Need

INTRODUCTION: In the first half of April 2019, heavy rains in central and western parts of Iran resulted in great floods. The rains affected 24 provinces and caused extensive damage to urban and rural infrastructure. Since Iran, especially the northern, western, and southern provinces of Iran are prone to floods, the floods are expected to occur every year in many provinces. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the needs and problems of the Red Crescent Society in different provinces of Iran in response to the great flood of Iran in 2019. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed in all provinces of Iran after the end of the flood response operations in April 2017. The required data were collected through a researcher-made questionnaire and interviews with provincial operational managers. The designed questionnaire had different parts about the situation of the provinces in the face of floods, the most important problems faced during floods, and the most important needs for facing floods. Participants were also asked two questions about the information and equipment they should have had before the flood. FINDINGS: Analysis of the answers revealed that 24 provinces (77.41% of the country) were affected by the floods. The most common problems were lack of equipment and low public awareness which were repeated by the subjects 24 and 17 times, respectively. Moreover, the need for specialized equipment and training courses were also the most important needs. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings, the Iranian Red Crescent Society faced many problems and needs during the disaster relief process in the 2019 flood which indicated the lack of a comprehensive plan for flood management in Iran. Therefore, policymakers and disaster managers must develop practical and localized guidelines for relief according to the conditions of Iran in order to achieve the ultimate goal of disaster management which is to reduce deaths, injuries, and financial damages.

Promotion of urbanization is one of characteristics of current societies that in their evolutionary trend results in establishment of megalopolis and brings the complex urban management in these huge population centers every day, together with new difficulties. Urban environmental problems, providing public and security services, green space and city fa ade, urban economic problems, informing, research and training makes the urban management duties list every day longer. Tehran Metropolis as the most important and greatest city of Iran and one of the most important metropolises of Middle East and included in the 20 great cities in the world, face these challenges more and less. Doubtless, management in this city with a population of 8 million peoples and 2/3 million families residing therein in an area equal to 800 square km, is not possible without participation of citizens. Citizens&rsquo participation in their city and neighborhood matters, firstly has frequent benefits for municipality. If citizens based on their well-known motto &ldquoour city, our home&rdquo are sensitive to the city matters and public profits, then plenty of municipality responsibilities will be fulfilled in a better manner. Therefore, quality of assistance to the growth of organizational model of urban NGOs&rsquo participation has been converted to an important phenomenon and one of the most essential questions. The experience of participation of NGOs in the developed societiesindicated that solving many urban problems such as urban environment, inappropriate status of security, unsuitable city fa ade and improper urban economic status is possible only at the extensive presence of NGOs and upon active participation and responsibility in the urban services management. Despite of awareness of necessity of development of NGOs participation in the urban matters administration, this concept in its organized concept in each one of participation levels encounters a lot of barriers such as deliberation, commenting, proposing, decision making, planning, execution and supervision on urban projects which limits the opportunity of NGOs upward from participation stair.Objectives of this research: Identification of grounds of need to citizens&rsquo participation and identification of citizens&rsquo participation promotion that upon studying national documents in national context (including constitutional law, viewpoints of supreme leader of Iran, 20-year perspective document of regime, fourth and fifth socioeconomic and cultural development plans and policies applicable on sixth development plan), and in urban context and comparative urban study in foreign cities consistent to Tehran, based on comparative and focal studies, at first strategies for promotion of NGOs&rsquo participation in urban services are presented. Later theoretical model was offered for formulation of strategies for NGOs&rsquo participation promotion in urban services management.