Project Management and Skills Enhancement in Informal Settlements Upgrading in Durban, South Africa

Georgiadou, M.C. and Loggia, C. 2017. Project Management and Skills Enhancement in Informal Settlements Upgrading in Durban, South Africa. Architecture, Media, Politics and Society (AMPS) Conference: Cities, Communities and Homes: Is the Urban Future Liveable?. Derby 21 - 23 Jun 2017 UCL Press.

TitleProject Management and Skills Enhancement in Informal Settlements Upgrading in Durban, South Africa
AuthorsGeorgiadou, M.C. and Loggia, C.
TypeConference paper
Abstract

One in eight people live in informal settlements, of which 80% is found in developing countries. In South Africa, around 50% of the population lives in urban centres, where more than 2,700 informal settlements exist. Informal settlements form a major challenge of the urban landscape, exacerbating issues related to poverty, inadequate infrastructure, housing and poor living conditions. Reflections on past upgrading efforts suggest that top-down policies have not been successful to date. By contrast, participatory techniques in planning and design, can be used to enhance community empowerment and a sense of local ownership. However, participation and collaboration can mean various things for informal upgrading and often the involvement of local communities is limited to providing feedback in already agreed development decisions from local authorities and construction companies. The paper explores ‘self-built’ approaches in informal settlement upgrading, using experiences and lessons learned from good available practice in the Durban metropolitan area. The research has two key objectives; namely:
• to identify the critical success factors in managing an upgrading project, discussing brief development, stakeholder management and project governance; and,
• to understand the various (formal or informal) forms of procurement, uncovering the need to acquire ‘the right resources at the right time’, exploring links with local industry and/or construction practice and considering the constraints involved in the process of complying with rigid municipality processes.
Empirical data are gathered in the form of semi-structured interviews, observations and focus groups with community leaders, NGOs, municipal officers and industry practitioners. The research aims to build capacity in local communities seeking to improve their quality of life and assist local authorities in enhancing their planning mechanisms. The findings can be also utilised by international agencies, policy-makers, implementers and practitioners working on upgrading programmes, plans and policies, particularly under the post 2015 UN SDGs and the Habitat III New Urban Agenda.

Keywordscommunity, construction, Durban, informal settlements, procurement, project management
Year2017
ConferenceArchitecture, Media, Politics and Society (AMPS) Conference: Cities, Communities and Homes: Is the Urban Future Liveable?
PublisherUCL Press
Accepted author manuscript
Publication dates
Published07 Sep 2017
Published16 Mar 2018
JournalAMPS Proceedings Series
Journal citation10, pp. 596-603
ISSN2398-9467
FunderRoyal Society
ESRC (Economic & Social Research Council)
Web address (URL) of conference proceedingshttp://architecturemps.com/proceedings/
Web address (URL)http://architecturemps.com/proceedings/
LicenseCC BY 4.0

Related outputs

Community-led vs. subsidised housing. Lessons from informal settlements in Durban
Georgiadou, M. and Loggia, C. 2024. Community-led vs. subsidised housing. Lessons from informal settlements in Durban. Housing Studies. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673037.2024.2397425

Assessing retrofit policies for fuel-poor homes in London
Georgiadou, M., Greenwood, D., Schiano-Phan, R. and Russo, F. 2024. Assessing retrofit policies for fuel-poor homes in London. Buildings and Cities. 5 (1), pp. 133-149. https://doi.org/10.5334/bc.416

A dataset of community perspectives on living conditions and disaster risk management in informal settlements: A case study in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa
Georgiadou, M., Gyamfi, D., Hirmer, S. and Loggia, C. 2024. A dataset of community perspectives on living conditions and disaster risk management in informal settlements: A case study in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. Data in Brief. 52, p. 109847. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2023.109847

Women in Construction, Wood and Forestry: a Resource Toolkit for Gender Equality at Work
Schiano-Phan, R., Guedes, C., Georgiadou, M., Clarke, L. and Duran-Palma, F. 2023. Women in Construction, Wood and Forestry: a Resource Toolkit for Gender Equality at Work. Brussels, Belgium European Federation of Building and Woodworkers. https://doi.org/10.34737/w7608

Tackling Fuel Poverty in London
Schiano-Phan, R., Georgiadou, M., Russo, F., Laurel, R., Anselmo, A. and Naccarato, M. 2023. Tackling Fuel Poverty in London. London University of Westminster. https://doi.org/10.34737/w69yw

African Off-grid Housing (AOH)
Cascone, P., Schiano-Phan, R., Lau, B., Georgiadou, M. and Laddaga, M. 2022. African Off-grid Housing (AOH). 2nd International Conference on Evolving Cities. Southampton 22 - 24 Sep 2021 University of Southampton. https://doi.org/10.55066/proc-icec.2021.17

