The project seeks to improve the quality of life of the women in the neighbourhood of Nakkatta, Tetouan, by identifying the main challenges they face when moving around in their day to day live in terms of security and accessibility. A participatory approach will lead to a better understanding of the gender look into urban development.

1. Description

This initiative in Tetouan is part of the COHESIMED project, funded by the City council of Barcelona and led by MedCities in cooperation with the city council of Tetouan.

The first phase of the project has now started and mainly implies the collection of socioeconomic data describing the current context of the neighbourhood and mapping the main social, health and educational centers used on a daily basis by women. 

For the second phase of the project, a group of women from the district will be invited to participate at a series of workshops to identify the most common areas and centers they visit in their day to day trips. This will be the basis for the group walk-throughs that will provide the needed inputs for the diagnosis of women’s main challenges and needs. 

Two main pilot actions will follow. On the one hand, the mobilization of an informal network of local shop-tenants, workers, social agents, etc. that will learn on how to act in cases of gender-based discriprimination or violence in the street. On the other hand, a draft action plan will be produced for the improvement of women’s safety in the district for its discussion by the municipal city council.

MedCities is especially keen in engaging our member city, Tetouan.

2. Objective

The main objectives of the initiative in Tetouan are: 

• To improve the experience of women accessing the public space and basic facilities and to improve social cohesion and coexistence in the neighborhood.
• To strengthen the interinstitutional dialogue between the city council and the social and civil entities of the neighbourhood, particularly those in contacts and working with women and families. 
• To increase the knowledge of the city council staff in regards to the gender perspective of local urban policies and deploy concrete follow up interventions targeted to the area. 

3. Main SDGs addressed

5 – Gender Equality – Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

11 – Sustainable cities and communities – Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

Beneficiaries:

Women and families of Tetouan, the city council of Tetouan