Abstract
This article assesses the role of social innovation (SI) as a driver of urban transformation through the case-based analysis of an ambitious social housing urban project in the Dominican Republic, specifically in the emblematic slum La Barquita, in the heart of northern Santo Domingo. This project was led by a dedicated public body, URBE, which is in charge of the coordination of several institutions and the management of the community participation. Since La Nueva Barquita integrates dimensions regarding the satisfaction of human needs, change in social relations, and increase of citizens’ sociopolitical capabilities, it may be considered a socially innovative initiative in the territorial development discussion. The article builds first on the literature on SI by drawing attention on governance and institutional structures in specific urban contexts. Based on a series of semi-direct interviews, it then focuses on the analysis of key moments regarding the definition, implementation and evaluation of the institutional dimension of the project from its launching in 2013.
Highlights
Growing large cities in developing countries have undergone poor planning processes and face the consequences of decades of inertia: The spatial concentration of low-income, unskilled workers in segregated residential quarters acts as a poverty trap with severe job restrictions, high rates of gender disparities, deteriorated living conditions, social exclusion and marginalization, and high incidence of crime. (UN Habitat, 2016)Case studies on urban neighbourhood transformation exist from different regions, regardless the urbanisation characteristics and the size of the cities
This article discussed the potential role of social innovation (SI) as a driver of inclusive urban transformation in the Central American city of Santo Domingo
The La Nueva Barquita (LNB) project has been analysed from a governance angle and from the socioterritorial approach of SI
Summary
Growing large cities in developing countries have undergone poor planning processes and face the consequences of decades of inertia: The spatial concentration of low-income, unskilled workers in segregated residential quarters acts as a poverty trap with severe job restrictions, high rates of gender disparities, deteriorated living conditions, social exclusion and marginalization, and high incidence of crime. (UN Habitat, 2016). That is precisely why our article studies the most recent and relevant urban social project in Santo Domingo, undertaken between 2013 and 2016, named La Nueva Barquita (LNB) The developers described it as a model integral urban project in the Dominican Republic that combines infrastructure building, social cohesion, and environmental sustainability objectives, in contrast with previous efforts that undertook only partial responses. The ambiguity of the SI concept makes it difficult to accurately define SI and assess the real level of its achievements in practice To escape such pitfalls, we have preferred to contribute to the Dominican urban debate by applying a socio-territorial theoretical approach to the LNB urban project, by trying to identify SI characteristics in the project design and by assessing those SI dimensions as observable in the implementation phase.
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