What Type of Urban Social Development We Want?

by

Noman Ahmed

URBAN SOCIAL DEVELOPMENTAN OUTLINE FOR DISCUSSION

1. Inclusive – a process where initiatives andbenefits of development include all –including the urban poor communities

2. Participatory – where people engage withdecision making from the beginning – theyare not invited to ribbon cutting alone!

3. Non-physical dimensions – focusing on softinputs to community development – in health,education, social welfare, and disastermitigation – less brick and mortar, more inputon changing quality of human life

Negotiation for choices –A community in Thailand

Grameen Bank housing intervention – a people centered initiative

OPP technical assistance to people

Peoples development work supported by OPP

4. Provision for marginalized – creating anenvironment of acceptance and tolerancefor the marginalized to sustain and retainexistence in respective contexts –preventing persecution, discrimination andmarginalization

5. Re-defining poverty - Relating povertywith resourcelessness; denial of social,economic and cultural freedom; targetingfor victimization; inducing displacement;……….beyond the 1$ or 2$ a day labels!

Grameen mobilizing women

A view of community architects at work - Nepal

Internally displaced people -Pakistan

Internally displaced people -Pakistan

Grameen housing intervention -Bangladesh

6. Fresh appraisal of informality –

• Legality vs Legitimate

• Administrative sanction vs People’s validation

• (Informality) as a condition of transition vspunishment for squalor

7. Qualifying interventions and institutionalarrangements

• Accepting peoples organisations as legitimate

• Supporting and replicating solutions that are plannedand executed by people

• Modifying and adjusting mega projects to people’sconcerns

• Safeguarding environmental assets for communitysurvival and sustenance

• Re-visiting public policy via lessons from communitysuccesses