This document summarizes a research project assessing the impact of urban development projects in Jordan on local residents. The research will analyze perceptions of development at the macro, meso, and micro levels. It will use surveys, focus groups, and interviews to gauge how inclusive planning initiatives have been from the perspective of specific interest groups and whether local needs have been met. The results are intended to provide the first analysis of inclusive urban planning in Jordan and lay the groundwork for future comparative research in the Middle East. The project timeline is June 2010 to May 2011.

1. Jordan’s New Urban Landscape: Achieving Inclusive
Urban Planning
July 2010

2. Introduction
Background
In response to the mega development projects and the momentum towards urban
development, the research project aims at:
 assessing and evaluating the impact on local residents.
 soliciting opinions and reviewing perceptions of residents in an effort to evaluate how Jordan
is living up to its democratic reputation
- Do development efforts follow a participatory approach?
- Are they concerned with socially inclusive growth? etc.

3. Methodology
 This research project will take place at three levels:
 Macro-level: Analyze official narratives and public perceptions of these mega-
projects.
 Meso-level: Investigate the local perception of inclusiveness in urban planning
initiatives in selected development areas.
 Micro-level: Gauging the perception of specific interest groups with regards to
certain aspects of planning initiatives and the extend to which these
initiatives
meet local needs.

4. Components
1. Theoretical
2. Methodological
3. Empirical – Online surveys and focus groups

5. Results and Follow up
 Key value: This research is the first of its kind in Jordan and therefore its findings
will be of interest to a diverse set of audiences
 This project aims at laying the groundwork for longer-term comparative research
on inclusive urban planning in the Middle East.

6. Timeline & Resources
 Timeline:
 June 2010 – May 2011
 Resources
 Two University of Waterloo Scholars with a background in
Planning and Middle Eastern studies
 AI researcher for a period of six months
 AI Review Committee reviewing research findings
Thank You