Who sets the development agenda in your community? Many actors play a role in setting plans, financing, and implementing development of the built environment that includes the complex system of housing, transportation, and provision of services like water and waste management. Citizens living with the results of these decisions should and can have a say in making them.
This site is a project of the Bank Information Center’s Middle East and North Africa program, and aims to provide a space to share information and resources on the impact of one of the actors in Egypt’s built environment, the World Bank. The World Bank (or, the Bank) is an international financial institution that finances development projects and programs in developing and transitional countries, and has been engaged in the development agenda in Egypt for many years. While the World Bank is just one actor of many engaged in this agenda, the Bank, unlike some of the other big players, makes some mechanisms available for citizens and civil society to engage with the development process. The Bank Information Center (BIC) works in the United States to help widen the space available for people to engage in the development of their communities, and also works around the world to help raise awareness in the countries where the Bank works that these mechanisms for engagement are available.
Along with the many other crucial decisions that are being made in Egypt during this transitional period are the decisions about which of the many development needs should be prioritized to best serve Egypt’s people now and in the future. Now is an important moment for citizens and civil society to claim their place at the table in making these decisions. With the World Bank, some mechanisms exist for civil society to put a foot in the door, and civil society can make use of these mechanisms. Some mechanisms still remain to be created or need to be made more accessible.
Over the course of the coming two years, BIC’s MENA team will be populating this blog with various resources on the World Bank, its role in Egypt, and tools for engaging with the Bank. We’d love to hear what you think, and what tools would be useful for your work!