Linking informal settlements to the city center
Linking informal settlements and poor neighborhoods to the dynamic city center is crucial in urban areas across the world. Only by having access to the opportunities of the formal city can the urban poor pull themselves out of poverty. The following accounts from Nairobi, Mumbai, Jakarta, Rio de Janeiro, and Mexico City present examples of solutions, including transportation projects, employment initiatives, and the peaceful relocation of street vendors. Read on to learn more, and then join the discussion below.
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Linking those on the informal outskirts to the formal centre
Katy Fentress, Nairobi Community Manager
Slums are mostly viewed from the outside as alienated environments in which people languish in abject poverty, barely managing to scrape by.
Although there has been some progress toward debunking the stereotype of slum dwellers as lazy, criminal, and somewhat ignorant, there is still an overall perception that people who live in informal settlements are different, not like the rest of society and hence not quite able to get ahead in life.
Over the past year, the Nairobi URB.im bureau has attempted to challenge the dominant discourse, preferring instead to present a more nuanced portrait of slum dwellers – a label that in itself evokes a homogenous image of the people it describes. Articles documenting tales of enlightened youth, inspired artists, political activists, promising children and no-nonsense Grannies, have been juxtaposed to the more harsh realities that undoubtedly many urban poor inhabit.
As part of this endeavour to present a more balanced and objective picture, the reality of employment and income-generating activities must also be scrutinised, in order to differentiate the different ways in which slum dwellers live their lives.
When we consider how people make a living in Nairobi slums, the words casual labour, informal sector activity, and small-level entrepreneurship spring to mind. This is by and large correct: both the Pamoja Trust Slum inventory and the Nairobi Urban Health and Demographic Surveillance System (NUHDSS) found that the majority of people were engaged in the above-mentioned income-generating activities or that they were altogether unemployed. Both papers, however, mention that in different slums, to varying extents, a small percentage of people are engaged in formal, salaried employment. The numbers vary: in some of the slums surveyed by Pamoja Trust they were as low as 2 percent, while the results of the NUHDSS Korogocho and Viwandani surveys showed that somewhere in the region of 20 percent of adult men there are formally employed.
So how does someone living in a marginalised informal settlement succeed in securing a formal job in, for example, the city centre? Mainly in the same way that anyone else would: by getting qualified and submitting a resumé that details why they are the right candidate for the position. However, like everyone else in the world, sometimes educated and/or trained people need the help of an agency to put them in contact with prospective employers.
"We help qualified people get jobs, no matter where they come from," says Elly Omolo, the director of an employment agency that specialises in putting informal settlement dwellers into formal sector employment. "In order for someone to qualify for our services, they need to have a high school diploma or above, some kind of professional training, and an ability to present themselves well and communicate."
Omolo's company operates in a neighbourhood called Ngara and is called Management Training and Consultant Services. About 60 percent of their clients hail from nearby informal settlements like Mathare. They do not have a website and operate mainly though word of mouth but, according to Omolo, this has not hindered business.
The company's modus operandi expands beyond the basic task of putting job seekers in contact with relevant employers. Omolo and his team take the time to conduct pre-interviews in which they assess what the candidates' weaknesses are and establish their communication skills. After that, clients are brought through a mentorship program in which their resumé is fine-tuned and they are coached in interview techniques.
"We feel it is important to mentor our clients in order to ensure they get the best possible job for themselves," Omolo tells us. "In return we expect them to give us 50 percent of their first month's salary," a strong incentive for the company to place their candidates in the best employment possible.
Slum dwellers can face stigma when it comes to applying for formal employment. Managers might hesitate to hire a security guard, receptionist or accountant that comes from a place like Mathare, widely viewed as crime-ridden and unsafe. However, good presentation goes a long way, and the work done by Omolo and other companies like his is invaluable as it provides a leg up into the formal world from which these people are so often excluded.
In the end, adult slum dwellers need jobs, not charity. Any agency that helps connect them to the city centre and formal employment deserves to be lauded, supported, and emulated on a larger scale.
