Community area based development in the Northern Region of Syria: Case study of urban Aleppo

‘‘Area based development targets specific geographical areas characterized by a particular complex development problem, through an integrated, inclusive, participatory and flexible approach’’. The implementation of an area based development program in Syria emerged as a response to the planning authorities’ interest in preparing multi-sectoral regional-based development plans that focus on promoting regional equity while addressing the needs of vulnerable groups. Those plans shall be incorporated within the Country’s five years development plans and shall focus on social development and poverty reduction as well as institutional development, including decentralization and local governance. This research focuses on the urban aspect of the program in the Northern Region with special emphasis on Aleppo city. It emphasizes two aspects of development: supporting the upgrade of informal settlements and improving institutional arrangement and urban management mechanisms. The proposed interventions introduce important tools in the planning concepts and improve coordination and service delivery. The included development framework could be considered in the future as a planning model that might be widely replicated in other Syrian regions.