Smart sustainable cities and smart digital solutions for urban resilience in the Arab region - Lessons from the pandemic
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Smart sustainable cities and smart digital solutions for urban resilience in the Arab region Lessons from the pandemic
VISION ESCWA, an innovative catalyst for a stable, just and flourishing Arab region MISSION Committed to the 2030 Agenda, ESCWA’s passionate team produces innovative knowledge, fosters regional consensus and delivers transformational policy advice. Together, we work for a sustainable future for all.
E/ESCWA/CL2.GPID/2021/TP.3
Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
Smart sustainable cities and smart
digital solutions for urban resilience
in the Arab region
Lessons from the pandemic
UNITED NATIONS
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Acknowledgements
This technical regional paper falls under It benefited from valuable comments by
the framework of the Economic and Social Mr. Nawar Al-Awa, Regional Advisor on technology
Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) on for development, at the Statistics, Information
Sustainable Urban Development, particularly Society and Technology Cluster at ESCWA.
on Smart, Safe and Resilient Cities in the Arab
region led by Ms. Sukaina Al-Nasrawi under The paper is the result of a joint effort of
the overall guidance of Ms. Mehrinaz El-Awady, ESCWA and the United Nations Human
Director and lead of Cluster on Gender Justice, Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat). It benefited
Population, and Inclusive Development. from a constructive review by Mr. Erfan Ali,
Regional Representative for Arab States,
The paper was developed by Ms. Maysoun UN-Habitat; Mr. Pontus Westerberg, Programme
Ibrahim, an ESCWA Consultant and President Management Officer, External Relations,
of the Palestinian Information Sciences and Strategy and Innovation Division, UN-Habitat;
Technology Syndicate, under the supervision and Ms. Nagwa Lachine, Programme officer at
and guidance of Ms. Sukaina Al-Nasrawi. UN-Habitat Regional Office for Arab States.
Smart sustainable cities and smart digital solutions for urban resilience in the Arab region Lessons from the pandemic
Acknowledgmentsiv
Contents
Acknowledgements iii
Introduction vi
Key messages x
Chapter
1. Definitions and intersection between concepts 1
A. Urban economic resilience 2
B. Smart sustainable cities 3
C. Urban economic resilience, SSCs and SDG 11 4
2. Status of the Arab region 5
A. Urban resilience in the Arab region 6
B. Smart sustainable cities in the Arab region 7
C. Implementation of SDG 11 in the Arab region 9
3. Pandemic resilience and role of smart digital solutions 11
A. Pandemic resilience 12
B. Socioeconomic impact of COVID-19 in the Arab region 12
C. Smart digital solutions for combating COVID-19 14
4. Selected smart digital solutions for COVID-19 response 19
A. Smart digital solutions from selected global cities 20
B. Smart digital solutions from selected Arab cities 21
C. Challenges facing the Arab region during the COVID-19 pandemic 23
5. Recommendations: smart digital solutions for urban economic resilience
during and after COVID-19 25
6. Conclusion 29v
Annex 31
References 33
Endnotes 35
List of tables
Table 1. SSC dimensions and factors 3
Table 2. Interconnected dimensions and targets of urban economic
resilience, SSCs and SDG 11 4
Table 3. SSC status in the Arab countries 8
Table 4. Selected potential smart digital solutions for combating COVID-19
and its impacts 14
Table 5. Examples of smart digital solutions used globally,
excluding the Arab region, during the COVID-19 pandemic 21
List of figures
Figure 1. Components of city economy and resilience 2
Figure 2. 2019 SDG dashboard for the Arab region 9
Figure 3. 2019 SDG trend dashboard for the Arab region 10
Figure 4. Working-hour losses, world and by region and income group,
first, second and third quarters of 2020 13
Smart sustainable cities and smart digital solutions for urban resilience in the Arab region Lessons from the pandemic
ContentsIntroduction
vii
Home to more than half of the world population, Before, urban resilience occurs through three
cities are major centres of economic activity. main activities: preparedness, prevention,
In 2019, around 55.72 per cent of the world and mitigation; after, it ensues through
population dwelt in cities1 and this proportion is recovery activities that allow for adaptation
expected to increase to 68 per cent by 2050.2 In and positive transformation (GAUC, 2019, p. 5).
the Arab region, in 2019, the ratio of city dwellers Indeed, a resilient city is one that “valuates,
to total population was at 59.2 per cent,3 higher plans and acts to prepare and respond to threats –
than the global average. Rapid urbanisation is natural and human-made, sudden and slow-onset,
rendering cities more vulnerable to challenges expected and unexpected – in order to protect and
related to growth, competitiveness, performance improve the lives of people, secure development
and livelihoods, including possible pressures gains, foster an investible environment, and
on services and infrastructure. Moreover, drive positive change” (UN-Habitat, 2021, p. 9).
unplanned or mismanaged development, along Hence, a resilient city would engage citizens
with unexpected shocks and stresses, could put in making plans and conducting assessments
urban systems under severe pressure, generating and would act in ways that safeguard
long-term stresses on basic infrastructure. development gains and provide a positive
environment for investments, thus protecting
Resilience has emerged as a paradigm for economic assets and enhancing life during
responding to shocks and stresses brought crises and subsequently, especially for the
about by rapid social, economic, environmental, marginalised and vulnerable, such as women,
technological and demographic changes that low-income children, the elderly, and people
could affect multiple urban systems, including, with disabilities.
inter alia, transportation, food networks,
healthcare services, air quality, energy grids, Given the importance of resilience, Goal
and government services (ICLEI, 2019, p. 11 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
5). Cities need a resilient and sustainable Development›s Sustainable Development
operating model capable of providing the Goals (SDGs) is devoted to “Sustainable Cities
solutions required by urban residents, and and Communities”. SDG 11 envisages cities
these solutions need to be economically viable, and human settlements that are inclusive,
socially inclusive, environmentally robust, and safe, resilient and sustainable, with access
sustainable. Put differently, solutions should to basic services, transportation, housing,
be financially self-sustaining, preserve current green public spaces, energy, and clean water,
resources for future generations, and ensure while reducing environmental impact and use
equitable access to benefits/services across of resources.5 Around the globe, numerous
population segments without discrimination. cities have developed national resilience
strategies and implemented actions designed
While there are several definitions of urban to improve resilience to both chronic stresses
resilience, this paper adopts the one used by the and acute shocks. Notably, SDG 11 is directly
United Nations, which identifies the concept as interlinked with all other SDGs except for
“the measurable ability of any urban system, with SDG 2.6 Hence, enhancing resilience is of vital
its inhabitants, to maintain continuity through all importance in achieving the SDGs generally.
shocks and stresses, while positively adapting and
transforming toward sustainability”.4 In practice, In 2015, all United Nations Member States
urban resilience is built in two interlinked adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
directions: before a disaster strikes and after. Development (United Nations, 2020b, p. 2).
