Human Settlements Review - Parliamentary Monitoring Group

Human Settlements Review, Volume 1, Number 1, 2010
A framework for assessing building technologies
for marginalised communities
Joe Odhiambo and Benson Wekesa
Abstract
Agrément South Africa
The majority of the urban poor population in most developing countries find shelter in informal
settlements, which are characterised by inadequate dwelling units. There is a need for building
technologies that are responsive to such communities and their environment to empower
them to make their own contribution to the process of improving their housing conditions.
Literature shows that during the past few decades there has been tremendous development
and evolution of alternative building technologies considered responsive to the urban poor.
However, there are no appropriate frameworks or methodologies that can be used to assess
the response of these technologies in a holistic manner. Most studies tend to address this
theme from a single point of view and without taking other issues into account. Example
are when people focus on the technical aspects of technology, such as production and
manufacturing processes, or when they deal with social, economic and environmental issues
separately.
This paper proposes a conceptual framework that can help to define and evaluate the
response of building technologies to the urban poor and their environment in a holistic manner
and in a regional context. It is based on the concept of sustainable development. Building
technologies can be analysed, evaluated and finally compared to select the optimal variant
according to a set of criteria. The outcome can enhance the understanding of the potentials
of the technologies which, in turn, can demonstrate how to empower the urban poor to make
their own contribution to the process of improving their housing conditions.
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1 Introduction
The majority of the poor urban population
(marginalised communities) in most developing
countries find shelter in informal settlements.
In general, the settlements are characterised
by inadequate dwelling units and lack of
basic infrastructure such as potable water,
electricity, access roads, sanitation facilities
and the majority of the inhabitants are poor
(UN-Habitat, 2003: chapter 5; Srinivas, 1994:
1-2). In Africa, from Cairo to Cape Town,
millions of poor urban dwellers reside in such
settlements. It is estimated that 166 million
people or 73% of sub-Saharan Africa’s urban
population reside in informal settlements (UN-
Habitat, 2004: 2; De Vries, 2003: 13). In South
Africa up to 9,1 million people currently reside
in informal settlements (StatsSA, 2001).