Resilience Pathways of Informal Settlements in Nairobi: Stasis, Decline, Adaptation, and Transformation

Jan Fransen*, Beatrice Hati, Naomi van Stapele, Samuel Kiriro, Rosebella Nyumba

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)
54 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This study investigates resilience pathways of informal settlements, and their diverse impacts through community-based participatory research in Mathare and Korogocho, Nairobi. Results reveal that resilience pathways were relatively stable in the 1970s and 1980s, declined in the 1990s, and changed towards more adaptive approaches in the 2000s. Each period accommodates a dynamic mix of maladaptive, adaptive, and transformative resilience initiatives. Adaptive resilience initiatives are sustainable and adopt frugal practice to cope with resource constraints, without harming others. Transformative resilience initiatives are rare, as they require a significant shift in societal norms and institutions. The study emphasizes the need to recognize the dynamics and variety of resilience initiatives in informal settlements. The study therefore recommends (1) recognizing and supporting adaptive and transformative resilience initiatives; (2) recognizing the dynamics and variety of resilience initiatives of informal settlements; and (3) addressing inhibiting institutional settings of informal settlements.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)355-380
Number of pages26
JournalEuropean Journal of Development Research
Volume36
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 11 Jan 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024, European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI).

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