Mumbai's poor create new economic hubs
Middle class families living in the suburbs may continue to commute to the southern financial district for white collar jobs, while studies show that the poor find work closer to home. These jobs include domestic help — drivers, maids, and cooks — hawkers, vegetable vendors, shoe polishers, and other micro-businesses. "Regardless of where they live, the poor, on average, commute shorter distances than the non-poor, implying that they work closer to home than non-poor households. The fact that the poor work closer to home than the non-poor could be due to commuting costs: rail and bus fares are a higher percent of income for the poor than the non-poor," says a World Bank study on transport and poverty in Mumbai. The study also reveals that over 60 percent of the poor walk to work.
Jakarta juga milik Pedagang Kaki Lima
Jakarta, seperti kota-kota besar lainnya di Indonesia, dalam perkembangannya mengalami masalah dengan kondisi dualistik. Selain berdiri bangunan-bangunan megah dan moderen, juga berkembang pesat kegiatan Pedagang Kaki Lima (PKL) yang beragam jenisnya. Jakarta, dengan tingginya konsumsi masyarakat urban, menjadi magnet bagi PKL untuk mengadu nasib.
Integrando os bairros de baixa renda à 'cidade formal' por meio de transporte e emprego
Devido ao desenvolvimento urbano e à dinâmica própria da cidade, a maior parte dos bairros de baixa renda está relativamente perto de varias "centralidades", que são áreas residenciais ou comerciais que atraem atividade económica. Aquilo que estes bairros precisam não é só receber melhoras nas condições de vida dentro das comunidades, mais a melhoria das conexões com as "centralidades" para melhorar o aceso a emprego, serviços sociais e outros.
Parte da solução a necessidade de integrar os bairros de baixa renda com a "cidade formal" é melhorando o transporte e a mobilidade destas áreas. Em resposta, a Prefeitura promove a construção de meios alternativos de transporte como teleféricos e elevadores públicos nas comunidades com difícil acesso, sejam por que são muito extensas como o Complexo do Alemão, ou pela sua localização nos altos morros como Cantagalo. A cidade também está promovendo a integração e expansão do sistema público de transporte para oferecer a seus moradores, especialmente aqueles de baixa renda, mecanismos eficientes, confortáveis e econômicos de transporte.
O apoio dos moradores de bairros carentes na capacitação e procura de emprego e a outra parte da solução. Atualmente, a cidade tem oito Centros Públicos de Emprego, Trabalho e Renda, localizados além do centro da cidade, nas áreas com maior concentração de área carentes, como Jacarepaguá e Campo Grande. Estes centros recebem diariamente pessoas interessadas em cadastrar gratuitamente seus currículos e fazem vínculos com as empresas que procuram candidatos de acordo com a necessidade e o perfil. Estes centros também providenciam assistência na procura de emprego, na preparação para uma entrevista, etc. Também oferecem cursos profissionalizantes em varias práticas. Por exemplo, no mês passado, cerca de 5.300 vagas foram oferecidas para cursos gratuitos de operador de telemarketing, pintor de obras ou de automóveis e operador de computador, entre outros. Estes cursos fazem parte do Programa Nacional de Acesso ao Ensino Técnico e ao Emprego (Pronatec), que oferece além do curso, o material didático e uma bolsa de transporte e alimentação para todos os beneficiários.
Servicios básicos para asentamientos urbanos pobres y marginados
Cifras nacionales del CONEVAL afirman que para el año 2008 4.8 millones de personas vivían en pobreza multidimensional en México extrema en las zonas urbanas, es decir, presentaban en promedio 3.7 carencias sociales a la vez, es decir, de acuerdo a CONEVAL las personas tenían falta de acceso a 3 de las siguientes oportunidades sociales: falta de acceso a educación, salud, seguridad social, calidad de la vivienda, servicios básicos en la vivienda y alimentación. En este contexto, el propósito principal del Programa Hábitat es contribuir a la superación de la pobreza y al mejoramiento de la calidad de vida de los habitantes de zonas urbanas marginadas, por medio del fortalecimiento y mejora de la organización y participación social, así como del entorno urbano de dichos asentamientos. En este sentido, se vinculan las áreas marginadas con oportunidades de desarrollo social para la población vulnerable. La población sujeta a este programa reside en zonas que presentan alta concentración de hogares en situaciones de pobreza patrimonial, es decir insuficiencia del ingreso disponible para adquirir la canasta alimentaria, así como realizar los gastos necesarios en salud, vestido, vivienda, transporte y educación, y que presentan además déficit de infraestructura, equipamiento y servicios urbanos.