Smart sustainable cities and smart digital solutions for urban resilience in the Arab region Lessons from the pandemic
Introductionviii Most Arab countries have since started aligning the pandemic has made it abundantly clear that their national plans and strategies with the most cities around the world, including Arab 17 SDGs of the agenda (United Nations, 2020b, cities, have alarmingly low levels of resilience p. 1). However, the Arab region is one of the and high levels of vulnerability, particularly most urbanised regions in the world, which evident in the highly interlinked labour market leaves Arab cities at risk of natural, social, conditions, business and financial arrangements, economic, technological, environmental and and economic governance (UNCDF, 2020b, p. 8). climate hazards, in addition to other challenges that beset the region as a whole with varying Globally, most cities are dealing with the degrees, including shrinking civic spaces, pandemic through mitigation measures that conflicts, rentier economies, poverty, water have had the effects of increasing deployment scarcity, gender inequality, unsustainable of various types of technologies, especially patterns of resources extraction, and high youth those related to SSCs and the Fourth Industrial unemployment (ESCWA, 2020a, p. 11). To address Revolution (4IR), enhancing trust in Information these challenges, several countries in the region and Communication Technology (ICT) as a tool for have already made notable efforts towards urban supporting public health, and providing quick smart resilience and sustainable development, albeit digital solutions to governments, organisations, at a slow pace compared with other regions. and people during times of crisis. Use of smart Moreover, several countries, including Algeria, digital technology is not limited to cities that Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, the State of Palestine, have already started their transformation to be Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, SSCs; any city could benefit, but implementation have launched local initiatives to develop Smart would vary from city to city depending on the Sustainable Cities (SSCs), either by transforming economic and financial capabilities of the existing cites or by building new ones. country and its technological readiness. In late December 2019, in Wuhan city, China, In several countries around the world, including there was an outbreak of a disease caused Arab countries, the pandemic has also raised by a previously unidentified coronavirus. issues of digital rights. Vulnerable groups and The following January, the World Health people living in areas that have no access Organization (WHO) declared this outbreak to digital services or Internet connections a Public Health Emergency of International have not been able to benefit from the smart Concern. In February 2020, WHO officially digital solutions that have been deployed, named the disease COVID-19, and in March which highlights the necessity of ensuring declared it a global pandemic. Since then, cities digital rights for all, leaving no one behind. have been the main hotspots, globally, causing governments, including in the Arab region, to Economy is one of the critical areas that have impose lockdowns. The pandemic has had dire been severely impacted by the pandemic consequences across all levels of development, (UNCDF, 2020a, p. 3), with a significant drop threatening resilience and sustainability of in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of cities, and has at times brought the world countries globally (UNCDF, 2020b, p. 21). This economy to a near halt, influencing strongly paper focuses, therefore, on urban economic urban economic resilience globally. It has also resilience of cities as one of the four main resulted in higher unemployment rates, loss of dimensions of urban resilience, which are household incomes, loss of jobs, aggravation of the economic, social, environmental, and gender inequality, and closure of businesses and institutional (OECD, 2018, p. 18), with the aim of schools, and its impact has been particularly capturing the best practices in the Arab region severe on vulnerable individuals and groups in tackling the socioeconomic challenges of the (UNCDF, 2020a, pp. 3-4). Indeed, the impact of pandemic, as well as its impacts on Arab cities
ix
and possible opportunities for building back improving resilience and sustainability of Arab
better. In addition, the paper explores the smart cities during and after the current pandemic.
digital solutions that could help achieve both
resilience and inclusion during pandemics and The paper is organised as follows: Chapter 1
highlights how such solutions would assist Arab presents definitions of the concepts of urban
cities in reducing existing vulnerabilities while economic resilience and SSCs, along with
maintaining and improving local resilience. introducing the interlinks among the concepts
of urban economic resilience, SSCs and SDG
Moreover, the paper provides guidelines on how 11. The status of the Arab region in relation
smart digital solutions and future technologies to urban resilience, SSCs and SDG 11 is
could be harnessed in the urban context of the highlighted in chapter 2. Chapter 3 presents
Arab region to develop urban recovery and pandemic resilience and the socioeconomic
resilience strategic plans in times of pandemics. impact of COVID-19 in the Arab region and
Through providing most up-to-date statistical casts light on the smart digital solutions
data and status analyses of Arab countries, that can help achieve safety and inclusion
the paper draws lessons for ensuring the through resilient services. Selected global
effectiveness of future local urban resilience and regional smart digital solutions adopted
planning initiatives, sheds light on best-practice in response to the pandemic are presented in
policy actions for cities to take in dealing chapter 4. A number of recommendations for
with the implication of the current crisis, and Arab policy makers and planners are given in
concludes with several recommendations for chapter 5. The paper concludes in chapter 6.
Smart sustainable cities and smart digital solutions for urban resilience in the Arab region Lessons from the pandemic
Introductionx
Key messages
Moreover, urban population is projected to more than
2050,
The Arab region has the highest
rate of population growth after double in
sub-Saharan Africa. compared with 2010
3/4
Today, half of the region is urban, but there are
significant variations among countries, with some of the Arab region being
having urbanisation levels as high as 85%. with almost urban by that time.
