EFFECTIVENESS OF NATIONAL STRATEGIES TO SECURE PARTICIPATORY SLUM UPGRADING A STUDY OF IRAN’S COMMITMENT TOWARDS ENABLING AND EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES WITHIN INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS (original) (raw)

Urbanisation is increasingly on the rise and this trend is particularly evident in low and middle-income cities in Asia and Africa. According to UN-Habitat, by 2030 global urban population is expected to rise by a further two billion. A large number of urban residents fall into the poverty trap and struggle with the basic needs such as shelter, health and sanitation, education and employment. Many have to resort to living in informal settlements that lack the basic infrastructure and facilities that better off residents benefit from. Upgrading programmes have in the past three decades recognised the importance of enabling community participation so that a sense of ownership and partnership is instilled and their needs are met in a more coherent, relevant and sustainable way. State and non-state actors need to forge strong partnerships while ensuring that all parties possess the capacity to play their role. In the Islamic Republic of Iran, the importance of upgrading programmes through stronger community engagement was recognised and a national strategy was institutionalised in an inter-ministerial approach. However, the role of NGOs, private sector and CBOs, while evident in the National Document, would have more impact if they are considered equal partners within the National Committee structure.