Bottom-up practices and resilience strategies in informal settlements

The project aims to explore how residents of informal settlements transform and (re)vitalize the spatial, social, economic, and institutional environment surrounding them. We research how multiple actors (e.g., local governments, private organizations, associations, individuals, NGOs, and CBOs) transform and revitalize their socio-economic conditions among urban informal citizens.  We study the process by which these actors’ reliance on traditional norms, reciprocal agreements and self-defined rules drives social and economic action to strengthen their resilience.

Summary

The project aims to explore how residents of informal settlements transform and (re)vitalize the spatial, social, economic, and institutional environment surrounding them. We research how multiple actors (e.g., local governments, private organizations, associations, individuals, NGOs, and CBOs) transform and revitalize their socio-economic conditions among urban informal citizens.  We study the process by which these actors’ reliance on traditional norms, reciprocal agreements and self-defined rules drives social and economic action to strengthen their resilience. 

From a conceptual point of view, we will unpack the concept of resilience to understand the role of actors and the day-to-day practices towards upgrading urban informal citizens' socio-economic conditions.  We understand cities and citizens' engagement through the lenses of institutions, institutional arrangements, and practices to understand how stakeholders have over the years supported citizens in informal settlements to improve their socio-economic conditions. How have grassroots organizations in informal settlements built external and international networks to expand and institutionalize resilience initiatives? The project concludes with an analysis of factors likely to yield outcomes, providing avenues towards building the capacity of actors to organize themselves to sustain their support of informal community resilience.  

How are we conducting the research?

The study employs a multiple case studies methodology in four (4) slum communities in Ashaiman, metropolitan Accra, Ghana. Ashaiman community was chosen because of its location and the intertwined nature of its slum communities within the Ashaiman Municipal administration. The aim is to understand collective strategies undertaken in informal settlements in Ashaiman to cope with policy gaps and increase community resilience. We identify those that evolve into stable institutions that interact with government and external organizations as an indication of longer-term stability and recognition by counterparts.   

How does our research make an impact?

The intended impacts of the project are both scientific and societal. On the societal side, the study will contribute a video, an organisational history and planning workshop to the organizations in informal settlements. This will enable a recognition of the collective strategies of stakeholders in supporting initiatives to enhance community resilience. This project support these through the training of participants, and follow-up on work plans to ensure these organizations increase their network and collaboration towards sustainable collective strategies to improve the well-being of citizens in informal settlements.

On the scientific side, the project will contribute to systematic knowledge of collective strategies that communities, individuals, NGOs, CBOs, and associations adopt to cope with policy gaps to increase and sustain community resilience in informal settlements. 

The findings from the field exercise will document inventories of local NGOs and CBO initiatives and their transition over the years in informal settlements. The documentation will provide a reliable socio-economic database and active stakeholders in informal communities in the Ashaiman municipality to support planning and monitoring. The findings will be developed into publishable academic articles and book chapters.. 

Project team

Outreach

Local organizations will benefit directly from the study by gaining visibility. The oral histories of selected originations will be developed and promoted using wide social media networks to enhance their visibility and networking with external stakeholders. Training will be provided to improve their capacity to sustain their initiatives to improve informal slum resilience. The research outcomes will be disseminated via a short documentation of slum communities and other media (such as podcasts talk shows and validation workshops). In addition, the research aims at producing articles in academic journals and/or book chapters. 

Funding

The research is co-financed by VCC, ISS, and IHS.

Partners

• Ashaiman Municipal Assembly 
• Local NGOs and CBOs in Ashaiman Municipality