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Comments
Cities and their diverse economic hubs beyond the city center
I think that the greatest policy challenge in terms of integrating low income neighborhoods to the formal city is not necessarily to link them to the city center, but improving conditions inside each community and helping them establish better connections to the rest of the city.
Of course the city center has an emblematic importance in most cities, and it might still be a relevant hub. But for the mega cities we cover at URB.IM, most of them are already so big that the city center isn’t the only economic hub for people to be connected with, such is described in the case of Rio. There are newer, more convenient "centralities" that attract commercial, industrial, and tourist activity, leaving the city center just as one more option.
Also, as Carlin shows us from Mumbai, not all informal dwellers have the incentives/interest to commute for hours to work at the city center, as there are other alternatives closer to their homes, even within their own communities. Finally, as Maria Fernanda describes from Habitat, the Mexican urban upgrading program, what is important is the investment inside of the communities so they can improve their social and economic conditions and have better standards of living.
Walking in Rio?
Catalina, I think we're in agreement that the traditional city center as we knew it is waning in importance, especially in megacities. With the creation of SEZs, new hubs of economic importance have been set up around these cities. In addition, informal settlements themselves have created their own dynamic economic opportunities. Still, I agree with you that an innovative transportation network is key to linking the formal with the informal, no matter if there is one central area or many important areas. Rio seems to be doing a lot of interesting projects on this front. I've heard there is a bike-sharing program happening, which would be amazing to have in Mumbai, but doesn't have the support to get off the ground. On a more basic level, since statistics show that a majority of trips in this city are within a 3-km radius, better walking conditions has become an issue of increasing importance. There are hardly any sidewalks, making it dangerous to get around on foot, despite it being the only option for many people. What are the conditions like in Rio, especially in poorer neighborhoods? Are there any interesting programs working on this issue?
WALKING IN RIO
Carlin, walking in Rio is actually a very common activity, and in most cases a pleasant experience. I would say that most people all around the city, combine walking with another mean of transportation being it the metro, bus or bike. As we have discussed earlier, the city is expanding its integrated network of public transportation so that people can have a better and a more affordable service.
But your question focuses on low income neighborhoods and the walking conditions. Remember that Rio de Janeiro is very hilly, and many favelas are located on thier sides, so the city’s topography is on its own a big challenge. In general, walking in these steep mountains has never been a problem to its dwellers, but let’s say it becomes a burden if they’re carrying market bags, or walking with children, the elderly, or somebody with a physical disability. That is why the cable cars and elevators have been so welcome in many communities. Unfortunately there are several communities that are lacking these infrastructures and are requiring greater investment.
In general, the conditions of streets and sidewalks within low income neighborhoods are fairly good, improvements that can be attributed to urban upgrading programs in the city. What I would say that many neighborhoods still need is night illumination of smaller streets and public spaces in order to improve safety in their communities and facilitate night walking as well.
Ciclo vicioso
El artículo de Carlin me recordó lo que según Esther Duflo es un círculo vicioso en las zonas marginadas y en condiciones de pobreza. En primera instancia al ser zonas en donde no hay infraestructura social, la población presenta dificultades para conectarse con el resto de la ciudad; como por ejemplo trasladarse a los centros de trabajo en donde pueden obtener un ingreso. No obstante, independiente del costo de transportación tanto económico como en recursos de tiempo, la población de escasos recursos obtiene trabajos de mano de obra sin ser calificada por lo que los salarios son muy bajos. La economista afirma que como consecuencia la población pobre tiene que permanecer en su área de influencia y emprender estrategias de ingreso que satisfagan las necesidades básicas. No obstante este tipo de emprendedurismo se ve coartado por la falta de acceso a créditos por lo que tienen que diversificar el tipo de negocio para disminuir el riesgo, siendo que este está íntimamente ligado a los recursos propios. En este sentido, la población marginada y en pobreza no puede pasar de estrategias de ingresos a pequeños negocios que permitan que otros miembros de la comunidad se empleen, por lo que el emprendimiento de estrategias de ingresos es una alternativa que nuevamente hace que los pobres permanezcan en su comunidad. Para conectar los asentamientos con la economía de la ciudad es necesario implementar diversas estrategias integrales como transporte, infraestructura, servicios básicos, capacitación, acceso a crédito y a tecnologías de la información; que en conjunto permitan que las personas pobres tengan acceso al mercado.
