CDE was contracted to develop as decision-support system that minimizes time and effort in the phase of prelimiary satge of design development.  Exhaustive lists of constraints and attributes were developed, and an extensive research of solutions was conducted to put together scenarios of development and possible solutions.  The system included routines that calculate number of dwellings, type, social services, physical infrastructures and so forth.

Using inputs from international and national sources of information, El-Kholei worked with UNDP-Yemen on examining the threats to the environmental sustainability of Yemen, and prescribed actions to assure sustainability.  The work extended to preparing investment plan and synchronize with the national fiscal plan of Yemen, as well as other strategies, particularly that for poverty reduction.

Regional and Spatial Development. The 10th Five-Year Plan, Syria

El-Kholei was hired by UNDP-Syria to review the section on environment and elaborate a section on spatial development of Syria.  This assistance was to the State Planning Commission of Syria within its attempt to develop the country’s 10th five year plan.

Reviewing the project document and progress reports prepared during the life time of the project Conducting site visits to action areas where project activities were implemented and conducting interviews with the beneficiaries.

Developing a logframe for objectives, activities, outputs and outcomes evaluated against the project document and budget lines.

Assessing the impact of the programme on governmental bodies, private sector companies and NGOs.

Recommending actions for future assistance.

Using Urban Indicators to Alleviate Poverty, Promote Good Governance and Promote Public-Private Partnership

UNDP-Regional Office for Arab States (RBAS) and the Arab Urban Development Institute (AUDI)

The mission consisted of visiting six Arab countries to assess the status of their national urban observatories.  In each country, a city was selected to assess the status of the local urban observatory.

After meeting the officials at the centre, and interviewing local stakeholders, a journal was developed for each visit.

A report discussing the conditions of urban observatories at the six countries at both the national and local levels was produced.  The report discussed the use of information in urban management in the Arab countries, modalities of decision-making and planning processes.

A project document outlining a proposed project that UNDP-RBAS and AUDI will use as a proposal to be presented to donor agencies for financial support.  The project document listed the potential donor agencies, and identified areas where Arab countries can provide cost sharing and in-kind contribution.

Organizing a Study Tour for the officials of the municipality of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Mostar, as other cities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, has been the subject of development and rebuilding after the war.  The World Bank contracted CDE to organize a five day study tour in Egypt.  The aim of the visit to get a first hand experience of the Egyptian experience in rebuilding cities that were damaged in the war.

The officials of Mostar, including the Mayor, visited several central agencies responsible for planning and managing Egyptian cities and natural resources, NGOs responsible for protecting the environment, and Ismailia as an example for localizing sustainable development in a city that was demolished in the war.

Evaluating the National Environmental Action Plan of Djibouti

A mission to Djibouti to review and evaluate NEAP preparation and a programme for local development and decentralization.  Activities started by reviewing all available reports and documents including the two project documents, mid-term evaluation, training programmes evaluation, etc.

Interviewing all partners and representative of beneficiaries at the central and local level.  A site visit to one of the action areas that an NGO used Capacity 21 funds for environmental activities.

Developing a logframe for evaluating the NEAP of Djibouti, and another logframe for the attempts for decentralization of powers and the authorities to manage and finance local development.  A set of indicators were devised, and modification in the project strategy and implementation arrangements were introduced.  Preliminary findings were presented to the stakeholders in a meeting held at the UNDP-Djibouti premises.