The role of community participation in the spatial development of deteriorated residential areas Al-Imam neighborhood in the city of Nasiriyah: a case study

Abstract

Iraqi cities in general face a slew of issues, including deterioration of the internal and external residential environment for some residential districts, deterioration of major infrastructure services, and bad economic, living, and construction conditions. As a result, the Ministry of Construction and Housing took the initiative, in collaboration with the Habitat Organization, to carry out a project to upgrade a number of deteriorated residential neighbourhoods, including Al-Imam neighbourhood in Nasiriyah, as a local experiment aimed at achieving spatial development with community participation. The research problem was established by not incorporating community engagement and activating the mechanisms of intrusion towards sustainable spatial development when conversing with residents as one of the strategies for creating and upgrading civilized places. The following hypothesis guided the research: Adoption of effective community participation policies aids in the rehabilitation of damaged residential areas and the achievement of long-term development. The study contained a theoretical component dealing with the notion of community participation and upgrading, as well as a practical component including the identification of the study area and the processes used in the process of upgrading community participation. The study also included a questionnaire for a random sample of residents to complete regarding the type of community participation in upgrading, and the study found that there is a larger need for a process of awareness, education, and training of people to participate in upgrading. Housing unit improvements were not at the required level due to a lack of funding and poor participation of residents in the construction and restoration process, and improvements to educational services were simple and included school frontispieces, green areas were not allocated, and infrastructure services were not established. The study came to a number of conclusions and recommendations regarding the need to rehabilitate human and material resources, stimulate community participation in the planning and management of residential areas, and achieve long-term spatial development.