Penataan PKL di Jakarta, komentar Asosiasi Pedagang Kaki Lima
Meski Pemerintah Provinsi DKI Jakarta telah menunjukkan political will dan keperpihakan pada pemberdayaan PKL, beberapa kritik dan usulan muncul dari Asosiasi Pedagang Kaki Lima (APKLI). APKLI mendesak pemerintah DKI Jakarta untuk memberlakukan kebijakan yang berlandaskan karakter dasar PKL dalam merelokasi maupun penataan kawasan baru PKL.
Karakter dasar PKL yang dimaksud antara lain; PKL selalu ada di tempat keramaian atau tempat yang memiliki potensi dan daya tarik ekonomi. Sehingga penempatan PKL di mal, kios, maupun gedung, kurang efektif, bahkan seringkali gagal jika tidak memperhatikan kemudahan akses bagi konsumen.
Usul menarik juga disampaikan APKLI supaya beberapa Jalan utama di Jakarta menjadi "Sunday Market PKL" alias jalan ditutup sementara di hari Minggu untuk arena berjualan, sebagai bagian upaya penataan PKL, serta revitalisasi budaya pariwisata Jakarta.
http://www.gatra.com/ekonomi-1/28733-apkli-desak-jokowi-revisi-perda-pkl...
Michael replied on Permalink
I would partly agree with the
I would partly agree with the author that these training institutions does help the unemployed youths gain necessary skill sets and attitudes to land a job in formal institutions in the city or elsewhere. Yes, it is true that the place where you come from play an important role in getting that plum job and hence, it is needed to fine tune their attitudes. But, I've heard success stories and come across people in the slums of Mumbai (India), who've created a niche for themselves. Their entrepreneurial skills have made their business expand out of their neighborhood and their clients include who's and who's of the city. Given an opportunity they can excel and compete with the best in the business. However, what these slums in the city of Mumbai lacks is basic amenities like potable water, sanitation, healthcare, education, housing etc.
And yes, there are organisations that are actively involved to give the youths and the people living in these slums to better their lives by undertaking lots of development programs.
entirely
Thanks for the comment Michael,
I agree with you that people who come from informal settlements often have no choice but to be entrepreneurial. Hence over the past few months we have discussed many initiatives that have been launched in the slums by the people of the slums.
It is however important that these places not be totally cut off from the surrounding formal environment so I would argue that small agencies that help talented and qualified people get a leg-up in the career ladder provide an invaluable service and one that many Aid agencies are not capable of providing.
Building Bridges (Literally)
Catalina, I think you hit the nail on the head discussing the role of new economic hubs outside the CBD. A recent article in the New York Times discussed this issue in Cairo better than I ever could. Post-revolutionary Egypt has seen new infrastructure developments initiate from within the informal areas and Ard El Lewa has created its own ramp from available materials to connect itself to the Ring Road, the major highway that links all of Cairo.
Essentially it all comes down to making these megacities user-friendly for everyone by investing in both physical and human capital. Carlin's question about pedestrians made me think about who are the streets are really for? The person in the back of the Mercedes? The taxi driver? The family on the motorcycle? Cairo is for all of these people. Many of the poor who live here have come based on the promise that they would find better opportunities in the city and as such the city should be accessible to them. It will be interesting to see how all of these thoughts play out in the upcoming articles about "City Planning Instruments."
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