Beyond self-help: learning from communities in informal settlements in Durban, South Africa In: African cities and collaborative futures
Georgiadou, M. and Loggia, C. 2021. Beyond self-help: learning from communities in informal settlements in Durban, South Africa In: African cities and collaborative futures. in: African cities and collaborative futures: Urban platforms and metropolitan logistics Manchester Manchester University Press. pp. 73-95

Towards Sustainable Informal Settlements: A Toolkit for Community-Led Upgrading in Durban, South Africa
Georgiadou, Maria Christina, Loggia, Claudia, Bisaga, Iwona and Parikh, Priti 2021. Towards Sustainable Informal Settlements: A Toolkit for Community-Led Upgrading in Durban, South Africa. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering Sustainability. 174 (2), pp. 83-93. https://doi.org/10.1680/jensu.20.00040

Barriers and opportunities for participatory environmental upgrading: Case study of Havelock informal settlement, Durban
Parikh, P., Bisaga, I., Loggia, C., Georgiadou, M. and Ojo-Aromokudu, J. 2020. Barriers and opportunities for participatory environmental upgrading: Case study of Havelock informal settlement, Durban. City and Environment Interactions. 5 100041. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cacint.2020.100041

An overview of benefits and challenges of building information modelling (BIM) adoption in UK residential projects
Georgiadou, M. 2019. An overview of benefits and challenges of building information modelling (BIM) adoption in UK residential projects. Construction Innovation. 19 (3), pp. 298-320. https://doi.org/10.1108/CI-04-2017-0030

Future-Proofed Design of Low-Energy Housing Developments: Case studies from the UK and Sweden
Georgiadou, M.C. 2017. Future-Proofed Design of Low-Energy Housing Developments: Case studies from the UK and Sweden. in: Bishop, J. (ed.) Building Sustainable Cities of the Future, Green Energy and Technology Switzerland Springer. pp. 29-56

'Normal' Informal living spaces in low-income human settlements in South Africa
Ojo-Aromokudu, Loggia, C and Georgiadou, M.C. 2016. 'Normal' Informal living spaces in low-income human settlements in South Africa. Perry, G. and Ledwon, S. (ed.) 52nd International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP) Congress. Durban 12 - 16 Sep 2016 ISOCARP.

An overview of top-down vs. bottom-up models for informal settlement upgrading in South Africa
Georgiadou, M.C., Loggia, C., Nunez Ferrera, I. and Fagan-Watson, B. 2016. An overview of top-down vs. bottom-up models for informal settlement upgrading in South Africa. Ledwon, S. and Perry, G. (ed.) 52nd International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP) Congress. Durban, South Africa 12 - 16 Sep 2016 ISOCARP (The Hague).

Community-led upgrading for self-reliance in informal settlements in South Africa: a review
Georgiadou, M.C. and Loggia, C. 2016. Community-led upgrading for self-reliance in informal settlements in South Africa: a review. RICS COBRA 2016. Toronto, Canada 19 - 22 Sep 2016 RICS.

Building Information Modelling in UK Construction Projects: A State of the Art Review
Georgiadou, M.C. 2016. Building Information Modelling in UK Construction Projects: A State of the Art Review. RICS COBRA 2016. Toronto, Canada 19 - 22 Sep 2016 RICS.

Future-Proofed Energy Design Approaches for Achieving Low-Energy Homes: Enhancing the Code for Sustainable Homes
Georgiadou, M.C. 2014. Future-Proofed Energy Design Approaches for Achieving Low-Energy Homes: Enhancing the Code for Sustainable Homes. Buildings. 4 (3), pp. 488-519. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings4030488

Future-Proofed Energy Design for Dwellings: Case studies from England and Application to the Code for Sustainable Homes
Georgiadou, M.C, Hacking, T. and Guthrie, P. 2013. Future-Proofed Energy Design for Dwellings: Case studies from England and Application to the Code for Sustainable Homes. Building Services Engineering Research and Technology. 34 (1), pp. 9-22. https://doi.org/10.1177/0143624412463016

Strategies and Techniques to Future-Proof the Energy Performance of Housing Developments
Georgiadou, M.C. and Hacking, T. 2012. Strategies and Techniques to Future-Proof the Energy Performance of Housing Developments. International Journal of Energy Sector Management. 6 (2), pp. 160-174. https://doi.org/10.1108/17506221211242040

Permalink - https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/q2qz8/project-management-and-skills-enhancement-in-informal-settlements-upgrading-in-durban-south-africa


Share this

Usage statistics

277 total views
166 total downloads
These values cover views and downloads from WestminsterResearch and are for the period from September 2nd 2018, when this repository was created.