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Kermanshah: Kermanshah Care-Ethics City Model

Avatar: Official proposal Official proposal

The Kermanshah Care-Ethics City model involved a transformative shift in urban governance, centering women's agency and the ethics of care within a multicultural metropolis of over one million inhabitants in Western Iran. 

This pioneering practice, developed in the UNESCO-recognized Learning City of Kermanshah, addresses the systemic invisibility of women's contributions to urban life and the structural barriers faced by diverse ethnic groups, including Kurds, Lurs, and Persians.

By utilizing a Grounded Theory methodology, the initiative co-created a 9-dimensional framework with 205 localized indicators, bridging the gap between academic rigor and municipal action. These dimensions—ranging from "Spatial & Urban Design" and "Digital Safety" to "Legal Reform" and "Multicultural Education"—work in synergy to transform the city from a purely efficiency-driven machine into a nurturing, empathetic environment.

Key innovations include:

  • Women-Led Advisory Councils: Institutionalizing female voices in municipal budgeting and spatial planning, ensuring that urban "hardware" (infrastructure) meets the "software" (human needs) of care.

  • Multicultural Care Networks: Leveraging Kermanshah's ethnic diversity as a resource for social cohesion, rather than a source of friction, through neighborhood dialogue circles and intercultural community kitchens.

  • Digital Safety & Feedback Loops: A localized mobile application that allows women to map safe urban routes and provide real-time feedback to urban managers, fostering a culture of mutual accountability.

This practice is not merely a project but a replicable roadmap for cities in the Global South. It demonstrates that when we design for care, we design for everyone—mothers, children, the elderly, and marginalized ethnic minorities. By transforming Kermanshah into a "Caring City," we are building a more resilient, participatory, and equitable urban future where human dignity and democratic inclusion are the ultimate measures of success.

Learn more: https://kermanshah.farhangi.ir 

https://www.oidp.net/docs/repo/doc1838.pdf 


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