Measurement of progress which are available for only
in the Arab region towards 4 out of 15 indicators
implementation of SDG 11 covering only
on sustainable cities and communities is
challenging due to low availability of data, 3 out of 10 targets
The impact of COVID-19 has shed light on systemic vulnerabilities
and community weaknesses in the Arab region,
as well as on inequalities compounding both, magnifying decades-long challenges that threaten resilience and
sustainability of cities and communities. It has also highlighted yet again the importance of heeding the call for
integrated, people-centred urban planning.
City-level mitigation measures as a means for
have increased trust supporting public health
providing quick, smart digital solutions
in Information and Communication Technologies in times of crisis for governments, organizations,
(ICTs) at both national and local levels and people.
Service infrastructure and Moreover, the dimensions of
Smart Sustainable Cities (SSCs) are
connectivity, including use of closely interconnected
smart digital solutions, with components of urban economic resilience, as well as
are central to achieving urban economic resilience. with targets of SDG11 and other related goals and targets.
The pandemic has refocused attention Currently,
on SSCs and smart digital solutions. 14 out of 22
Several governments have started considering adoption
Arab countries
of the SSC paradigm to achieve digital transformation have either built new SSCs or are in the process
of cities. of transforming selected existing cities.
By leveraging high technologies, especially those of the Fourth
Industrial Revolution (4IR), cities could fight pandemics like COVID-19
employing unprecedented tools, enabling them to build a steady, strong infrastructure for pandemic resilience.
For example, Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, advanced robotics, biotechnologies,
3D printing, drones, and wearable technologies provide a wide range of potential solutions for combatting a
pandemic and dealing with its socioeconomic impacts.xi
Smart digital solutions can During COVID-19, selected
enhance urban safety smart digital solutions,
through, inter alia, increasing traffic such as Automatic disinfection systems,
safety, unlocking the potential of real-
time data in prediction and prevention
AI-based thermal imaging cameras, Smart Helmets,
of crime and terrorism, reducing GHG Mobile Applications, and Interactive maps,
emissions and addressing violence against were used to enhance safety and well-being of citizens,
women and girls in public spaces. rendering cities both more resilient and more sustainable.
Smart digital solutions constitute a Remote/Online learning, e-health services,
social protection, and digital finance are
critical channel for urban inclusion. examples of smart digital solutions used
They facilitate good governance, enhance engagement to enhance inclusion and ensure that
of citizens, and increase efficiency of public services,
thereby improving resilience and sustainability of cities. “no one is left behind”.
Various types of
have been deployed as part of pandemic-
smart digital solutions, including response strategies at the global level for
AI disease tracking, screening for infection,
robots digital payments quarantine and self-isolation, contact
drones online platforms tracing, health and clinical management,
self-driving cars smart wristbands and business and learning continuity.
In the Arab region, Some Arab governments used
depending on the development location-based contact
tracing applications and devices
status of the country,
to monitor individuals who have tested positive and limit
smart technologies are used to combat the their contact with others. Online platforms have also been
COVID-19 pandemic. Drones, digital and HD used to guarantee continuity of work and learning, while
cameras, and robots were used to ensure social mobile phone applications have been deployed to send
distancing and limit movements during lockdowns. citizens awareness raising messages.
Capabilities of Arab countries to provide adequate levels of digital
services and/or adapt and adopt smart digital solutions vary.
Challenges include economic issues, conflicts and instability, digital divides, digital skills divides, adequacy of
digital infrastructure, protection of vulnerable groups, and reduction of inequalities.
Recommendations for building urban economic resilience include:
Recommendations
Develop inclusive policies, encourage Pursue resilient, inclusive, gender-equal
community engagement and promote a economic recovery.
meaningful transition to a more sustainable
approach for emergence of cities from the With the SDGs as a framework, address inequalities in
pandemic stronger and more resilient. income, health, education, and affordable housing for
recovery to lead to resilient, sustainable cities.
Complexity of the socioeconomic impacts
of the pandemic require a whole-of-society Build urban economic resilience through focusing on
approach, with use of smart and digital components of city economy; namely, labour market
solutions helping mitigate these impacts on conditions, business environment, economic governance,
urban economic resilience. financial environment, and infrastructure and connectivity.
Use smart and digital solutions to transform Intensify efforts to close the digital divide and ensure
and/or build smart sustainable cities. digital rights for all.1
1. Definitions and
intersection between
concepts2
A. Urban economic resilience
Urban economic resilience is defined as “the capacity The “business environment” and “economic
and related capabilities of urban communities to plan for, governance” components refer to urban
anticipate negative shocks, including long-term stresses, systems and describe, respectively, the
to their economies, reallocate and mobilize resources conditions for both public and private
to withstand those shocks, recover from the shocks, business operations, and the structure
and rebuild at least to pre-crisis levels, while placing of local economies and the rules and
their economies on the path to sustainable economic regulations that are followed to govern the
growth and simultaneously strengthening their capacity activities of businesses. The third and fourth
to deal with any future shocks” (UNCDF, 2020b, p. 8). components refer to factor markets, namely,
The “Conceptual Framework for Urban Economic labour and capital. The fifth, the basic
Resilience” defines urban economic resilience services infrastructure and connectivity,
through four main components, namely: (1) business addresses enabling and facilitating continuity
environment, (2) economic governance, (3) labour under stressful conditions of operations of
market conditions, and (4) financial arrangements the other four components (UNCDF, 2021, p. 9).
(UNCDF, 2020a, p. 4). In January 2021, another City performance over the five components
component was added to this framework: (5) Basic is measured using 16 resilience performance
Services Infrastructure and Connectivity. Figure 1 indicators, with the findings serving to suggest
illustrates this framework (UNCDF, 2021, p. 8-9). areas for improvements and plans for actions.
