Seminar Urban informality and housing policies in developing countries

Access to safe and affordable housing remains an unfulfilled basic need for millions of poor people across the globe, many of them living and working informally. Meanwhile, the concept of housing in the current development practice is itself undergoing a major change. Gone are the days when housing for the poor was understood merely as a physical structure for sheltering families. An integrated approach to housing in the context of sustainable and pro-poor urban development envisages: responding adequately to physical, socio-economic, cultural and psychological needs of an individual; special emphasis on creating a conducive environment for children, as well as other vulnerable groups to live in safe and healthy neighbourhoods; ensuring adequate and easy access to basic services so that women are not overburdened; use of low cost construction materials and indigenous technology; and community participation and self help in both the design and the process of construction. Content - Urbanisation processes and trends in developing countries - Informal housing and settlements in different regional contexts - Development paradigms influencing conceptions of housing and informality - Changing conceptions about urban informality in the international community - Policy responses towards informal housing and urbanisation in different regions - Strategies and examples towards informal housing and urbanisation in development co-operation Objectives and methods The objective of the course is to develop knowledge, understanding and values on housing issues in the context of growing economies. It provides an orientation of key housing policy instruments and housing approaches of development co-operation, with a focus on intervention addressing low-income residents living in informal settlements. It will be a combination of lectures, discussions, presentations of case studies, individual and group works. Particularity The course is offered both as the SPRING-MSc.'s -Housing- lecture (1 SWS) and as Module 19 lecture of the Spatial Planning BSc.-programme (2 SWS) and therefore simultaneously addresses these two student groups. The lecture is held in English. Fachgebiet International Planning Studies Technische Universität Dortmund SoSe 2012 Bachelor Raumplanung (2007) Dr. Dick Eva M.A