Why do slums develop

Relative to rural areas, urban areas inherently require a higher degree of infrastructure and social organization, transport mobility- not to mention centralized utility distribution networks, knowledge capacity and legal enforcement mechanisms.

Building such infrastructure in the midst of a swelling population influx is like trying to build levies during a torrential flood! Nairobi, Kenya in the s, Approximate population: 80 thousand.

By , Nairobi's metro area is expected to reach 14 million. Next Page:. So What Exactly Is a Slum? Entrenched Dominants. If we examine the Housing Value Chain, we see that the actual construction of houses is just one of twelve main components of a healthy housing market.

When governments cannot or do not effectively establish land-use policies, regulatory frameworks, urban planning and land markets, development is relegated to the elite few with the political and financial means to 'go it alone' and carry out each step independently.

As a result, overall rural incomes are low. Better job prospects. In comparison with rural areas, urban areas offer dramatically increased job opportunities. In addition, because urban cultures are often less constrained than those in villages, cities can also offer greater prospects of upward social mobility.

People know what cities can offer them. Most migrants make a deliberate choice to stay or leave in rural areas. Improved transport, communications and links with earlier migrants have all made rural populations much more aware of the advantages and disadvantages of urban life, especially regarding job opportunities and housing.

Urban migration is often a survival strategy for rural households. Sometimes, rural households split into several groups located in different places—rural areas, small towns, and big cities—in order to diversify their sources of income and be less vulnerable to economic downturns. Another reason slums develop is bad governance. Governments often fail to recognise the rights of the urban poor and incorporate them into urban planning, thereby contributing to the growth of slums.

In addition, many countries simply cannot respond to rapid urbanisation quickly enough. People are coming to cities far faster than the planning process can incorporate them. Often, they find their own land and build a shack before the government has a chance to learn of their existence. The attitude of a government towards urbanisation is also an important component.

Some governments take a hostile approach to urbanisation. They believe that if they provide urban services to the poor, it will attract urbanisation and cause the slums to grow. The problem with this view is that very few people come to the city for water or services—they come looking for work.

In other cases, governments take more of a passive approach to urbanisation. They either do not have the planning tools to deal with the rapid urbanisation that is happening, or the tools in place are not sufficiently responsive to the reality on the ground.

What can be done to prevent the development of new slums? There are basic things a government can do to prevent new slums from developing. One is to recognise that urbanisation is going to happen. Sometimes governments believe that adopting alternative policies, such as focusing on rural development, will stop urbanisation. This approach is rarely effective. Once governments accept the reality of urban growth, the next step is to plan for it and determine where the new residents will live.

Authorities should identify land and plan for its settlement even if money is not available for urban services. Once people settle on that land and feel that they have a right to live there, they will begin investing in it. Over time, the area will upgrade incrementally. What do we mean by land rights or secure tenure? Land tenure is the right of an individual or group to occupy or use a piece of land.

It can be via ownership or lease. Land rights is about confidence in the future. People who are safe from eviction with a sense of long-term stability—whether they own the land or not—are much more likely to invest in their housing or community. Over time, these incremental improvements by residents can upgrade the entire community.

There must also be a clear legal framework behind land rights. Often, slum dwellers face significant obstacles to owning or obtaining the rights to land. Land markets are frequently dysfunctional, and inappropriate standards or regulations make it nearly impossible for local authorities to find enough well-located, serviceable and affordable land for the residents of overcrowded slum settlements. In addition, control of land is often connected to political patronage and corruption, making it difficult to get clear information about land ownership, use and availability.

Slum dwellers are part of the urban populace, with the same democratic rights to environmental health and basic living conditions as all residents. The process of realising the rights of slum dwellers hinges on their capacity to engage actively with the government.

It is a question of creating a space where slum dwellers and the government can engage in a dialogue about slums and upgrading their communities. Through dialogue, the parties can begin to lay out their rights and responsibilities and design programmes that communities are able to respond to. Slum upgrading is an integrated approach that aims to turn around downward trends in an area. These downward trends can be legal land tenure , physical infrastructure , social crime or education, for example or economic.

Slum upgrading is not simply about water or drainage or housing. It is about putting into motion the economic, social, institutional and community activities that are needed to turn an area around. These activities should be undertaken cooperatively among all parties involved—residents, community groups, businesses as well as local and national authorities if applicable.

The activities tend to include the provision of basic services such as housing, streets, footpaths, drainage, clean water, sanitation, and sewage disposal. Often, access to education and health care are also part of upgrading. In addition to basic services, one of the key elements of slum upgrading is legalising or regularising properties and bringing secure land tenure to residents.

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You can unsubscribe at anytime. Sign up A valid email address is required. Please select at least one newsletter. We use cookies to optimize your experience on our website and for analytics and advertising purposes. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Learn more Accept. Insecure tenure means tenants are not protected from unpredictable rent increases and eviction processes.

Globalization also promotes slum living. Global economic booms and busts lead to uneven wealth distribution.