Figure 1. Components of city economy and resilience
Business environment Labour market conditions
• Industry concentration Determine demand for labour • Occupational flexibility
• Supply chains • Labour market regulations
• Market orientation • Wages and working hours
• Firm size
• Economic informality • Alternative job opportunities
• Entrepreneurship • Mobility
• Technology • Social security mechanisms
• Role of public sector Determine supply of labour
• Financial strength
Basic service infrastructure
and connectivity
• Energy supply
Determine Determine • Water supply Define the
demand for supply of • Robustness of critical facilities conditions
capital and access • Housing stock in labour
to capital • Access to communication markets
• Coverage and access to urban
mobility systems
Financial environment Economic governance
• Debt markets • Ease of doing business
• Equity markets • Resilience in development planning
• Government financing • Leadership in times of economic
• Financial technology (fintech) Determine conditions in crisis
• Macroeconomics and urban
• Complementary financing capital markets economies
mechanisms
Smart sustainable cities and smart digital solutions for urban resilience in the Arab region Lessons from the pandemic
1. Definitions and intersection between concepts3
B. Smart sustainable cities
Smart Sustainable Cities (SSCs) have an SSC as “an innovative city that uses Information
emerged as a possible solution to resilience and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and other
and sustainability challenges ensuing from means to improve quality of life, efficiency of urban
unprecedented rapid urbanisation (Ibrahim, operation and services, and competitiveness, while
2020a, p. 13). Designed to provide a series of ensuring that it meets the needs of present and
smart solutions, both ICT-based and non-ICT- future generations with respect to economic, social
based, aimed at minimising impacts of economic, and environmental as well as cultural aspects”
social and environmental urban challenges; (ITU-T, 2016, p. 11). The paper also adopts six main
such as those of poverty, gender inequality, dimensions of the SSC, namely, smart economy
healthcare, climate change, water, energy, (competitiveness), smart environment (natural
and governmental services; SSCs are built resources), smart governance (participation),
following a citizen-centric approach, in which all smart living (quality of life), smart mobility
solutions are provided to all citizens, including (transport and ICT), and smart people (social
vulnerable groups, such as women, persons and human capital) (Giffenger and others, 2007,
with disabilities, the elderly, and the poor.7 p. 13; EESC/EU, 2017, p. 12; Luque-Vega and
others, 2020, p. 1). As illustrated in table 1, these
There are numerous definitions of the SSC and its dimensions are divided into 33 factors reflecting
dimensions. This paper adopts the definition of the most important aspects of each dimension.
Table 1. SSC dimensions and factors
Dimension of SSCa Related factors
Smart economy Innovative spirit Entrepreneurship
(Competitiveness) Economic image and trademarks Productivity
Flexibility of labour market International embeddings
Ability to transform
Smart environment Attractive natural conditions Pollution
(Natural resources) Environmental protection Sustainable resource management
Smart governance Participation in decision making Public and social services
(Participation) Transport governance Political strategies and perspective
Smart living Cultural facilities Health conditions
(Quality of life) Individual safety Housing quality
Education facilities Touristic attractivity
Social cohesion
Smart mobility Local accessibility (Inter)-national accessibility
(Transport and ICTs) Availability of ICT infrastructure Sustainable, innovative, safe transport
systems
Smart people Level of qualification Affinity for life-long learning
(Social and human capital) Social and ethic plurality Creativity
Flexibility Cosmopolitanism/open-mindedness
Participation in public life
a
Giffenger and others, 2007.4
C. Urban economic resilience, SSCs and SDG 11
The contribution of SSCs to the attainment of urban SDG 2. When there is no direct interlink between
economic resilience and SDGs, particularly SDG 11, the targets of SDG 11 and dimensions/factors of the
has rarely been explored. Analysis of the dimensions SSC and urban economic resilience, the mapping
and targets of the three reveals strong interlinks. Some will then consider other SDGs that are interlinked with
dimensions and targets are interconnected, such SDG 11. For example, ‘entrepreneurship’ is one of the
as the ‘smart mobility’ dimension of SSCs (table 1), main factors under the ‘smart economy’ dimension of
‘mobility systems’ of the urban economic resilience SSC and under the ‘business environment’
(figure 1) and target 11.2 of SDG 11 (see Annex). Table dimension of the ‘urban economic resilience’, but
2 presents the interlinks resulting from comparing the is not directly addressed by the targets of the
dimensions of urban economic resilience and SSCs SDG 11. However, it is one of the main targets of
with the targets of SDG 11, taking into consideration SDG 8, which has a nexus with SDG 11 and this
that SDG 11 is closely related with all other SDGs bar indirect connection needs to be taken into account.
Table 2. Interconnected dimensions and targets of urban economic resilience, SSCs and SDG 11
Urban economic SDG 11
resilience SSCs
SDG 11 targets Interlinked SDGs
Urban services Smart living Target 11.1 –
(Housing stock, robustness (Housing quality, educational (By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe,
of critical facilities, access facilities, cultural facilities, and affordable housing and basic services and
to communication) individual safety) upgrade slums)
Urban services Smart mobility Target 11.2 SDGs 1, 3, 8, 9,
(Coverage and access to (Local accessibility, (Inter)- (By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, 10,13a
urban mobility systems) national accessibility, accessible, and sustainable transport systems for
sustainable, innovative, safe all, improving road safety, notably by expanding
transport systems) public transport, with special attention to the needs
Interconnected dimensions and targets
of those in vulnerable situations, women, children,
persons with disabilities and older persons)
Urban services Smart environment Target 11.6 SDGs 12, 13, 14,
(Energy supply, water (Environmental protection, (By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita 15, 17a
supply) pollution, Sustainable environmental impact of cities, including by
resource management, paying special attention to air quality and
attractive natural conditions) municipal and other waste management)
Economic governance Smart governance Target 11.b SDG 16
(Resilience in (Political strategies and (By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities
development planning, perspective, public and and human settlements adopting and implementing
ease of doing business, social services, participation integrated policies and plans towards inclusion,
leadership in times of in decision making) resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to
economic crisis) climate change, resilience to disasters, and develop
Smart living
and implement, in line with the Sendai Framework
(Social cohesion) for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, holistic
disaster risk management at all levels)
Economic governance Smart economy Through connected SDGs SDG 8
and (Innovative spirit, economic Good jobs and
Business environment image, and trademarks, economic growth
and Flexibility of labour market,
SDG 9
Labour market conditions Ability to transform,
Innovation and
Entrepreneurship, infrastructure
Productivity,
International embeddings)
a
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/unosd/documents/4057Module percent204 percent20SDG percent 2011_Chicako percent20Takase.pdf.
