Abidjan
With a view to integrating the under-equipped districts of Greater Abidjan into the urban fabric of the conurbation, the Ivorian government has launched a project to improve living conditions in these districts: the "Projet d'aménagement des quartiers restructurés d'Abidjan (PAQRA)". It aims to make investments to improve the level of urban services in the communes of Yopougon, Koumassi and Abobo. The Abidjan UFI was launched as a prelude to the studies and execution of the works. Its aim is to support and prepare for the changes in use of public space brought about by the arrival of this large-scale urban project. Building on the mobilization of civil society around the PAQRA, the Abidjan UFI is co-constructing transitional urban planning projects in identified public spaces.
Objectives
- Maximise use of the sites destined to house PAQRA facilities in the waiting period before their construction
- Appropriation by future users of public spaces that will be influenced by the PAQRA;
- Experimentation and usage testing of future equipment, identification of uses not taken into account in the PAQRA ;
- Strengthening the local associative fabric, supporting existing initiatives and developing new ones.
Results
- Civil society organisations, their use of the spaces and the expectations of the population in the fields of sport, culture and neighbourhood life are identified;
- Initiatives by civil society organizations are supported by the UFI operator and financed by a support fund;
- The UFI operator produces temporary equipment and facilities selected in consultation with civil society.
- Local governance is strengthened by fruitful collaboration between stakeholders. Their skills and ability to manage small-scale urban projects with an immediate impact are consolidated.
Implementation
The Abidjan UFI was implemented by a consortium comprising the Swiss Centre for Scientific Research (lead partner), Urbaplan, Cabanon Vertical and Ola-up, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Construction, Housing and Urban Planning (MCLU), which is responsible for the project.
The Abidjan UFI brings people and stakeholders together to discuss urban development projects. We see the UFI as a means of mobilizing the population and raising awareness.
Alphonse N'guessan - Urban planner at the Ministry of Construction, Housing and Urban Planning, institutional project manager for the PUA.