UN-Habitat & Municipal Government Empowering Local Ideas through People’s Process.

19 May 2021 Bamyan.  As the ray of hope shines down of Afghanistan, Bamyan municipality has given a new public space (Youth Park) to the residents of district one of the city. This park has been constructed at a safe location, close to the governor office and other government buildings in the new city of Bamyan. The Youth Park is one of many new public spaces being materialized under the City for All programme, implementing by UN-Habitat in Bamyan and 8 major cities of Afghanistan. The provision of these new public green spaces is contributing towards positively transforming the nature of Afghanistan’s rapid and unplanned urbanization. The Municipality of Bamyan has been very keen in partnering with UN-Habitat, the UN focal point for sustainable urbanization, for promoting green and clean spaces for the residents of Bamyan city.

Ms. Shahr Bano, the student of economic faculty of Bamyan University expressed her delight by saying, “This Park is a good space of Bamyan residents, families, youths, kids and especially university students, we are coming here for reading and sitting together with our classmates to discuss our university lessons.”

Shahar Bano is studying her lessons in Youth Park of Banyan with her classmates

Deploying the People’s Process for delivering change for people by the people, UN-Habitat has been instrumental in creating opportunities for local labor and materials in construction of these green public spaces. Local labor has been trained and utilized in planning, construction, and maintenance work. Marginalized and underserved people from the neighborhood areas were particularly involved in the program through the collaboration of the Bamyan Municipality.

The Governor of Bamyan, Sayed Anwar Rahmati, expressed his pleasure about the strategic partnership of UN-Habitat with the urban sectors of the government by stating, “There is improved basic services and increased trust between the Municipality and the citizens”. As an example, he added, “Thanks to the new installations, citizens are now keen to pay their property fee (safayi tax) – increasing the contribution ten times, reaching 20Mill AFN from the start of CFA programme in 2016”.

Governor of Bamyan Sayed Anwar Rahmati

28 years old Zahra, a local resident also come to the park with her kids. With peace & contentment, she is setting with her baby while her toddlers are playing in the park. “We are happy, at least we have space for our kids to play and for families and youths to set together, Thanks Habitat for serving the communities and making our cities beautiful.”, said Ms Zahra.

Local Children of Bamyan playing in the Youth Park

The youth park is constructed under the City for All national programme as part of the strategic projects which is listed in the strategic municipal action plan. It is important to note that like other initiatives, this municipal action plan is also proposed by the local people as part of the UN Habitat’s People’s Process for sustainable development.

This park is constructed with the technical assistance of UN-Habitat with the financial support of European Union (EU).