Smart sustainable cities and smart digital solutions for urban resilience in the Arab region Lessons from the pandemic
1. Definitions and intersection between concepts5
2. Status
of the Arab region6
A. Urban resilience in the Arab region
Cities worldwide seek to improve their is Masdar city near Abu Dhabi in the United
resilience to stresses and shocks. Afflicted Arab Emirates, which is the world’s first full
with chronic challenges, such as economic eco-city. Built from scratch, it is one of the
stresses, water supply problems, pollution, newly constructed smart and sustainable
conflict, and refugee influxes, the Arab region cities in the region, with zero carbon
is taking serious steps towards achieving urban emission, zero waste, availability of modern
resilience, albeit at a slow pace, with several smart services, and use of green energy. 10
initiatives aiming to build resilience in the
urban context. Depending on the development All six countries in the Mashreq subregion
level of country, these initiatives vary in size, have launched regional and national initiatives
implementation modality, thematic focus, level to improve urban-resilience building through
of relevant engagement of stakeholders, and strategy development, urban disaster
duration. There is a notable commitment among resilience, instructional reform, disaster
local actors in several Arab states to resilience risk education, risk assessment, disaster
building and the support they are receiving preparedness and emergency response. For
from national governments and international example, as part of the 100 Resilient Cities
development partners (UNDP, 2018, p. 123). For programme of the Rockefeller Foundation, the
example, more than 20 cities across the region capital city of Jordan, Amman, launched, in
have benefited from technical and financial 2017, Amman Resilient Strategy, intended to
support from various international development assess the resilience status of the city and
partners in improving urban resilience to initiate a series of prioritised activities and
climate risks and natural hazards. The partners actions to overcome existing resilience-related
include ESCWA, UN-Habitat, UNDP, UNISDR, challenges (RA, 2017, p. 14). Moreover, in 2017,
the World Bank, and the beneficiaries include the Jordanian Government endorsed the Jordan
cities in Algeria, Comoros, Djibouti, Jordan, Response Platform for the Syria crisis, which
Lebanon, Morocco, the State of Palestine, is a resilience-based approach to addressing
Saudi Arabia, the Sudan, Tunisia, and the the needs of Syrian refugees and the Jordanian
United Arab Emirates (UNDP, 2018, p. XIII). host community by bridging the divide between
short-term humanitarian response and long-
All countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council term development (ESCWA, 2019a, p. 86). Prior
(GCC) have reflected climate change risks to the crisis that erupted in October 2019,
in their urban planning and urban-resilience Lebanon was taking steady steps towards
building processes (UNDP, 2018, p. 76). For promoting urban resilience by investing
example, in 2007, the ruler of Dubai set a policy significant efforts in improving emergency
on green building standards in the Emirate, preparedness through emergency centres and
directed towards improving water conservation drills (UNDP, 2018, p. 97). The State of Palestine
and energy efficiency in new buildings. 8 In has initiated strategies and policies for urban
January 2021, the Housing Minster of Bahrain resilience in its National Policy Agenda of
indicated that construction of new towns 2017-2022. One of the main national priorities
will henceforward be green and smart, in under the sustainable development plank of
accordance with the relevant United Nations this Agenda is the achievement of resilient
2030 Agenda goals, particularly SDG 11, through, communities through ensuring security and
for example, using environment-friendly public safety, meeting local needs, adapting
materials, providing open green areas, and to climate change and revitalising agriculture
planting trees along streets. 9 A third example (PMO, 2016, p. 36). In 2014, Egypt launched
Smart sustainable cities and smart digital solutions for urban resilience in the Arab region Lessons from the pandemic
2. Status of the Arab region7
the Strategic Urban Planning and Design resilience, and developing adequate action
Programme, a joint programme between the plans (World Bank, 2020, p. 2). In 2018, Algeria
Ministry of Housing and Urban Communities, the established a healthcare security protocol
Ministry of Transport, the UN-Habitat, and the with France to secure treatment of Algerians
United Nations Development Programme. The in French hospitals, aiming to enhance the
programme has the objective of improving and resilience of its national healthcare systems.
