Politics of governing Resilient Cities for the poor and by the poor: Lessons learned from the largest slum Korail of Dhaka, Bangladesh

Transcription

1 Politics of governing Resilient Cities for the poor and by the poor: Lessons learned from the largest slum Korail of Dhaka, Bangladesh S M Mehedi Ahsan DAAD Fellow: Urban Management Habitat Unit, Technical University of Berlin Date: May 13, 2012, GSI Bonn, Germany Seite 1

2 Outline Conceptual Framework Context Climate Change & Urbanization in Bangladesh Slum Improvement in Urban Development Framework Case Study Brief Profile Dhaka City and it s Climate Vulnerability Brief Profile of Korail Slum Climate Vulnerability of Korail Slum Adaptation to the Climate Change: practices in Korail. What are the major challenges for Bangladeshi cities for climate adaptation? Linkage of Practices with the Conceptual Framework What lessons can be considered in future urban adaptation projects? Seite 2

3 Conceptual Framework Urban poor, and particularly those in informal settlements, are uniquely vulnerable. They are the most likely to live in low-lying areas, on steep slopes, in ravines, and in other risk prone areas. The quality of their housing is poorest and least resistant to extreme weather events. They lack the resources, and often the information, to respond in ways to mitigate their increasingly precarious situations. IPCC 4 th assessment report: working group II Amartya Sen s Capability Approach: Capability refers to a person or group s freedom to promote or achieve valuable functionings. The definition of capability combines Functionings and Capabilities, Agency and Freedom. Urban Poor can be resilient to Climate Change Vulnerability if -The urban poor are Capable & -The institutions are capable: Municipality, State, Market Seite 3

4 Context Area: 143,998 sqkm Population:160 mio Urban Population: 55 mio (estimated) Urban Poor: 20 mio (estimated) - Himalaya to the north - Bay of Bengal to the south Source: Climate Change Vulnerability Index (CCVI) 2011, Maplecroft Seite 4

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6 How much GHG Bangladesh is producing Seite 6

7 Bangladesh is contributing very little (less than 1/5 of 1%) but suffering the MOST!!! Flooding River Erosion Cyclone Waterlogging Sea Level Rise and Coastal Embankments Salinity Drought Seite 7

8 % of Total Population People are migrating to CITIES => (mostly live in SLUMS of Dhaka) Level of Urbanization in Bangladesh % of total Seite 8

9 People are migrating to CITIES => (mostly live in SLUMS of Dhaka) 16 40,000/sq km Dhaka s Unprecedented Population Density: The urban area is the world s most dense, having recently passed Hong Kong (based, again on United Nations estimates and projections). Covering a land area of little more than 100 square miles, Dhaka s population density is now approaching in excess of 100,000 per square mile (40,000 per square kilometer). At that density, the New York urban area would accommodate all of the population of the United States and Mexico Seite 9

10 Dhaka is the Fastest growing Mega City of the World Seite 10

11 Mega City Dhaka: Is it Vulnerable??? Please visit

12 What Bangladesh is doing -Government of Bangladesh prepared Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan Established Climate Change Trust Fund: (total 62 project registered)16 project on Mitigation & 46 projects on adaptation and capacity development. Only one project for cities and no particular focus for the urban poor!! Urban Planning Practice in Dhaka -The Dhaka Improvement Trust (DIT) was established in 1956 and Master Plan for Dhaka City was prepared in In 1995 Dhaka Metropolitan Development Plan prepared. -In 2010 Detailed Area Plan of Dhaka City Prepared. But slum improvement/urban poverty reduction is completely missing in these plans. Slum Improvement in Dhaka/Bangladesh Slum improvement is comparatively a new initiative in the development arena of Bangladesh. It started in 1980s with UNICEF supported Slum Improvement Project in Dhaka City and some other Municipalities. Since then UNICEF is still continuing the support for slum improvement of Bangladesh. In early 2000 UNDP also started Local Partnership for Poverty Reduction Project (LPUPAP) and in 2008 the follow up of this project UPPR funded by DFID, UNHABITAT & UNDP. Beside many NGOs also working on focusing Water Supply Sanitation, Primary Health care and gender education Seite 12

