who launched the activities. "I would like to urge you to think hard in order to present a valid document through which the development of our region will be initiated. This workshop fits perfectly with the objectives and the new orientations of the CNRD and the transitional government which is to give to our populations a habitat and a decent and respectable living environment. Because of the importance and relevance of the theme, I invite the involvement and participation of each and everyone in order to obtain a development plan worthy of the name for the benefit of our populations. I could not end this speech without telling the government, the president of the CNRD, president of the transition, supreme chief of the armies, Colonel Mamady Doumbouya that the development of the city of Labé is a priority for the government.I can end this speech without telling the government to the president of the CNRD, president of the transition, supreme chief of the army, Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, that the development of the city of Labé is at their side to achieve the objectives aimed by the transition for the refoundation of the State. It is on these words full of hope that I declare open the regional workshop of development of the urban policy" said the governor.

Source: guineenews.org