Introduction
Rapid urbanization has become one of the defining trends of the 21st century. Cities are expanding at unprecedented rates, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where urban growth often outpaces planning, infrastructure development, and service delivery. As a result, a significant proportion of urban populations reside in informal settlements—also referred to as slums, squatter settlements, or unplanned communities. These settlements are characterized by insecure land tenure, inadequate housing, limited access to basic services, and high exposure to environmental and socio-economic risks.
Informal settlements are disproportionately affected by climate change, natural hazards, public health crises, and economic shocks. Floods, heatwaves, landslides, water scarcity, and disease outbreaks frequently impact these areas, exacerbating poverty, inequality, and vulnerability. At the same time, residents of informal settlements demonstrate remarkable resilience, social cohesion, and adaptive capacity, often developing community-driven solutions to cope with risks.
This proposal, Urban Resilience Strategies for Informal Settlements, seeks to strengthen the resilience of informal urban communities by integrating climate adaptation, inclusive urban planning, improved service delivery, livelihood security, and community-led governance. The project adopts a people-centered, climate-sensitive, and inclusive approach to enhance the capacity of informal settlements to anticipate, absorb, adapt to, and recover from shocks and stresses.
Problem Statement
Informal settlements house over one billion people globally, and this number is expected to rise as urban populations continue to grow. Residents of these settlements face multiple, overlapping vulnerabilities, including:
- High exposure to climate-related hazards such as flooding, heat stress, and storms
- Poor-quality housing and inadequate infrastructure
- Limited access to safe water, sanitation, drainage, and waste management
- Insecure land tenure and risk of eviction
- Limited access to healthcare, education, and social protection
- Informal and unstable livelihoods
Climate change amplifies these risks by increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. Urban heat islands disproportionately affect informal settlements due to dense construction, lack of green spaces, and limited access to cooling. Flooding is intensified by poor drainage systems and settlement in low-lying or hazard-prone areas. Without integrated resilience strategies, informal settlements remain trapped in cycles of vulnerability, undermining inclusive urban development and social stability.
Project Goal and Objectives
Overall Goal
To enhance the resilience, safety, and well-being of informal settlement communities through inclusive, climate-resilient urban development strategies.
Specific Objectives
- To reduce climate and disaster risks in informal settlements through community-led adaptation measures.
- To improve access to basic services and resilient infrastructure.
- To strengthen livelihood security and economic resilience of informal settlement residents.
- To enhance community governance, participation, and social inclusion.
- To support integrated, pro-poor urban resilience planning and policy engagement.
Target Beneficiaries
- Primary Beneficiaries
- Residents of informal settlements, with a focus on:
- Low-income households
- Women and female-headed households
- Children, youth, and older persons
- Migrants and informal workers
- Persons with disabilities
- Residents of informal settlements, with a focus on:
- Secondary Beneficiaries
- Local governments and urban authorities
- Community-based organizations and resident associations
- Urban service providers and utilities
- Cities and municipalities pursuing inclusive urban resilience
Key Resilience Challenges in Informal Settlements
The project addresses multiple dimensions of urban resilience, including:
- Climate and environmental resilience: flooding, heat stress, water scarcity
- Physical resilience: housing quality, drainage, roads, and public spaces
- Social resilience: health, education, safety, and social cohesion
- Economic resilience: informal livelihoods, income stability, and access to finance
- Institutional resilience: governance, planning, and service delivery
Project Components and Activities
- Community Risk Assessment and Participatory Planning
- Participatory mapping of climate, disaster, and environmental risks
- Community vulnerability and capacity assessments
- Co-creation of settlement-level resilience action plans
- Engagement of women, youth, and marginalized groups in planning processes
- Climate-Resilient Infrastructure and Services
- Improvement of drainage systems and flood mitigation measures
- Climate-resilient housing upgrades and retrofitting
- Expansion of access to safe water, sanitation, and solid waste management
- Development of green infrastructure such as urban gardens, trees, and cooling spaces
- Disaster Risk Reduction and Preparedness
- Community-based early warning systems
- Disaster preparedness and response training
- Establishment of safe shelters and evacuation routes
- Integration of disaster risk reduction into local development plans
- Livelihood and Economic Resilience
- Health, Safety, and Social Resilience
- Strengthening access to primary healthcare and public health awareness
- Heat-health action plans and community cooling strategies
- Improving safety, lighting, and public spaces
- Psychosocial support and community well-being initiatives
- Governance, Tenure Security, and Policy Engagement
- Support for community organizations and resident associations
- Dialogue between communities and local authorities
- Advocacy for inclusive urban policies and tenure security
- Capacity building for local governments on pro-poor urban resilience
Gender Equality and Social Inclusion
The project adopts a strong gender and social inclusion lens by:
- Ensuring meaningful participation of women in decision-making structures
- Addressing specific vulnerabilities faced by women and girls
- Promoting youth leadership and inclusion of persons with disabilities
- Creating safe, accessible, and inclusive community spaces
Intersectional approaches will ensure that the most marginalized residents benefit from resilience interventions.
Environmental and Climate Impact
The project contributes to climate adaptation and environmental sustainability through:
- Reduced flood and heat risks in informal settlements
- Improved water management and waste reduction
- Increased urban green cover and ecosystem services
- Promotion of low-carbon and nature-based solutions
Resilience measures will align with national climate adaptation plans and urban climate strategies.
Expected Results and Outcomes
Outputs
- Community resilience plans developed and implemented
- Climate-resilient infrastructure and services improved
- Residents trained in disaster preparedness and livelihoods
- Strengthened community organizations and governance mechanisms
Outcomes
- Reduced vulnerability to climate and disaster risks
- Improved living conditions and access to services
- Increased income stability and livelihood diversification
- Enhanced community cohesion and participation
Long-Term Impact
- Resilient, inclusive, and safer informal settlements
- Reduced urban inequality and climate vulnerability
- Progress toward sustainable and inclusive urban development
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)
A participatory MEL framework will be implemented, including:
- Baseline, midline, and endline assessments
- Monitoring of resilience, service access, and livelihood indicators
- Gender- and age-disaggregated data collection
- Community feedback mechanisms and learning reviews
Adaptive management will ensure continuous improvement and responsiveness to community needs.
Sustainability and Exit Strategy
Sustainability will be ensured through:
- Strengthening community ownership and local leadership
- Institutionalizing resilience planning within local governments
- Building long-term partnerships with urban stakeholders
- Linking communities to ongoing public programs and investments
By the end of the project, informal settlements will have enhanced capacity to sustain resilience gains independently.
Partnerships and Stakeholders
Key stakeholders include:
- Informal settlement resident associations
- Municipal governments and urban planning departments
- Disaster management authorities
- NGOs and civil society organizations
- Academic institutions and urban resilience networks
Collaborative partnerships will enhance scale, coordination, and impact.
Budget Overview (Indicative)
The project budget will cover:
- Community planning and engagement
- Infrastructure upgrades and service improvements
- Livelihood and resilience-building activities
- Monitoring, evaluation, and project management
A detailed budget will be developed in line with donor priorities and city contexts.
Conclusion
Building urban resilience in informal settlements is essential for achieving inclusive, sustainable, and climate-resilient cities. By combining community-led planning, climate-resilient infrastructure, livelihood support, and inclusive governance, this project will improve living conditions and reduce vulnerability for some of the most at-risk urban populations. Urban Resilience Strategies for Informal Settlements offers a scalable, people-centered model aligned with global commitments on sustainable cities, climate adaptation, and social inclusion.
