The role of non-governmental organizations specializing in urban planning in increasing citizen participationon the basis of participatory action research in Iqbal and Emamiyeh neighborhoods in Mashhad

The role of intermediary institutions and consisting of experts in the field of urban planning in order to inform citizens and fill the gap between them and urban management, in order to achieve partnership seems necessary. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of experts in urban affairs in citizen participation to improve the urban environment in the neighborhood. Thus, in a process of action research, the four-story People's Foundation was selected as a specialized urban planning center and the role of this institution in participation and awareness-raising to residents for two months continuously during the quality improvement project to neighborhoods in connection with welcoming the spring of 1397 in The two neighborhoods of Iqbal and Emamiyeh in Mashhad were surveyed based on Levin's action research model. The statistical population is the residents of the desired neighborhoods and the sample size in each neighborhood is more than 10% of its population. In different stages, observation methods, in-depth interviews, collection of comments on the banner, questionnaires and public hearings were used to collect data. The results of this research project, which is based on interpretive analysis, show that, on the one hand, the presence of semen can partially solve the gap in the partnership and help improve the relationship between urban management and citizens, but on the other hand there are obstacles in this direction. Which is mainly related to the weakness of legal mechanisms. Also, the presence of these intermediary institutions should be considered in the definition of partnership-based projects and the necessary grounds for the continuation of partnership and the continuation of talks with the people should be provided.