BUIP

As mentioned before, the project will develop a solid base for B.U.I.P, which will include key urban indicators complemented by extensive and/or more tailor-made indicators for measuring the urban performance of Bahrain. It will also include a capacity building programme for relevant national and sub-national stakeholders at both national and sub-national level.

The project will be guided by a number of important events that provide an excellent opportunity to guide the implementation process.

Firstly there is the planned International Conference on Human Settlements to be held towards the end of the year 2000 which will commemorate also the 25th anniversary of the Ministry of Housing.

It is of out most importance to be able to present at this conference a balanced and detailed overview of the past achievements of the Bahraini government in relation to urban, including housing, development. The values for the Urban Indicators list will provide a solid basis for this self-assessment.

The strategy of the project however doesn't limit itself to this snap shot of the Bahraini urban performance. While preparing the values for the indicator list, the project will at the same time build around it a permanent mechanism that allows for the regular collection, analysis and dissemination of urban indicators and related information.

Initially the activities will focus mainly on the national stakeholders but while implementing the programme, more and more the sub-national stakeholders (in particular at the Governorate level) will be included in the activities. This to ensure that the information on indicators will also be available at the local level and that the chosen indicators will provide the local leaders with the information they require for their policy decision making processes. The project is therefore proposing to include as a pilot from the start one Governorate (Capital Governorate) in the consultation process on the urban indicators selection.

The project is, with regard to the establishment of Governorates very timely, since it allows through the project activities, to instill at this level a culture of informed decision making.

The project also strives to include other relevant stakeholders. The Urban Indicators Programme is a programme that cuts through the traditional compartmentalization of government institutions and sees the progress towards a sustainable human settlements development only feasible if and when all stakeholders (both on the delivering as on the receiving end) are included in the process. The project therefore will involve, and consult, as much as practical all relevant stakeholders (within as well as outside government).

The project will as much as possible and practical, make use of existing institutions and mechanism related to the urban indicators. Initially the project will rely on secondary data.

It is important to note here that in the year 2001 the National Census will be conducted. Although the National Census for obvious reasons must not be considered a substitute for the Urban Indicator Programme (especially because of its 10 year interval, which is perceived to long for an adequate response to sudden changes in the urban conditions) it will be an excellent opportunity to provide Bahrain with a solid foundation of a data base on urban conditions. The project strives therefore to have a much wider range of urban related indicators included in the National Census as is currently the case. To this end close contacts will be established with the Central Statistical Organization (CSO).

Implementation arrangements

Execution and implementation.

The project will be Nationally Executed by the Government of Bahrain . The Ministry of Housing, Municipalities and Environment will be the Executing Agency. Because of the cross-sectoral nature of the project, the Ministry of Housing, Municipalities and Environment will undertake activities for the establishment of B.U.I.P in close cooperation with relevant stakeholders.

As Implementing Agency, The Ministry of Housing, Municipalities and Environment through its Physical Planning Department will be responsible for the coordination and implementation of the project activities and the coordination and/or provision of the inputs required. It will have final responsibility for the achievements of the project objectives. The Project Director will be responsible for the overall coordination and operation of the project supported by the recommended staff and national team.

The B.U.I.P project office will be physically based in the Physical Planning Directorate (PPD). PPD will be especially important with respect to the technical side of the program, for example support to the identification of the relevant indicators, support for the collection of the data required for the indicators, development of a capacity building programme.

To this end MOHME will appoint a Project Director from the Physical Planning Department of MOHME, this to ensure the full integration of the BUIP activities with the regular programmes of the MOHME now and in the future. Project Director , the full-time Urban Indicator Specialist and others nominated by the MOHME on a part-time basis, will together form the core of the Project Management Team and will in general facilitate and support the implementation of activities as specified in this document. The Project Team will work especially close with the CSO, BSRC and the participating Governorate.

The Project Director will have overall responsibility for the implementation of activities as specified in this document. He/she will co-ordinate and supervise the work of the project team supporting the project and will facilitate the work undertaken by the Project. He/she will be accountable, and report, to the Minister of Housing, Municipalities and Environment and the UNDP Resident Representative of Bahrain. He/she will seek and receive direction from the Minister of Housing, Municipalities and Environment in consultation with the Resident Representative of UNDP Bahrain, on the implementation of the project.

The full-time Urban Indicator Specialist will, under the guidance of the Project Director, be responsible for the daily running of the activities/tasks of the project. As such he/she will fulfill the role of team leader and will co-ordinate and supervise the work of the project team supporting the project. Through the Project Director, he/she will liaise with related governmental and non-governmental agencies at national and sub-national level on the provision of input from these institutions and the co-ordination of activities to support the establishment of BIUP. He/she will be accountable, and report to the Project Director.

To ensure coordination between, and allow for consultation with, the relevant stakeholders the Minister of Housing, Municipalities and Environment will hold consultative meetings with the cooperating stakeholders. The Assistant Undersecretary will form a technical committee to oversee the project progress and provide policy and operation advice to enhance the project implementation.