Urban Development Program in Informal Settlements: Principles guide for Implementation of Participatory Planning
Academic Paper
The informal settlements are the most part of the city affected from climate change consequence, insecurity, violence and lack of adequate housing, as the urban poor of the informal settlements may face more difficult challenges than the residents of other formal settlements. In general, the city is facing high urban growth and rapid urbanization rate as well due to both internal migration and transition migration from neighbour countries. At the same time, the situation of urban poverty, informality and inequality is increasing. In fact, there are growing vulnerabilities among slum dwellers in four informal settlements as a consequence of frequent intense rain, strong winds and droughts and slum dwellers of these informal settlements are the most community sectors exposing to these hazards due to lack of adequate housing and infrastructure. On the other hand, housing becomes expensive and non-affordable for the urban poor due to lack of suitable land in risk free zoon and land speculation. At the same time the citizen are facing insecurity situation and violence actions. Tensions regarding listing the priorities of developments are rising due to conflict of interest among community sectors. As well many community sectors are excluded from local planning and development process. That’s not to say that community sectors such as urban poor lacks the knowledge about their problems. In fact, they have knowledge and potentials to tackle their problems. But there should be a space for them to act and be urban actors in achieving inclusive development. As well, take the advantage of funds opportunities delivered by International Aid Agency. Dealing with these challenges required a well structure local participatory asset planning in order to come up with inclusive democratic outcome, poverty reduction solutions and asset adaptation strategy to climate change. The participatory platform techniques should then engage different stakeholders such as local financial institution, local community initiatives, households’ initiatives, the community based organizations, affected communities, International Aid Agency (IAA), International Development Consultant Agency (IDCA) and local governments in the four informal settlements to address the common urban development agendas that meet the needs of people, condition of institutions and interest of local authorities. Taking the reality that The International Aid Agency sets a £3 million to finance housing and infrastructure improvements for a period of three years under the following conditions; 1) Preferably to be for areas facing high poverty severe weather impacts, 2) Engaging the urban poor of four informal settlements in planning process, 3) Strengthen existing community and household initiatives, 4) Community and local authority to cover part of the cost 5) Fund of £0.3 can be used to create revolving fund for housing improvement purpose In general, The International Aid Agency prefers to associate these conditions with the impacts of severe weather. So, it’s recommended to take these conditions in advantage in all planning process, alongside with high consideration for the impact of severe weather. The embassy of the neighbour country where many people living in the informal settlement are coming from have to be engaged in the planning process along with the external migrant as many of them can still be refugees living in informal settlements due to lack of citizenship rights. So they can be considered a part of stakeholders.
KHALAFALLA OMER 