Julian Baskin, has since joined the Cities Alliance in 2009 as a Sr. Urban Specialist. He said that “The success of the Alex Project is in part due to the alignment of interest between the national, provincial, and local government levels,” As a direct result of the project, almost three quarters of the residents now have access to water and sanitation and 88 percent enjoy safe electricity.
The experience of Alexandra Project can provide lessons for urban renewal in Luanda and other Angolan cities. Fundamental to the success of the Alex Project was the approach to participatory planning that actively engaged existing residents through the Alexandra Citizens Forum. Julian Baskin introduced the Forum concept into the Luanda Urban Poverty Program back in 2002 in Kilamba Kiaxi and today the Municipal Forum movement has spread throughout Angola and has influenced the creation of Consultative Councils in every municipality of the country.
The audio presentation is based on a combination of field recordings of discussions with Julian and his colleagues and information drawn from Internet archives.
DOWNLOAD MATERIAL:
Location Map
Press Release: Alexandra Renewal Project wins prestigious UN award
Click above to read the MIT Urban Upgrading Report on the ARP
Cities Alliance mission