1. IP5 – JACS ACC Urban/Peri-Urban Syndrome Context Intermediation processes: Exchange dynamics between towns and environment

2. Key issue addressed The impact of exchange dynamics between the town and its environment (intermediation processes), particularly the transformation of the urban space. Research aims to identify the social practices populations use to shape their integration in the urban space, as well as analyse their interplay with government strategies. Main Research Questions What are the impacts of intermediation (social, economic, political, territorial functions) at local, regional, national and international levels? How are these impacts integrated within strategies that aim to transform and manage the urban space? In which way do/should the social practices of appropriation and rehabilitation of urban space influence the processes of urban and regional planning, and how are these integrated in intermediate cities?

3. PhD thesis Borderland urban intermediation in the Dominican Republic: Three case studies. Haroldo Dilla/FLACSO RD Urban borderlands: globalisation and transformation of urban space (Haiti- Dominican Republic). Lena Poschet/LaSUR-ENAC-EPFL Research project Social practices of transformation of urban space: Borderland intermediation in Central America and Caribbean. Comparative case studies. 1 st phase: Dominican Republic-Haiti/2 nd phase: Costa Rica-Nicaragua Senior Researchers: Adriana Rabinovich, international coordinator/LaSUR-ENAC- EPFL; Carlos García Pleyán, regional scientific advisor/CUBA; Haroldo Dilla/ FLACSO RD; Dominique Mathon and Richard Mathelier/INESA-HAITI; Abelardo M. Gamboa and Mariam Perez Gutierrez/FLACSO CR Junior Researchers: Sobeida de Jesús Cedano/FLACSO RD; Hantz Standley, Frantz Bastien, Alex Cherenfant Master‘s thesis (in preparation) Topic on urban borderland economy. Hannia Zúñiga Céspedes/FLACSO CR Migrant and mobile populations. Impact on health in Central American countries. Juan Ramón Roque Ramírez/FLACSO CR Annia Bourgeois

4. PAMS : Institutional strengthening in order to take advantage of Border-City condition (1st Case Study) Empowerment of 25 Haitian and Dominican community leaders in project management for a local sustainable development New PAMS launched (2 nd Case Study): Early warning system for the Borderland Corridor

5. Expected Outputs (2001-2005) International workshop in Dominican Republic (Flacso RD, February 2004) National workshop in Haiti (INESA, 2002) Final workshop for dissemination of results 4 lectures (2003-2004), 6 workshops attended Research report of Haiti-Dominican Republic case study (1st phase, in preparation) Research report of Costa Rica-Nicaragua case study (2nd phase) Comparative research report of the two case studies (1st and 2nd phases) Draft of book on research results Book on intermediate cities (already edited by FLACSO) 1 article in peer-reviewed journal (HD, submitted) 2 scientific articles (one submitted) 1 PhD thesis completed (HD) 1 MSc study completed (JRRR) Publications Congresses and workshops Postgraduated studies