inspiring national planning practices related Additionally, in 2018, Algeria and Mali ratified a
to urban resilience and vulnerability to climate memorandum of understanding on employment,
change, as well as enhancing community labour, and social security, including provisions
engagement in planning practices at all levels. 11 for protection of migrant workers and their
rights (ESCWA, 2019a, p. 95). Finally, the
The Maghreb subregion features extremely Cities Alliance Tunisia Country Programme
diverse characteristics, some of which may have was launched in 2016 to promote productive,
a significant impact on building urban resilience. inclusive, and resilient urban development in
In 2020, the government of Morocco launched Tunisian cities through technical assistance
a national project to support Moroccan cities in various key areas, including developing
in preparing and designing urban resilience urban policies and strategies; promoting
strategies. The project seeks to address the gender equality and participation of women
priorities of the Sendai Framework and aims at in decision making; capacity building for
creating a vision for building urban resilience local authorities; and developing, financing,
for each city, implementing the diagnostics of and implementing infrastructure projects.12
B. Smart sustainable cities in the Arab region
Numerous cities around the globe have started in Kuwait, Masdar City14 and Dubai Silicon
their transformation process towards being Oasis15 in the United Arab Emirates, Tangier
smart and sustainable. The transformation Tech City16 and City of BenGuerir17 in Morocco,
process is often based on two different King Abdullah Economic City18 and Neom Smart
development paradigms, namely, (1) the City19 in Saudi Arabia, Rawabi City20 in the State
brownfield model, in which the transformation of Palestine and Lusail City21 in Qatar. Each of
process takes place in existing cities and (2) the these cities has its own identity and is being
greenfield model, in which cities are established developed according to particular economic,
as new from scratch (Ibrahim, 2020a, p. 72). social, and environmental needs. In contrast,
several countries announced medium- and
In general, Arab countries adopted both large-scale brownfield SSC projects to solve
transformation models. For example, Algeria, existing urbanisation and sustainability
Djibouti, Egypt, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, problems and provide various services to
the State of Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, citizens, such as the cases of Amman, Algiers,
Tunisia, and the United Arab Emirates started Dubai, Jeddah, Muscat and Rabat. Table 3
building new cities following the greenfield summarises the status of SSC initiatives in
model, including South Saad Al Abdullah City13 the Arab countries (Ibrahim, 2020a, p. 73).8
Table 3. SSC status in the Arab countries
SSC initiatives Used Approach
Country SSC project
(Y = yes, N = no) (B = brownfield, G = greenfield)
Algeria Y Algiers Smart City B
Cyberpark City of Sidi Abdellah G
Bahrain Y Manama B
Comoros N – –
Djibouti Y Iroley Smart City (in planning stage) G
Egypt Y New Capital (unnamed yet) G
Smart Village G
Iraq N – –
Jordan Y Amman Smart City B
Eco-city Feta B
Kuwait Y Kuwait City B
South Saad Al Abdullah City G
Lebanon Y BeitMisk Village G
Libya N – –
Mauritania N – –
Morocco Y Rabat City B
Casablanca B
Tangier Tech City G
G
BenGuerir
Oman Y Muscat B
State of Y Ramallah City B
Palestine Rawabi City G
Qatar Y Doha City B
Lusail City G
Saudi Arabia Y Riyadh City B
Jeddah City B
Al-Ahsa City B
King Abdullah Economic City G
Knowledge Economic City G
Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Mousaed Economic City G
Jazan Economic City G
Neom Smart City G
Somalia N – –
Sudan N – –
Syrian Arab N Marota City (near Damascus city) G
Republic
Tunisia Y Tunisia Economic City (in planning stage) G
United Arab Y Dubai City B
Emirates Abu Dhabi City B
Masdar City G
Dubai Silicon Oasis G
Desert Rose City G
Yemen N – –
“–” means unavailable.
Smart sustainable cities and smart digital solutions for urban resilience in the Arab region Lessons from the pandemic
2. Status of the Arab region9
C. Implementation of SDG 11 in the Arab region
In 2015, all United Nations Member States adopted progress of implementation of SDG 11 in the region
the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and is difficult due to low data availability, with data
its related SDGs (United Nations, 2020b, p. 2). Each available for only 4 out of 15 indicators, covering
country in the Arab region aligned its national plans only 3 out of 10 targets (ESCWA, 2020a, p. 147).
with the SDGs according to national priorities and
needs. However, the degree of implementation Collected available data in the 2019 regional SDG
varies depending on the stability of the country, its report (SDSN, 2019, p. 12) show that Arab states
development level, and availability of resources and perform well on SDG 11, except Mauritania, the
means of implementation. According to the Arab Sudan, the Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, and Yemen,
Region SDG Index and Dashboards Report 2019 (SDSN, that show downward trends. The SDG dashboard and
2019, p. 10) and the Arab Sustainable Development SDG trend dashboard, including SDG 11, for the Arab
Report 2020 (ESCWA, 2020a, p. 147), measurement of region are available in figures 2 and 3, respectively.
Figure 2. 2019 SDG dashboard for the Arab region
SDG 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
achieved INDUSTRY, INNOVATION
Challenges
STRONG INSTITUTIONS
AND INFRASTRUCTURE
SUSTAINABLE CITIES
QUALITY EDUCATION
remain
ECONOMIC GROWTH
PEACE, JUSTICE AND
AND COMMUNITIES
DECENT WORK AND
LIFE BELOW WATER
GENDER EQUALITY
AND PRODUCTION
Significant
AFFORDABLE AND
AND SANITATION
AND WELL-BEING
CLIMATE ACTION
challenges
PARTNERSHIPS
FOR THE GOALS
CONSUMPTION
CLEAN ENERGY
CLEAN WATER
remain
ZERO HUNGER
GOOD HEALTH
INEQUALITIES
RESPONSIBLE
LIFE ON LAND
Major
challenges
REDUCED
POVERTY
remain
Data not
available
NO
Algeria
Bahrain
Comoros
Djibouti
Egypt
Iraq
Jordan
Kuwait
Lebanon
Libya
Mauritania
Morocco
Oman
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Somalia
Palestine
Sudan
Syrian Arab
Republic
Tunisia
United Arab
Emirates
Yemen
Source: SDSN, 2019, p. 12.10
Figure 3. 2019 SDG trend dashboard for the Arab region
On track or 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
maintaining
SDG
INDUSTRY, INNOVATION
STRONG INSTITUTIONS
AND INFRASTRUCTURE
achievement
SUSTAINABLE CITIES
QUALITY EDUCATION
ECONOMIC GROWTH
PEACE, JUSTICE AND
AND COMMUNITIES
DECENT WORK AND
LIFE BELOW WATER
GENDER EQUALITY
AND PRODUCTION
AFFORDABLE AND
Moderately
AND SANITATION
AND WELL-BEING
CLIMATE ACTION
Increasing
PARTNERSHIPS
FOR THE GOALS
CONSUMPTION
CLEAN ENERGY
CLEAN WATER
ZERO HUNGER
GOOD HEALTH
INEQUALITIES
RESPONSIBLE
LIFE ON LAND
Stagnating
REDUCED
POVERTY
Decreasing
Data not
NO
available
Algeria
Bahrain
Comoros
Djibouti
Egypt
Iraq
Jordan
Kuwait
Lebanon
Libya
Mauritania
Morocco
Oman
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Somalia
Palestine
Sudan
Syrian Arab
Republic
Tunisia
United Arab
Emirates
Yemen
Source: SDSN, 2019, p. 13.