13 BUILT-IN RESILIENCE Learning from grassroots coping strategies to climate vulnerability Research Project jointly conducted by University of Manchester & BRAC Development Institute during 2009 Korail, Dhaka Bangladesh -Considered the biggest slum of Bangladesh. -Area: 90 acres (app). Estimated population: over 100,000 -Experienced floods: 1988, 1998, 2004, Mostly self-employed & in service jobs. Research Method: Qualitative Survey : 30 HHs. Interview: 2 HH members in two different times Seite 13

14 Korail Slum: Outlook and Vulnerabilities Korail Slum Seite 14

15 Korail Slum: Outlook and Vulnerabilities Seite 15

16 Before Disaster During Disaster After Disaster Findings: Actions taken by the community -Increase height of the furniture. -Make barriers infront of the door. -Make higher plinth. -Make higher storage facilities. -Store Food and Water -Change Building Materials -Construct Drainage/ improve drainage system -Move family to safer place. -Remove/relocate service line higher. -Sleep on the furniture above the flood level. -Use mobile cooker. -Suffer from food shortage. -Share services from un-affected neighbors. -Borrow money to tackle the hardship. -Move families to safer places. Make barriers in front of the door. -Move assets. -Clear drainage. -Food sharing. -Community organized for improved drainage system. -Rebuild Structure. -Increase height of plinth, doors, sill level. -Take loan for rebuilding. -Help community members to rebuild. -Change building materials. -Link drainage to main system. Share resources with neighbors. -Move to new location (3.3%) Source: Seite 16

17 Findings: Source: Seite 17

18 Findings: Source: Seite 18

19 Source: Seite 19

20 Findings: Source: Seite 20

21 Linkage of Practices with the Conceptual Framework: Capacity of Individual: Individual Korail people have the capacity to create successful, climate resilient and vibrant neighbourhood. Capacity of Dhaka City Corporation: Seite 21

22 What is Happening now in Korail: Eviction without any alternative provision!!! Photograph taken by: Ishtiuq Hossain, GIZ Bangladesh on April 04, 2012 A right to stay for the inhabitants of Korail Get informed and sign here: Seite 22

23 What Dhaka City failed to do?? -In 2010 Detailed Land Use Plan Prepared for Dhaka City. But fails to implement it Because: -Capacity of the City Authority is weak. -Lack of trained Human Resources. -Inadequate Financial Resources. -Poor Governance. All the violations of Land Use Plan is the main contributing factor of water logging in Dhaka City Seite 23

24 Violating the Land Use Plan by City Authority Itself!!! Seite 24

25 What Dhaka Can t Control What Bangladesh Can t Control 92% upstream water from (Nepal & India) flow through the Bangladeshi rivers towards Bay of Bengal? Seite 25

26 What Dhaka Can t Control What Bangladesh Can t Control Climate Change is a Global Agenda but Is Adaptation a local Action?? Seite 26

27 Local elections Most Important Lesson: All the different levels should work together for responding to Climate Change International Level Supra-National Level National Level Regional Level City Level Community Level HH Level Municipal Governance Slum Improvement Committees Community Based Organizations Administration Local Decision Makers Administration Civil Society Seite 27

28 References: Alexandre Apsan Frendiani (2007): Amarty Sen, the World Bank and the Redress of Urban Poverty: A Brzilian Case Study.(published by UNDP). Elisa T. Bertuzzo (2012): The struggle for recognition, published in BDNEWS on April 30, 2012 Government of Bangladesh (2008): Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan. Jabin H, et al. (2009): Built in Resilience: Learning from Grassroots Coping Strategies to Climate Vulnerability presented in 5 th Urban Research Symposium. Shahadat hossain and Kirsten Hackenboach (2012): The senseless destruction of a vibrant part of Dhaka, published in BDNES on April 09, Seite 28

29 Contact Details: S M Mehedi Ahsan DAAD Fellow: Urban Management Habitat Unit, Technical University of Berlin WH Hafenplatz Köthener Straße Berlin, Germany M E mehedi.ahsan2025@gmail.com S mehedi.ahsan1 (Skype) Seite 29