Urban and Rural Development: Illustrative Work

In its work on the World Bank-funded Sohag Rural Development Project, Chemonics Egypt is assisting all local councils in the governorate to expand access to local public services (water, sewer, canals, roads, public buildings) through decentralized and participatory project planning and capacity building for project life-cycle management by municipalities and community groups.  In Chemonics Egypt’s two consultancies for the UNCHS Habitat Sustainable Cities Programme in Ismailia,  Chemonics Egypt facilitated governorate-wide strategic planning by local government and civil society, provided detailed project development, and assisted stakeholders to obtain funding for nine multi-year projects supporting urban and agricultural development, improving the urban environment, and preserving Lake Timsah.  Chemonics Egypt is also using participatory methods to develop governorate-wide environmental action plans in Qena and Damietta.  Chemonics Egypt consulting practice in these projects improves the quality of governance at the local level.

Chemonics Egypt also builds the capacity of municipal administration to recover the costs of urban and environmental services and to facilitate sustainable economic development.  In Saudi Arabia, Chemonics Egypt is computerizing local revenue billing and collection, and also developing a nationwide system for municipal-level registration, licensing, and health/safety inspection of all establishments engaged in post-harvest handling, processing, and sale of food products and services.

In its several project review and appraisal assignments for SFD, Chemonics Egypt has assisted five governorates in labor-based project planning to maximize employment gains from public works programs. Chemonics Egypt has also worked to strengthen local public works contractors’ capability to grow their businesses and generate local employment.  Chemonics Egypt work on the Social Fund for Development’s (SFD) Labor-Based Contractor Training program stimulated entrepreneurship and trained local contractors in basic business planning and financial management skills.