As illustrated in figure 3, 15 Arab countries still inclusive cities and participation of civil society
face significant challenges in the implementation in human settlement planning and management
of SDG 11, with collected data showing that (i.e., targets 11.2, 11.3, 11.7 and 11.a), (2) targets
performance of most is either stagnating or to ensure sustainability in land management
deteriorating. In addition, missed data are related (i.e., targets 11.6, 11.3, 11.7, 11.a, 11.b and 11.c),
to targets that fall into three main categories and (3) targets to ensure resilience to human-
(ESCWA, 2020a, p. 147): (1) targets to ensure caused disasters (i.e., targets 11.5, 11.6 and 11.b).
Smart sustainable cities and smart digital solutions for urban resilience in the Arab region Lessons from the pandemic
2. Status of the Arab region11
3. Pandemic resilience
and role of smart
digital solutions12
Shocks and pandemics have deep and long- types of digital technologies to provide smart digital
lasting impacts on cities all over the world, and solutions aimed at minimising the consequences.
those of COVID-19 have been multidimensional.
Isolation measures have caused incomes to This chapter highlights the concept of pandemic
collapse, aggravated the already deep economic resilience and discusses the socioeconomic
and social inequalities, engendered a wave impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the
of domestic violence, and heightened racism. Arab region. It also highlights how the use
Vulnerable populations, such as women, the of smart digital solutions has helped in
elderly, persons with disability and people who combating the pandemic, with a focus on
live in densely populated or informal areas, have maintenance of safety and inclusion within
been the most strongly impacted, compounding the cities, which, along with urban resilience, are
difficulties they had in accessing essential urban critical factors in developing sustainability of
services, such as healthcare, and educational and cities. Indeed, all three, i.e., safety, inclusion
financial services (Moraci and others, 2020, p. 2). and resilience, are interlinked and constitute
In response, cities have started to deploy various hallmarks of the sustainable city of SDG 11.
A. Pandemic resilience
Impacts of pandemics vary from one city to another essential public institutions, mobilizing the economy
depending on the disease and the conditions of to provide surge capacity to fight the disease, and
the society it afflicts. Various types of infectious keeping the rest of the economy maximally open”.
diseases still pose a considerable threat to numerous Thus, the infrastructure of pandemic resilience
societies globally; some, the endemics, are found entails an adequate toolset for controlling the
within specific geographical areas, while others, various impacts of the pandemic, while reducing
the epidemics or pandemics, can spread across economic consequences of the measures taken.
regions. An example of the latter is the current
COVID-19 pandemic (European Parliament, 2020, By leveraging high technologies, especially
ps. 1-2). The unexpected outbreak of an epidemic or those of the 4IR, cities could fight pandemics
pandemic could have immediate as well as long- like COVID-19 employing unprecedented tools to
term socioeconomic impacts of varying degrees build a steady, strong infrastructure for pandemic
on countries, leaving resilience and sustainable resilience. For example, Artificial Intelligence (AI),
development of afflicted cities at stake. the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, advanced
robotics, biotechnologies, 3D printing, and wearable
The Edmond J. Safra Centre for Ethics at Harvard technologies could provide the tools needed for
University (ESCE, 2020, p. 11) defines pandemic providing a wide range of potential solutions to
resilience as “the tools that permit a society to combat a pandemic and deal with its associated
control a highly infectious disease while preserving socioeconomic impacts (Ibrahim, 2020b, p. 3).
B. Socioeconomic impact of COVID-19 in the Arab region
The COVID-19 pandemic is far from being a of societies and economies, exposing serious
mere health crisis, for it is impacting the core vulnerabilities and fault lines across institutions,
Smart sustainable cities and smart digital solutions for urban resilience in the Arab region Lessons from the pandemic
3. Pandemic resilience and role of smart digital solutions13
societies and economies all around the globe. and -10 per cent in 2020 respectively, compared
Impacts on the Arab region have been significant with 9.9 per cent, 4.4 per cent, 0.9 per cent and
and are likely to be deep and long-lasting. 0.8 per cent, in 2019, respectively. However, IMF
These include huge negative effects on public estimates show that GDP growth in all Arab
health, and shocks to food systems, educational countries is expected to recover in 2021.22
systems, economies and labour markets.
According to the International Labour
Arab cities contribute most of the GDP of their Organization (ILO, 2020, p. 5), there was a severe
countries. Hence, their closure to control the drop in working hours across the entire Arab
pandemic resulted in massive drops in the real region during the second and third quarters of
GDPs in Arab countries. Between January and 2020, with regional statistical data showing that
mid-March 2020, businesses in the region lost working hours losses amounted to 16.9 per cent
$420 billion in market capital and countries lost and 12.4 per cent, respectively, compared with
nearly $11 billion in net oil revenues (ESCWA, 2.3 per cent in the first quarter, which averages
2020, p. 2). The International Monetary Fund to 10.5 per cent over the three quarters. The
(IMF) Databank indicates that due to the impacts resulting loss in the share of labour income
of the ongoing pandemic, all Arab countries in the economy affected economic growth
suffered in 2020 excessive drops in real GDP in all Arab countries negatively. Notably,
growth, compared with 2019. Indeed, the rate the use of digital platforms has mitigated, to
of growth in all Arab states, except for Egypt, some extent, the negative impact of lockdown
was negative, indicating decline. The most and the loss of working hours. Figure 4
affected countries were Libya, Iraq, the State shows working-hour losses for the first three
of Palestine and Oman, with GDP growth rates quarters of 2020 for the world, and by region,
of -66.7 per cent, -12.1 per cent, -12 per cent including the Arab region, and income group.
