BergerWorld: 3rd Quarter 2006

Berger was selected by the Ministry of Urban Planning and Housing to assist the Direction de l'Aménagement du Territoire et de l'Urbanisme (DATU) in an ambitious urban development program in Guinea. DATU is responsible for establishing urban master plans and development policies and providing the Ministry of Land Development, other administrative bodies and local communities with technical assistance in planning.

Berger assisted DATU to launch Guinea's Second Urban Development Project. The project focused on improving housing sites and services in Conakry (population 2,000,000). The Team's work included the implementation of major highway and drainage improvements; the identification of suitable sites for industrial, commercial and governmental activities and services; and a three-year staff training program in planning as well as financial and technical management, focusing on the exchange of information between trainers and trainees through case studies, field visits and on-the-job training.

The Ministry of Urbanism and Housing, also under the framework of the Second Urban Development Project, commissioned the Berger Group to supervise improvements in Labe, Kindia, Nzerekore and Kankan. The work included the construction of drainage structures in Kindia and Labe, a bus station and market in Nzerekore, a bypass road in Kankan and strengthening the management capabilities at the Territorial Directorate for Civil Works.

Bamako, the capital of Mali, is also the country's commercial center. The 1960 population of 160,000 residents more than tripled in the following 10 years, and has continued to grow to its current size of more than 1.5 million. The Housing Development Agency commissioned the Berger Group to undertake master planning and design services for two Bamako neighborhoods, Sotuba and Yirimadio, to accommodate this rapid growth.

Berger began the assignment by conducting detailed surveys of the areas to gather socio-economic data and information on current land use. Detailed topographic surveys of the sites were also carried out. The Team then organized a workshop with key stakeholders, government officials and concerned local citizens to review the site development options. The development plans included improvements to the city square, urban road networks, water supplies, and wastewater and drainage systems. Berger also prepared the detailed designs for the proposed improvements, recommending zoning locations for housing, parks, commercial and government facilities and street lighting.

Dakar, the capital of Senegal (population 1,009,256), was once the major cultural and commercial center of the former French West Africa. The city still serves as a key hub in West Africa, yet faces major constraints. Overcrowding, inadequate commercial and industrial space and traffic congestion deter foreign investment and prevent local industries from expanding. In an effort to attract foreign investment and establish a modern and well-planned industrial, commercial and residential zone adjacent to Dakar, the government has proposed the development of the Diamniadio Industrial Platform to the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).

MCC selected the Berger Group, in association with TSG and SETICO, to prepare a master plan and prefeasibility study for the 2,620-hectare platform and an adjacent 6,000-hectare site in the town of Diamniadio, approximately 35 kilometers from Dakar. It will be situated near a number of major planned infrastructure projects, including the proposed Ndiass International Airport, the Dakar-Thies Toll Road and the port of Bargny, providing ground, air and port access to industries located on the platform. The $320 million development, phased over the next 20 years, includes industrial, commercial and residential areas; highways; electrical and sanitary facilities; parks; and government, social and cultural facilities, including schools and clinics. The Team is also identifying target tenants for the site and preparing forecasts of likely demand, as well as environmental and social analyses of the impact of the proposed investments.

The Team includes more than 35 international and local experts who are working closely with the MCC as well as the Senegalese management agency, AMPMD (Agence de Mise en Oeuvre de la Plateforme du Millenaire de Diamniadio), and APIX (Agence Nationale Chargee de la Promotion de l'Investissement et des Grands Travaux), Senegal's Investment Promotion Agency.

The initial focus is to evaluate the metropolis' need for modern manufacturing and commercial facilities; the economic viability of establishing a modern industrial, residential and commercial estate at Diamniadio, including the site and infrastructure needs; and alternate development opportunities for the site.

The Team is preparing a schema d'urbanisme and financial and economic evaluations of the proposed project components. The schema d'urbanisme defines the overall layout of the proposed platform, essentially a new town to serve Dakar. The assignment also includes advisory services to the government in formulating effective urban and industrial strategies and prioritizing development options.