Strategies for Social Inclusion in Development

This seminar offers students an opportunity to pursue advanced work in urban planning that addresses the challenge of social inclusion in local development at the city and community level. The course will focus on the use of strategic planning tools to analyze the dynamics of urban transformation, assess the impacts of change, forecast development scenarios, shape strategies and action plans and, structure frameworks for program implementation. To sharpen their skills, students will analyze in depth a specific site for the duration of the seminar, arrive at a diagnosis of the problem(s) and devise a detailed strategy to promote social inclusion objectives for the area. It is expected that the spatial aspects of each strategy will be documented in some detail. Students are encouraged to work in teams. They will prepare and discuss the sequence of technical tasks involved in the formulation of strategies and action plans. Lectures by the instructors and interim presentations by the student teams will frame the class discussion of methods and tools of strategic approaches to urban planning and their application to concrete situations.Documentation will be provided for three sites:1.A group of 5 communes encompassing an older industrial area and surrounding working class neighborhoods adjacent to the Paris city limits, France.2.The Northeast sector of the city of Porto Alegre, Brazil where industrial development and rapid urbanization are expanding on ecologically sensitive areas and leading to unplanned settlement in environmentally hazardous zones.3.The historical center of Mexico City.Each site presents a range of economic, social and environmental challenges that require strong technical inputs to arrive at effective development strategies.Pedagogic ObjectivesTo provide students with an opportunity to expand their knowledge of the methods of strategic planning.To strengthen their ability to apply planning tools to complex urban problems.To address issues of social inclusion in urban regeneration and development.RequirementsAttendance at the one weekly sessionInterim short presentations and class discussionFinal presentation to be made to a panel of guest reviewersTechnical brief summarizing the proposed strategy and action planBasis of Final GradeClass participation30%Interim presentations20%Technical Brief20%Final Presentation30%GSD 5479 – Strategies for Social Inclusion in Urban and Regional DevelopmentSCHEDULESession One – Monday, February 9Overview.Presentation of study sites:Plaine Saint-Denis, ParisPorto Allegre, BrazilHistoric Centre, Mexico CityOrganization of teams.Preparing a diagnostic analysis. Linking the visions and options.Session Two – Monday, February 16Review of principles and methods in the strategic planning process.Teams meet with instructors.Session Three – Monday, February 23Diagnosis of the three sites:During the first two weeks, the teams will review the material available and prepare a preliminary diagnosis of the key development issues in the sites. The diagnosis should cover:An assessment of the problems and opportunities presented by the site in the context of its immediate and larger region.A preliminary identification of the key stakeholders, their goals and objectives and potential conflicts among them.Potential obstacles that will have to be addressed in the formulation of a social inclusion strategy.Session Four – Monday, March 1Presentation of analytical tools:Forecasting methods: trends, impacts and alternative futures.Dynamic forecasts and scenarios.Preparing a strategic matrix.