Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
TO SLUM UPGRADATION
PROJECTS IN THE
DEVELOPING WORLD
By:
Abhinav Tomar (2K12/AE/003)
Alok Jha
(2K12/AE/007)
Bhavesh Dua (2K12/AE/022)
Bhoomij Ravi (2K12/AE/024)
Engineering means the application of scientific and technical knowledge to solve specific questions.
Infrastructure is used within this report to describe the facilities, structures, associated equipment,
services, and institutional arrangements that facilitate the flow of goods and services between
individuals, firms and governments (Juma, 2006).
services, and the growth of slums outstrips any attempts to service them
(Engineers Without Frontiers 2004). Some of these large projects were
associated with ecological damage, corruption and macro-economic
distortions, consequentially leading to policy proposals that neglected the
important role of infrastructure in sustainable development (Juma 2006).
Because of these failed projects, much investment in engineering schemes
over recent years has often been directed to solving the expensive problems of
deficiencies in infrastructure. Such inadequacies include;
Lack of planning for ongoing operation and maintenance of the facilities
Limited attention to the development of a sense of ownership by the local
community
Political interference and intervention
Allocation of funds to countries without a poverty strategy of their own
Corruption, leading to ineffectiveness of infrastructure
(Singleton 2003)
This was prominent at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in
Johannesburg, where there was a call for alleviation strategies involving no
more hardware, noting that major investments in water infrastructure schemes
over the last 20-30 years had failed to bring any benefits. The Summit
emphasized that smaller-scale solutions suited to local capabilities,
understanding and skills would be more appropriate.
International contribution to development engineering poses a number of
challenges due to cultural, perceptual, technical, economical, social,
environmental, political etc. reasons. The typical western culture may assume
that development is positive and risks imposing this view on other cultures. For
example, many international contributions to development (although with good
intentions) may not actually be satisfying a need, may be a one-off demonstration
project, may not be affordable, reproducible, maintainable or culturally sensitive,
and could result in doing more harm than good to the recipient community.
The organizational imperatives of the [development] industry have
generally worked against our ability to act on what we do
understand about real development, rendering us not only
ineffective but often harmful as well (Dichter 2003).
The role of infrastructure and associated engineering fields are now accepted
as vital for the implementation of sustainable development strategies and
reaching the goals, as is the need for the delivery of engineering within an
appropriate integrated strategy;
The capability of a nation to initiate and sustain economic growth depends on its
ability to provide clean water, good health care, adequate infrastructure, and
safe food, which undoubtedly rely on engineering capability. Domestic
competence needs to be built at the local level. Engineering capabilities such as
information and communication technologies (ICT), healthcare dependant on
infrastructure, improved technological knowledge and innovation, are vital for
sustainable development.
When the preconditions of basic infrastructure (roads, power and
ports) and human capital (health and education) are in place, markets
are powerful engines of development. Without those pre-conditions,
markets cruelly by-pass large parts of the world, leaving them
impoverished and suffering without respite (Sachs 2005).
Close involvement of the local community will improve the chances of project
success, it needs to be owned.
Life-cycle engineering takes into account the operational and maintenance cost of the
engineering solutions proposed.
Empowered engineering takes into account the capabilities of the local communities.
Appropriate engineering will consider various options that meet the engineering needs of the
project. For example, these may adopt techniques of labour-based construction, (differing from
labour intensive construction) which facilitates knowledge transfer, creates jobs, encourages private
enterprise, creates ownership and may reduce costs.
(Singleton 2003)
Privatisation in Development
Various engineering organisations have dedicated teams to contribute to the
alleviation of poverty in the developing world, sustainable development,
humanitarian relief and the delivery of the MDGs. Large international
engineering consultancies, small to medium sized specialist engineering
organisations, independent consultants, engineering institutions, NGOs and
charities each have an important contribution to make.
Multi-disciplinary international engineering and management consultancies can
contribute to sustainable development in poor communities by delivering their
technical expertise to infrastructure and shelter for the development of the built
environment on a large-scale. These private firms may have the funds, skills and
expertise to address the infrastructure and shelter problems that urban slums are
experiencing. If the involvement of private engineering consultancies is
appropriately implemented in partnership with local organisations, a sustainable
solution could be achieved.
the market for engineering services is shifting towards developing
countries and the companies involved have to contend with a range of
new and unfamiliar challengesthe companies most likely to prosper
in this changing environment are those that are able to adapt their
business models to these new circumstances and align their
commercial drivers with the development priorities of the countries
where they work (Matthews 2008).
Must conform to humanitarian law and basic principles of humanitarian aid - Red
Cross Code of Conduct
Need to retain level of impartiality
Commercial interests could overtake principles of humanitarian aid
Profiting from others misfortune
Private sector gain partnering with public sector money will be scrutinised, all must
be accounted for, needs transparency
Flow of private sector aid may be unpredictable
Recipients may become dependant and form expectations. Raises the question of
when to pull out
Permits governments to diminish responsibility
May struggle to build upon community relations that NGO sector has
Must consider coordination, long-term partnerships
Danger of replacing the humanitarian community should learn from and contribute
Adapted from (Tickell 2007)
Local and central governments need to build both capacity and capability in order to
support the development of their state. UK based engineering consultancies can
share their skills and expertise to support such governments in their development.
