have suffered from deteriorating residential neighborhoods, poor economic, social and urban living conditions of the population and deteriorating the infrastructural and superior services. These problems were the secretions of these cities' rapid urbanization. Based on the principles of sustainable urban planning and in order to achieve adequate opportunities for the lives of the population and provide them with sustainable livelihoods, policies have emerged to upgrade along the lines of community participation and programmes to reform and develop those neighbourhoods, raise their efficiency and make them livable. Thus, the problem of research was identified "The absence of a comprehensive cognitive perception of the most prominent factors influencing community participation and its role in upgrading degraded neighborhoods". Accordingly, the research objective was set to activate community participation mechanisms to identify the most important factors influencing community participation and their impact on the development of degraded residential areas. While the main research hypothesis is (There are a range of factors influencing the activation of community participation to upgrade degraded residential areas). On one hand, the research included a theoretical aspect addressing the concept of community participation, the factors affecting it, the importance, objectives, benefits and patterns of community participation, and the concept, types and characteristics of degraded residential areas. On the other hand, the practical aspect included studying Imam district in Nasiriyah, where a questionnaire was conducted for a sample of residents in the neighborhood. The practical aspect included the study of Imam neighbourhood area of Nasiriyah, where a questionnaire was conducted for a sample of residents in the neighbourhood. The research, using the logistical regression model, found that stimulating the desire to participate through advisory and consultation has a moral and positive effect in activating community participation. In addition, empowering the community through their participation in workshops and training contributes to job creation, reducing unemployment and enabling participation in the upgrading of the residential area.The research also found that there were other influential factors but that their impact was not moral such as sex, age, length of stay, property and trust in the local authority. The research concluded that upgrading degraded residential areas can be done by engaging individuals and increasing their desire to develop their neighborhoods. Also, by social development and social inclusion through workshops, consultation and training in order to enhance their skills and enhance their participation in achieving the goal of improving urban and living standards.