For some time now, more than half the world’s population lives in urban areas. Cities in Asia and Africa show steepest growth. This urbanisation process is positive since cities are places of modernisation and economic growth. But it also has perverse effects. For instance, more than one billion people live in shanty towns today.

Makeshift neighbourhoods

Poor neighbourhoods come in different forms and take thousands of appearances, but the living conditions are always miserable. For instance, in the Kibera slums of Nairobi 300 people on average use the same latrine. Situated at the doors of the nicer neighbourhoods of the Kenyan capital this shanty town is a telling example of the increasing social inequalities of cities throughout the world.

Likewise, the Dharavi slum of Mumbai in India stands symbol for overpopulation; it has a population density of 279,000 persons/km² (Brussels: 7,444 persons/km²). Because of speculation, there is a high risk of being evicted; slums are often synonymous for squatting.

Insecurity is another characteristic that comes to mind, especially when we think of the favelas of Rio de Janeiro. Finally, mind that the pollution and the effects of climate change will hit these neighbourhoods in the first place, as they are usually set close to industrialized centres, on wetlands or areas that are unfit for habitation. The makeshift neighbourhoods of Dacca will be among the first to be confronted with rising levels of the seas whereas they already undergo recurring flooding now.

What should we do?

Working towards more harmonious and fair urban development can simultaneously contribute to the fight against poverty and help in meeting Millennium Development Goal number 7 (Ensure environmental sustainability) through improved sanitary conditions, as well as a better live for slum dwellers.

So, the stakes are high. Unfortunately, the authorities of the cities in the south are not informed very well, poorly equipped and not trained to face the challenges. Urban planning systems are deficient, if there are any at all. Urban policies have been neglected over the last few years both by the local authorities and the international development agencies.

BTC’s interventions in the urban environment

BTC’s interventions in the urban environment are modest still. Apart from the success of an integrated project in Ho Chi Minh City, which was concluded in 2006, BTC has developed a few other interventions in smaller towns in Vietnam. These aim namely at improving the collection of waste, at sanitation and/or the supply of drinking water. The most ambitious project underway focuses at improving the makeshift neighbourhoods of Kampala in Uganda.

These projects remind us of the importance of increasing the level of ownership of the populations in order to turn them into real actors of development. The socio-economic support should enable them to quit the cycle of poverty. The spatial dimension should not be neglected either; appropriate urban planning can contribute to social integration and exchange. Finally, capacity development is essential to develop more appropriate planning methods, to initiate citizen and ecological awareness and to establish a dialogue between all parties involved.