For example, for slum upgrading in particular, a shift is needed in national and
international poverty-reduction strategies. At present, many donors and NGOs have
no urban policy, local authorities and development agencies neglect cities assuming
poverty is a rural issue. Governance is key to improving the situation and
government capacity needs to be increased to: recognise the legal rights of
squatters; formalise rights through land tenure, ownership, city-zoning regulations
etc; urban planning needs to involve the urban poor in active participation of slum
upgrading projects; Enable pro-poor financing.
Partnerships
In order to build such capabilities, the UK based engineering consultancies
(private sector) can form international partnerships with governments, NGOs,
CBOs, Bi-lateral, Multi-lateral agencies, civil society and academia, to work
together in our globalized world, sharing local knowledge with technical expertise
to facilitate sustainable development;
Addressing global challenges requires a concerted effort, involving
all actors. Through partnerships and alliances, and by pooling
comparative advantages, we increase our chances of success (UN
Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon).
The great potential of partnerships lies in the different assets that each sector
could bring. The challenge of cross-sectoral partnerships, including cultural
differences, could be overcome through a shared commitment to success, clearly
defined goals and ownership, and accountability from both partners. The
challenge for effective partnerships for development lies in harmonizing the
approaches of public and private giving e.g. ensuring that the diverse flows of
financing (traditional development assistance and the new forms of giving are
aligned for greater development impact) and ensuring the actions of private
donors are made consistent with long-term country development strategies.
(UN ECOSOC 2008). Figure 2 shows possible transfers and relationships between
stakeholders involved with (and partnering for) slum upgrading projects.
Nabeel Hamdi illustrates in his book Small Change that we need to reverse the
order of work and, in so doing, create more synergy and strengthen the linkage
between practical ground-level work and the more strategic business of policy
development and structure planningwe must increasingly move our territory
of operation outside of these [NGOs, CBOs, Local authorities, Governments,
Private entrepreneurs] individual realms and place our practice firmly in
between (Hamdi 2004). Hamdi shows the differences between the top-down
and bottom-up conventions and the alternative action planning (see Figure 3)
which offers a different process and, at the same time, consolidates the role of
the outsider as a catalyst, mediator, facilitator or enabler;
(Hamdi 2004)
= Technical s
= Social skills
= Finance
Government
e.g.
- Capacity
- Capability
- Ethical values
International Engineering
Consultancy
Local partner
(NGO, CBO)
e.g.
- Develop new business
- Experience for future projects
- Satisfy CSR
- Communication skills
- Cultural sensitivity
Slum
Local
Global Society
e.g.
- Job creation
Engineering training
e.g.
- Climate change mitigation
- MDGs achieved
Utilitie
Provid
(Cons
team)
Research Opportunity
There is an opportunity for international engineering consultancy to effectively
contribute to alleviating the situation of poverty in urban slums. Engineers can
apply a systems thinking and problem-solving approach to deliver solutions such
as improved shelter, water & sanitation and infrastructure for the sustainable
development of urban slums. This development of the built environment, will
impact on quality of live for the inhabitants of the slum and directly contribute to
satisfying the MDGs relating to slum dwellers and access to water. In addition,
these contributions will in turn (through improved living conditions and related
impacts on health, education, gender) enable local communities to build human
capital to develop self-sustained while equalising inequality.
International consultants from the private sector may have desirable skills,
knowledge and the capability to attract supportive funding to direct to slum
upgrading projects that may not be accessible locally. Private sector engineering
consultancies also have the option to integrate their corporate social
responsibility (CSR) within their core business practice enabling them to satisfy
the social responsibility of their business, as well as initiate further business in
the developing context, possibly to profit from the international development. As
well as development, humanitarian relief and post-disaster/post-conflict
situations offers a window of opportunity for development where international
engineering consultancies could play a part. A new industry may emerge, an
introduction into the market place of a new privatised humanitarian assistance
where consultancies could work alongside NGOs and CBOs (Community Based
Organisations) pooling their skills. The international contribution and partnership
could work to build capacity and governance in the developing country through
effective policy dialogue and advocacy.
However despite the expected advantage that international consultancy could
bring to development, there are also a number of important considerations and
possibly negative impacts that inappropriate international assistance could
result in. For international assistance to be successful, it must be sustainable.
Environmental, Economical and Social impacts must all be carefully considered.
Research objective and need
This research is currently at the early stages of development. A literature review
has been conducted on the past and current practices of international
development assistance and slum upgrading which indicates that as the world is
changing rapidly, so too must the nature of these practices. These practices
must adapt and keep up with a changing climate, population and rapid
urbanization in order to continue to make an effective contribution.