As a continuation of the joint project for promoting and strengthening participation in the Kurdistan region, the workshops on Participatory Planning and Development, between the University of Duhok, College of City and Regional Planning and TU Dortmund University, Germany continued. This time, a one-day symposium was conducted in Erbil on Monday, 16/12/2024. The event was titled Symposium on Citizen Participation in Development Planning in Kurdistan and targeted decision-makers in ministries, directorates, and non-governmental develop­ment organizations.

The symposium was organized and conducted under the training of Dr. Johannes Lückenkötter, the Project Coordinator from TU Dortmund University, Dr. Basheer A. M. Saeed, the head of the Spatial Planning Department, and Dr. Layla Raswol dean of the college of City and Regional Planning, with support from Dr. Hasan Sinemillioglu, lecturer from TU Dortmund and expert in Participatory Planning, with assistance from Mr. Saman Fakhradin, Mr. Baravan Abduljabbar, Mr. Aland Kamal, Ms. Hozan Fawzi, and Ms. Joanna Nazar.

Participants of the symposium included a number of high-level managers, engineers, planners, and staff members from: the Ministry of Planning / Kurdistan Institute of Public Administration (KIPA), Ministry of Municipalities and Tourism, the General Directorate of Urban Planning, the General Directorate of Municipalities in Erbil, Presidency of Erbil Municipality, General Directorate of Planning & Follow-up, and the General Directorate of Tourism.

The symposium covered many aspects relevant to training participants in the field of participatory planning and development and engagement of citizens in plans, consisting of:

• Stakeholder Participation: Challenges, Rewards, and the Costs of Non-Participation
• The World Café Activity, focusing on three cases: Public engagement in the process of developing the Erbil Master Plan; The role of local residents in the Historic City Centre Duhok project; Rural Development of Germany.
• Creating Enabling Conditions for Participation
• Opportunities and Needs for Training and Policy Advice on Stakeholder Participation in Kurdistan

The symposium ended with Dr. Layla Raswol, the dean of the College of City and Regional Planning, giving final remarks and words of thanks for all participants, and further brainstorming was done on the next steps for initiating or strengthening the practice of stakeholder participation in Kurdistan. Dr. Basheer carried on with the introduction of the upcoming Centre for Participatory Planning and Development, its Mission, key services, and timeline.

More workshops and events are planned to take place over the remainder of 1 year, with the project continuing until the end of 2025.