Français | عربي Rapid population growth and urbanization against a context of demographic, social, economic and political challenges  With an average growth rate of 2.1% per annum in 1990-2003, the Middle East North Africa Region (MENA) has one of the world’s most rapidly expanding populations. Urban areas have been the main recipients of population growth. Indeed, cities’ share of total population grew from 48% in 1980 to close to 60% in 2000, and it is expected to exceed 70% by 2015 (against an average of 54% for all developing countries). The region’s average annual urban growth rate of 4% in the past two decades is only exceeded by Sub-Saharan Africa, which is far less urbanized. In 1995, major cities accounted for 20% of MENA’s total population, second largest after Latin America.
For more information, see Urban Development Brief Entering the 21st century, cities and towns of the Middle East and North Africa region are faced with unique challenges as well as opportunities to improve living conditions and contribute to overall economic development. Two decades ago, only 30 percent of the population lived in cities. By 2020 an estimated 70 percent of the region’s population will be urban, an additional 86 million people. Urbanization in the region has tended to accompany and spur economic growth. While urban areas currently represent slightly over half of the population, they are the location of a disproportionate share of economic activity (manufacturing and services). The policies that affect their management and development have a strong bearing on their ability to attract private investment, contribute to economic growth and improve the quality of life for the urban poor.
On the positive side, cities and towns in the region are not only the location of a significant share of economic activity, but alsoarich heritage of cultural and archeological sites. Furthermore, most socio-economic indicators in the region have improved dramatically over the last decade, giving cities a better human capital base with which to compete in an increasingly globalized economy. However, cities of the region will have to face sustained high rates of growth over the next two decades, comparable to rates in far less urbanized regions, such as Africa and South Asia. This rapid growth will continue to exert pressures for housing and infrastructure investments to accommodate their rapidly growing population.
Cities also have to contend with a host of problems that impede their productive growth : deterioration of the urban environment, uncontrolled sprawl and discrepancies in access to services and housing for the poor. While overall poverty, measured through income levels, tends to be low,urban poverty in the region, as elsewhere in the world,is multi-dimensional. It is expressed not only in terms of income, but also in terms of access to basic infrastructure and shelter, spatial segregation and social exclusion which are often the result of poorly managed urbanization and inappropriate policy and regulation. Compounding these problems are the highly centralized systems of urban Governance with limited autonomy and accountability at the local level for core basic services, and urban management. Regional Strategy The regional strategy builds on the Bank’s overall Urban and Local Government strategy of creating livable cities that are able to fully tap their productive potential and deliver on their promise of development for all their residents. For cities to develop along these lines they must be well managed, and financially sustainable. As basic socio-economic units, cities are in an increasingly important position to maintain social cohesion and productivity within the countries. However, most cities need to catch up with infrastructure and housing deficiencies and take steps toward sustainable urban management. To bring better quality of life, social equity and particularly, services to the poor, it would be crucial to improve the overall regulatory environment for urban and housing development, that supports improved access and the livability of cities (infrastructure and housing delivery, revitalization of heritage sites), management of cities(capacity building of municipal governments and strengthening their fiscal base) and access to capital markets (housing and municipal finance).
With over 25 years of urban experience the MNA region has supported programs in housing and land development reform, the upgrading of informal settlements, municipal development and finance, the rehabilitation of historic centers of cities, and emergency response to floods, natural disaster and post-conflict situations. The MNA urban unit, on a demand-driven basis, provides policy advice, sectoral analysis and lending. |
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