Kabul Urban Survey - Groupe URD

development, such as density in some areas, extension in the east and at a later day, other
programmes can be implemented.
7.2 Analysis shows absence of spatial vision and lack of data
7.2.1 Lack of synthesis with all analysis
A lot of surveys have been conducted by different urban actors, advisors, international
organisations, both within the institutional framework and outside but there appears to be a
lack of any synthesis between the different conclusions. It seems that some issues have
given rise to a wealth of research, such as land tenure and property issues, vulnerability,
infrastructure upgrading, governance, urban capacity building, and more specifically, the
financial sustainable system to implement in KM.
But an official document providing an overview of these different fields is not yet available for
urban actors. There is also a degree of confusion over the number and content of all these
documents. According to the Deputy Minister, the MoUD is collecting all the publications
about the different subjects, in which case it would be worthwhile extracting all the necessary
information and drawing up an inventory of findings and recommendations.
7.2.2 Lack of spatial reference
In this report, we have written at length about the lack of spatial representation, the
difficulties encountered in obtaining relevant maps, the inexistence of urban plans, the
obsolete administrative spatial references, the absence of cadastral maps, incorrect data on
existing plans, lack of scales and the absence of a detailed urban map. The problem is not
so much having to cope without the necessary maps of the real urban situation, because
satellite images are always available by default. The real problem is what this implies,
i.e. urban authorities do not have a coherent spatial vision for urban issues, nor do they have
an inventory of projects to implement. A considerable amount of work needs to be done on
updating spatial data and establishing an urban planning map.
7.2.3 Lack of coordination and information
With only a partial synthesis or lack of official synthesis on the different urban analysis on the
one hand, and the lack of updated spatial references on the other, proper coordination
mechanisms between urban actors cannot exist. There appears to be plans for a
coordination mechanism within the MoUD, but in 2006 it is not yet in operation. Then
coordination between urban stakeholders is missing at all the levels of decision making,
planning, assessments, surveys, implementation and works. In terms of coordination, there is
a general lack of communication between the institutional actors themselves, but also with
civil urban actors and especially urban citizens. The absence of information about the
upgrading process is a major error. The urban population does not understand why the
situation has not improved. There is the risk that instead of being urban partners, they might
become disruptive components of the urban improvement process.
7.3 Recommendations
7.3.1 Establishing reference documents and validating them officially
• Synthesis Report
There is a need to produce a Synthesis Report:
Based on all the surveys that have already been conducted, this Synthesis Report would
provide a clear hierarchy of the relevant recommendations, propositions of studies and
activities to be carried out in each field in terms of quality and needs, prioritise these different
studies and activities and establish a consensus between all the policy makers and urban
stakeholders. The Synthesis Report needs to be validated by all decision makers.
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