Figure 4. Working-hour losses, world and by region and income group, first, second and third
quarters of 2020 (Percentage)
1st quarter 2020 2nd quarter 2020 3rd quarter 2020
World 5.6% 17.3% 12.1%
Low-income countries 2.1% 13.9% 11.0%
Lower-middle-income countries 3.2% 23.3% 15.6%
Upper-middle-income countries 9.3% 13.3% 10.4%
High-income countries 3.2% 15.5% 9.4%
Africa 1.9% 15.6% 11.5%
Americas 3.0% 28.0% 19.8%
Arab countries 2.3% 16.9% 12.4%
Asia and the Pacific 7.3% 15.2% 10.7%
Europe and Central Asia 4.1% 17.5% 11.6%
Source: ILO, 2020, p. 5.14
ILO data also show that the unemployment rate p. 14). Evidently, urgent action by policy makers is
in the Arab region for people aged 15 or over called for, as the anticipated total number of the
increased from 8.1 per cent in 2019 to 9.9 per cent poor is almost equal to one quarter of total Arab
in 2020.23 More importantly, although all available population. Moreover, all the above-mentioned
data are provisional estimates, there are alarming facts and statistics are directly related to urban
trends in the expected loss in 2020 of 1.7 million jobs economic resilience, which highlights importance
(ESCWA, 2020b, p. 2) and the anticipated rise of the and urgency of Arab cities taking resilience
total poor by 14.3 million, which would raise the enhancement measures, including deployment of
total to 115 million people (United Nations, 2020a, all possible, appropriate smart digital solutions.
C. Smart digital solutions for combating COVID-19
Smart digital solutions, based on emerging ways, from tracking and tracing positive cases to
technologies that form the key building blocks of managing lockdowns and delivering food. A small
SSCs and the 4IR, have been deployed to combat the selected list of potential smart solutions for fighting the
ongoing pandemic and mitigate its socioeconomic pandemic and its social, economic and environmental
impacts of on nations at various levels and in several impacts is given in table 4 (UNIDO, 2020, p. 8).
Table 4. Selected potential smart digital solutions for combating COVID-19 and its impacts
Responses to the HEALTH CRISIS Responses to the ECONOMIC CRISIS
Drones • Delivery of critical supplies • Increased efficiency on delivery of services
• Disinfection of public spaces • Scan extensive and highly populated
• Measurement of body temperatures areas and broadcast information
• Enforcement of quarantine controls
Robotics • Monitoring and assisting patients • Remote inspection, repair and maintenance
• Optimisation of medical stock • Semi-autonomous operations
• Delivery of medicine and food
3D printing • Production of medical equipment • Counteract component shortages
and essential components • Design and test prototypes for new products
Blockchain • Digital identity, including health status • Resilience of supply chains
• Medicine safety tracking • Traceability and transparency about the
• Management of healthcare claims origin and transformation process
AI and big data • Analyse data and model viral outbreaks • Data and trend analysis to predict
• Assist the development of vaccines demand changes and assess impacts
• Analyse patterns to improve control
IoT • Public health data collection • Improve accuracy and response time
• Analyse air quality inside buildings • Enhance understanding of consumers
• Assist transport of critical goods preferences and needs
• Surveillance applications • Digital twinning of industrial facilities to
enable quick switch of production lines
Smart sustainable cities and smart digital solutions for urban resilience in the Arab region Lessons from the pandemic
3. Pandemic resilience and role of smart digital solutions15
The fallout from the pandemic has redirected used in developing vaccines and tracking infected
attention towards SSCs and smart digital solutions. personnel using people-tracking wristbands;
Several governments started considering robots to deliver medical supplies and meals
adoption of the SSC paradigm to achieve digital within hospitals and to patient rooms; and
transformation of cities, since it offers considerable drones to spray disinfectant on public areas,
scope for innovative solutions to provision of deliver groceries, restrict movements during
essential social services, development of new lockdowns, and measure body temperature;
businesses, and enhancement of economic and while 3D printing technology is being used in
social resilience against unforeseen shocks. regenerative medicine and tissue engineering
Examples of current use of smart digital solutions to create living human cells and tissues, as
in response to the pandemic include AI being well as in producing medical equipment.
1. Smart digital solutions to enhance urban safety
One of the main issues in developing a resilient times, and lighten the burden of disease. Cities
city is protection and improvement of life. Urban would then be both more resilient and more
safety is also a main target for SDG 11. The New sustainable. Such technologies were already
Urban Agenda, issued by UN-Habitat, defines in use before the pandemic, but some were
urban safety as “enabling city’s inhabitants to live, upgraded to mitigate its dire consequences on
work and participate in urban life without fear of people and cities, as illustrated in table 4.
violence and intimidation, taking into consideration
that women and girls, children and youth, and persons Smart digital solutions:
in vulnerable situations are often particularly affected”
• Can significantly enhance traffic safety. Smart
(United Nations, 2017, p. 9). Thus, for a city to be
algorithms, applications and devices that collect
safe, it needs to create conditions conducive
real-time traffic data can be used to manage and
to promotion of the mental and physical health
reduce traffic congestion, by providing drivers
residents, including through guarding against
with real-time alerts and advice regarding
health risks stemming from pandemics. The
the slowest and fastest routes, as well as by
city also needs to be prepared for and respond
applying variable speed limits. Moreover, car
to unexpected emergencies, such as floods,
accidents can be predicted using big data from
fires, and natural disasters, in addition to crime
connected cars, helping cities respond quickly
prevention and promotion of social cohesion
to emergencies, thus reducing fatalities and
and peaceful coexistence. Examples of common
curbing traffic jams by quickly clearing hazards.24
urban safety issues include unsafe streets
(e.g., potholed and/or unilluminated streets), • Are unlocking the potential of real-time
unsafe transportation (e.g., unenforced road data in prediction and prevention of crime
rules and regulations, loose electrical wires), and terrorism. Gunshot detection systems,
crime (e.g., thefts, muggings), and gender safety intelligent video security cameras, home
(e.g., violence against women and harassment security systems, crime-mapping platforms,
of women and girls) (Roberts, 2018, p. 7). crowdsourced crime alerts, and smart tools for
detection of threats used in large crowds are
Among other things, the use of new technologies, examples of technologies being used to gather
such as sensors, AI-based thermal imaging real-time data to combat crime and terrorism.
cameras, and IoT devices, help manage traffic, Used well, these technologies can help city
reduce fatalities, slash greenhouse gas (GHG) authorities run facial recognition systems,
emissions, accelerate emergency response read license plates, map crime and terroristYou can also read
