The paper presents a theoretical model that seeks to answer the question of why former squatter settlements tend to upgrade/redevelop at a slower pace than otherwise similar settlements originating in the formal sector. We argue that squatter settlers’ initial strategy to access urban land creates a ‘legacy effect’ that curtails settlement upgrading possibilities even after the settlements are ...

The cities of the Global South have been predominantly approached as dual being embedded within formal/informal dichotomy. This article provides an analysis power dynamics formal and informal, using example public space in two informal settlements: Kibera Nairobi, Kenya, Dharavi Mumbai, India. Based on my middle-term ethnographic research conducted both settlements, I argue that former binarism...

The aim of this paper is investigating the impacts of residents empowering in physical and environmental improvements in informal settlements. This place has some problems such as safety, health and environmental that Managers and municipal authorities should take action to fix them. In this regard The NGOs as an intermediary between the people and town officials could have a significant role i...

OBJECTIVE To quantify women's satisfaction with delivery care in informal settlements of Nairobi, Kenya, and to determine characteristics of women and delivery care associated with satisfaction. DESIGN Household survey data analysis of 1266 women who delivered in health facilities in 2004 or 2005. SETTING Two densely populated informal settlements 7 and 12 km from Nairobi's center, where re...

Incrementality is a spontaneous phenomenon in informal settlements practiced by local inhabitants after the failure of formal housing supply. This paper focuses on research of incremental housing projects with design interventions to understand how can architects position themselves in this autonomy traditions but also set rules and create opportunities to promote a well-organized community for...

The frail elderly in informal settlements find themselves in an extremely vulnerable position due to a number of factors, namely, their increasing dependency status, limited resources and adverse physical environment. Various aspects that influence the aged in their present environment will be highlighted. A survey method was used to explore and to describe the world in which they live in infor...

In many urban centres in the global South, there is little or no information on either the scale or the causes of premature death, serious injury, illness or impoverishment. In sub-Saharan Africa, this is the case for most urban centres. Even where there may be some information, it is seldom available for every district in the city. We get some sense of the scale of these issues from household ...

Throughout Africa, the population in urban areas is increasing rapidly beyond the capacity and the resources of the cities to accommodate the people. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the majority of urban dwellers live in informal settlements served by inadequate sanitation facilities. These areas present unique challenges to the provision of sanitation, and there is inadequate information on access to i...