Trialog 150/151 Urban Technology & Collaboration in Informal Settlements in African Cities

Editorial

Informal settlements are home to the majority of urban residents across the African continent. The urbanisation process in this region differs from that in places like Latin America and Southeast Asia, as it is occurring at a time when digital devices, such as smartphones, are becoming more accessible to a larger portion of the urban population. Simultaneously, digital tools are being developed to support planning processes and enhance collaboration among communities and different stakeholders in the urban context. Thus, the intersection of urban technology and interventions in informal settlements is emerging as a critical area of interest and research. This special issue of Trialog showcases different use cases and perspectives in this research field, while critically reflecting on the challenges and limitations of urban technologies and collaborative approaches.

The fast-changing nature of these settlements often results in a lack of accurate spatial data, and outdated records. This lack of up-to-date information poses significant challenges for urban policymakers and public entities trying to address residents’ needs.

At the same time, mapping informal areas is often met with resistance as representation on a map can convey recognition of settlement status, which some authorities want to avoid. Other times, it is the residents themselves who refuse to be mapped, fearing the risk of eviction. Consequently, our understanding of the spatial distribution, evolving patterns, and social and demographic profiles of inhabitants within these settlements remains constrained. While citizen science and emerging technologies offer new opportunities for collecting high-quality data to advocate for basic services and civil rights, this field remains largely unexplored.

In this edition of Trialog, we present contributions that examine and highlight how urban data and digital technology can support cooperative efforts in informal settlements, thus fostering sustainable urban development and enhancing the livelihoods of communities. The emphasis of the thematic issue is on empirically driven studies, encompassing practical projects and experiences. With contributions from researchers, data analysts, urban practitioners, community organisations and artists, we aim to embrace a diverse range of perspectives and bridge the realms of academia and practical application. Furthermore, we wish to provide a platform for urban professionals to share their diverse experiences and case studies on this topic; hence, to build a community.

This special issue builds upon and explores themes discussed at the scientific symposium ‘Urban Technology & Collaboration in Informal Settlements in African Cities: Enhancing Livelihoods and Empowering Communities’. The event, held in Windhoek in November 2023, was organised by UNITAC Hamburg and the Namibia University of Science and Technology, in collaboration with Shack Dwellers International (SDI) and the African Centre for Cities (ACC).

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UNITAC Hamburg is a unique partnership at the interface of science and international development, bringing together cutting-edge applied research and impact-driven local implementation in a global context. UNITAC uses innovation, prototyping, and applied research methodologies to develop innovative solutions that accelerate the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

This partnership comprises the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), the United Nations Office for Information and Communication Technology (OICT), and HafenCity University.

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Anindita Sarkar examines the effectiveness of water ATMs as a solution to water insecurity in Nairobi’s Mathare slums. While these digital vending machines offer affordability and flexibility, they face the challenges of unreliability, complexity, and operating within a context of inadequate supply and a cartel-controlled infrastructure. The research highlights how these technologies, rather than being purely ‘smart’ solutions, evolve into hybrid systems shaped by local practices and social contexts, challenging the notion of universal technological fixes for urban water access issues.

Building on extensive fieldwork, the paper by Francesca Ceola and Rebecca Enobong Roberts explores collaborative mapping practices in Lagos, Nigeria, revealing a significant yet largely invisible population of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in urban informal settlements. Using a citizen science approach, the research demonstrates the value of involving urban communities in co-owned knowledge production, emphasising the importance of aligning research with informal systems and community-led approaches for empowering both IDPs and urban informal communities.

Catherine Gateri and Dennis Mbugua examine the application of the Social Tenure Domain Model, an innovative digital technology, in addressing the land tenure information gap within two informal settlements in Nairobi, Kenya. The research explores how civil society organisations utilise the model to create comprehensive land ownership profiles, raise awareness about living conditions, and advocate for improved urban services.

A case from Namibia, the Okahandja Informal Settlement Upgrading project, with a focus on bottom-up data collection, is presented by Tapiwa Maruza, Anna Muller and Jennilee Kohima. The research explores the growing need for development agencies and communities to shift from paper-based to digital data collection. It demonstrates that a combination of digital and paper-based data collection methods has the greatest potential for ensuring community participation and understanding.

Data usage in the context of waste management and the role of circular economy is explored by Alexander Jachnow, Michael Krause and Hazel Maviya, focusing on service provision in informal settlements in Cape Town, South Africa. The article demonstrates how accurate open-source data in the Organic Waste Collection project can lead to more effective urban management, highlighting the potential for digital technology to drive local benefits and create synergies across multiple interventions.

The opinion piece by Dorcas Nthoki Nyamai and Alexander Jachnow examines the tension between the ‘just city’ and ‘smart city’ concepts in sub-Saharan African urban contexts. The authors offer a critical reflection on how urban digitalisation impacts social justice, considering the potential risks to citizens’ autonomy as well as the role of data in creating just cities.

Israel Taiwo, Olanike Olarinre, Olomolatan Ibitoye, Sunday Oladejo, Akintobi Olusanmi, Joseph Fadamiro and Olugbenga Taiwo demonstrate a practical approach to enhancing community governance in an informal settlement in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria, through collaborative creation and management of a geospatial database. Utilising UAV mapping, open-source technologies, and participatory methods, the research shows how geospatial tools can improve decision-making and community understanding. The study also raises critical questions about data ethics and ownership in informal-settlement contexts.

Based on an example from Windhoek, Namibia, Sigrid Busch, Ludger Eltrop, Ulrich Fahl, Gaby Hansen, Astrid Ley, Phillip Lühl, Melkisedek Namupolo, Friederike Thonke and Gert van der Merwe present collaborative informal-settlement upgrading and SDG monitoring methods using Kobo Toolbox. Through the Community Land Information Programme (CLIP), community members are enabled to play an active role in knowledge production. The surveys were enhanced with questions tailored to specific sustainable development goals (SDGs) and adapted to the neighbourhood level.

The special issue is framed by a photo essay created by young photographers and the Mwelu Foundation from Mathare, Nairobi. They aim to showcase how technology is being integrated into the daily life of residents in the neighbourhoods, including its positive as well as its negative impacts on livelihoods and communities. The goal is to capture and showcase images that reflect the relationship between the residents of Mathare and their everyday use of technology.