Takween Integrated Community Development

What Takween Integrated Community Development does

Takween Integrated Community Development is a Cairo-based urban development and heritage-conservation consultancy founded in 2009 that delivers integrated services across urban planning, architectural solutions and implementation, urban design and upgrading, applied research, and heritage conservation and management. The firm operates a team of more than 50 architects, urban planners, researchers, and conservation experts and applies a Participatory Action Planning approach grounded in a "Right to the City" framework, with a documented portfolio that includes the RECHA heritage-upgrading program in Esna, the Petrified Forest Protectorate open-air museum, Izbit Khayrallah, Shutb Village, Al-Amrikiyya, the Zenein Market, the Geneina public-space project, and the TADAMUN Cairo Urban Solidarity Initiative.

The firm serves Egyptian central and local government entities — including the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the governorates of Luxor, Giza, and Cairo — alongside international development and cultural institutions such as UNESCO, UNDP, UNHCR, UN-Women, UN-Habitat, AFD, EIB, GIZ, USAID, the British Museum, and the Swiss Embassy. Its go-to-market is direct engagement with these institutional clients on project-based mandates, supported by research collaborations, including the multi-year TADAMUN initiative with the American University in Washington DC.

Takween generates revenue through professional services fees on donor- and government-funded projects of varying scale, with its largest disclosed engagement being the USAID-funded RECHA program. Its senior leadership comprises CEO Kareem Ibrahim (appointed to the Aga Khan Award Master Jury in 2019), Operations partner Sherine Zaghow, and Design partner Nevine Akl. The firm received the Egyptian State Award for Architecture in 2018.

Name

Takween Integrated Community Development

Legal name

Takween Integrated Community Development

Website

https://takween-eg.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Takween Integrated Community Development is a Cairo-based urban development and heritage-conservation consultancy founded in 2009, delivering participatory planning, architectural design, research, and community development services to Egyptian ministries, governorates, UN agencies, and international donors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Urban Development Consulting

NAICS

Landscape Architectural Services (54132)

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Engagement & Participatory Planning (BPAHAKAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Program & Project Implementation (TA Delivery) (BPADAEAA), Infrastructure, Housing & Community Development (BPAGABAL), Sustainable Cities, Urban Development & Green Infrastructure (BPADALAL)

Keywords

• Urban planning services
• Heritage conservation
• Community development
• Urban design consulting
• Architectural design services

Headquarters

HQ city

Cairo

HQ country

Egypt

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Professional Services - Project-Based Consulting: Takween provides project planning, design, and implementation services to a range of local and international clients. The disciplinary services offered range from carrying out research and documentation to implementation, programme development and capacity building/training development. Revenue is generated through project fees for urban planning, rehabilitation, urban development and upgrading, and heritage conservation and management services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Takween Integrated Community Development is a Cairo-based professional services firm offering integrated urban development solutions including urban planning, architectural design and implementation, urban design and upgrading, urban research, and heritage conservation and management. The firm serves government ministries, international development organizations, NGOs, and private sector clients across Egypt and the Middle East, delivering projects on a contract basis with a participatory, community-driven approach grounded in the Right to the City framework.

Product overview

Takween Integrated Community Development is an urban development firm established in 2009 in Egypt offering a portfolio of professional services including Urban Planning, Architectural Solutions & Implementation, Urban Design & Upgrading, Research, and Heritage Conservation & Management. The company's approach is participatory, emphasizing community engagement through workshops, focus groups, and meetings. The portfolio includes specific projects such as RECHA (Rediscovering Esna's Cultural Heritage Assets), Izbit Khayrallah Public Space Upgrading, Petrified Forest Protectorate development, Zenein Market Upgrading, Geneina public space project, Shutb Village heritage assessment, Al-Amrikiyya Area Assessment, and the TADAMUN Cairo Urban Solidarity Initiative. Publications include the Geneina Booklet, Local Services Guide, Mapping Spatial Injustice report, Izbit Khayrallah booklet, and Planning [in] Justice Report. The company operates from Cairo and serves clients across Egypt and the Middle East.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TADAMUN: The Cairo Urban Solidarity Initiative: An initiative believing that all citizens have an equal right to their city, promoting solidarity among citizens to achieve social justice. The project focuses on underserved urban areas in Greater Cairo to strengthen affordable housing, enhance public services, and create more public open community spaces.

Products and services

• Urban Planning Services Adopts Participatory Action Planning rather than top-down conventional urban planning approaches, using an incremental and dynamic process that caters for human inventiveness to achieve long-term goals. Designed for government entities, municipalities, and development organizations needing inclusive, community-informed urban plans.
• Architectural Solutions and Implementation Provides highly effective design and engineering solutions focused on cost effectiveness, social, cultural and environmental sensitivity, communicated through design packages and documents for effective on-site implementation. Targets historic area projects, community facilities, and urban upgrading schemes.
• Urban Design and Upgrading Refurbishes public spaces such as streets, gathering nodes, and squares into places for social integration and human creativity through active community participation and intelligent technical design, improving hygienic conditions and supporting positive economic opportunities.
• Research Services Conducts urban research focusing on urban policy analysis and its impact on the city and its dwellers, largely based on the Right to the City approach. Research results are published for public discussion on pressing urban issues, serving policy makers, development organizations, and academic stakeholders.
• Heritage Conservation and Management Injects life in historic areas through integration of highest conservation standards together with sensitive design and effective socioeconomic initiatives, including planning and implementation of integrated conservation interventions. Aimed at heritage ministries, antiquities authorities, and cultural tourism stakeholders.

