Getting ahead of the game: A twin-track approach to improving existing slums and reducing the need for future slums

Abstract

While many of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) represent an ambitious attempt to reduce global poverty and improve the quality of life for the world’s poor, this cannot be said for the goal that concerns urban development. Goal 7 of the MDGs aims to improve the living conditions of 100 million slum dwellers by 2020. However, current estimates suggest that, at present, there are nearly 1 billion people living in slums, and that this number is projected to increase to 1.5 billion by 2020 and to 2 billion by 2030. Thus, even achieving the MDG would be to manage a retreat rather than achieve significant progress. The important policy objective for governments and the international community, therefore, is dramatically to exceed, not just meet, this MDG. This can best be achieved by adopting a twin-track approach towards existing and potential future slums. Innovative approaches to improving tenure security in existing unauthorized settlements can improve living conditions for current slum dwellers, while revising regulatory frameworks can reduce the need for future slums by significantly improving access to legal land and shelter. This paper provides evidence from recent research, which suggests that intermediate tenure options, combined with regulatory audits of planning regulations, standards and administrative procedures, can significantly improve living conditions within the human, technical and financial resources available. The approach is illustrated by a case study in Cambodia.