Quantifiable outcome

• Heritage Awareness School Trip program engaging students in Esna, Luxor heritage education.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered major and minor.

• UNESCO - World Heritage CentremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTakween has worked with UNESCO on urban conservation and revitalization projects, leveraging international heritage preservation standards and expertise.
• UNDPmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on protected areas financing and management systems, including the Petrified Forest Protectorate project. UNDP served as donor for multiple urban development initiatives.
• UNHCRmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on refugee integration and urban upgrading projects, including Al-Amrikiyya Area Assessment for Syrian refugees and Geneina public space project serving refugee communities.
• UN-WomenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on gender-sensitive urban design projects including Zenein Market upgrading with Gender Action Plan for women vendors.
• UN-HabitatmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on urban development and upgrading initiatives across Egyptian cities, contributing to sustainable urban development goals.
• GIZmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman development agency partnership on urban upgrading projects and capacity building initiatives.
• British MuseummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Shutb Village heritage documentation project in collaboration with Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities.
• Relief InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPreviously collaborated on humanitarian and development projects in the Middle East region.
• American University (Washington D.C.)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on TADAMUN: The Cairo Urban Solidarity Initiative for urban solidarity and research in Greater Cairo Region (2012-2019).
• CID ConsultingmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing partner for RECHA project alongside Takween in Esna heritage revitalization.
• Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (MoTA)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGovernment ministry partner for RECHA project providing regulatory oversight and coordination.
• Luxor GovernoratemajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal government partner for Esna heritage conservation and tourism development projects.
• Cairo GovernoratemajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGovernment partner for Izbit Khayrallah public space upgrading project providing logistical support and coordination.
• Tawasol for Developing Istabl Antar NGOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal NGO partner in Izbit Khayrallah project contributing to community development efforts.
• Al Noor NGOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal NGO partner in Izbit Khayrallah project.
• Nahdet Khairallah NGOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal NGO partner in Izbit Khayrallah project.
• Kheir Wa Baraka NGOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal NGO partner in Izbit Khayrallah project.
• CARE EgyptminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in Geneina project for community development in Masaken Othman.
• Shaarawy Foundation for DevelopmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment foundation partner in Geneina public space project.
• Norwegian Peacebuilding Resource Centre (NOREF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on peacebuilding and development initiatives.
• LAVUE-Laboratoire Architecture Ville Urbanisme-CNRSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench research laboratory partnership on urban development research.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• AECOM: Global infrastructure consulting firm with active urban planning, design, and international development practices in Egypt and the Middle East. Comparable across urban design and donor-funded development engagements.
• Perkins&Will: Global architecture and urban design practice with research-driven approach to equitable city-making. Comparable to Takween through urban design, masterplanning, and humanitarian design initiatives.
• Arup: Global engineering and urban design consultancy working on city-making, heritage, and resilience projects worldwide. Comparable through its multidisciplinary urban development practice and similar international development client base.
• Khatib & Alami: Major Middle East engineering, architecture, and planning consultancy delivering large-scale urban, transport, and infrastructure projects across the region. Comparable in addressing government clients on urban upgrading work but with significantly broader portfolio.
• Dar Al-Handasah (Shair & Partners): One of the largest architecture, engineering, and planning consultancies in the Middle East with deep Egypt presence. Competes for the same government and donor-led urban development masterplans that Takween targets, though at much larger scale and broader scope.
• Egis: International engineering and consulting group with strong Middle East and Africa footprint, including infrastructure, urban development, and buildings. Comparable as a multi-disciplinary consultancy serving Egyptian ministries and international development clients.

Direct peers

• Sasaki Associates: International urban design and planning firm recognized for integrated, community-centered practice spanning urban upgrading, landscape architecture, and research. Strong conceptual peer for Takween's participatory planning methodology.
• CID Consulting: Egyptian development consultancy that has served as Takween's implementing partner on the USAID-funded RECHA project in Esna. Operates in the same community development, participatory planning, and donor-funded project implementation space within Egypt.

Emerging players

• Tetra Tech: US-headquartered international development and engineering consultancy implementing donor-funded projects across MENA, including USAID programming. Comparable client base and project delivery model, though at vastly larger scale and broader sector coverage.
• DAI Global Health: International development company implementing USAID, FCDO, and EIB-funded programs in Egypt and the Middle East. Comparable through donor-funded program delivery and urban resilience work, though serving broader thematic mandates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCe1CAm_d-JHj4ttAyirf0mQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/takween.icd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/takween-icd
• Instagraminstagram.com/takween_icd
• Xx.com/takween_icd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Takween Integrated Community Development