The Bartlett Development Planning Unit

dpuISSUE 62 Septembernews 2017

In this issue: Partnering for social and environmental justice See Focus on, page 2 Focus on Partnering with higher education institutions for social and environmental justice in the global South: lessons from the Urban Research Centre Authors: Andrea Rigon, Joseph Macarthy, Braima Koroma, Julian Walker, Alexandre Apsan Frediani

In the context of the £1.5 billion aid money that researchers do not see GCRF as just organisations. Through the discussion of that the UK government is now channelling more research money to continue ‘research the DPU experience with Njala University through UK research institutions, this article as usual’, taking for granted that their in setting up the Sierra Leone Urban explores the importance of building local research will benefit a developing country. Research Centre, we will highlight some institutions and capacity in order to establish A fundamental question for researchers is of the challenges and potential of building equitable research partnerships that respond how best can we use these funds, given that these complex partnerships. to local concerns. It will also explore the they should lead to improved well-being for role of these institutions in brokering local some of the poorest women and men. We The Sierra Leone Urban Research partnerships for urban justice. share our reflections to support researchers’ Centre (SLURC) thinking about how to create and engage in Between 1991 and 2002, the Sierra Leone GCRF debate the partnerships needed for ODA research. civil war displaced about one third of the As far back as 1970, UN member nations population and left the country with fragile classified as ‘economically advanced’ The need for strategic research part- institutions, poor infrastructure, and a weak committed themselves to increasing nerships in the economy. In 2014, post-war recovery was “… official development assistance to What we often witness ourselves and hear undermined by the Ebola epidemic, which the developing countries … to reach a from colleagues in the global South is that killed approximately 4,000 people in Sierra minimum net amount of 0.7 percent of its foreign researchers hire local academics as Leone (and many more in neighbouring gross national product at market prices”. individual consultants to do data collection countries) and had a major impact on the The UK is one of only six countries that and other research tasks. Local academ- country’s economy. Sierra Leone remains upholds this commitment today, having ics targeted by international researchers at the bottom of the Human Development made it central to its foreign policy. UK are often among the best academics in the Index, ranking 179th out of 188. 78% ODA has resisted government cuts but, country and are usually happy to join such of the population is in multidimensional in the context of austerity, it has been projects if paid international rates. This poverty2 and a further 15% is at risk of difficult to maintain the legitimacy of this directs their time and energy away from lo- falling into multidimensional poverty, while conspicuous investment, with increasing cal universities and organisations, including maternal mortality is the highest in the pressure to use ODA to the benefit of the government, which desperately need world. the UK economy. The government has their input. Local academics thus have more therefore now taken the opportunity to incentive to conduct work which responds Below: Workshopping urban settlements, Freetown. support an underfunded higher education to external research agendas in projects that Photo by SLURC. sector, at risk of losing their EU funding. may hold little immediate benefit for local As a result, UK universities and research universities. institutions are now receiving £1.5 billion The responsibility lies with UK-based of ODA. researchers, although their practices are David Hulme, head of the Development understandable. It takes a couple of emails Studies Association, the most important to agree a daily fee with a local researcher, professional organisation of academics but it takes months or years to develop a working on international development, strategic partnership with a local university argued that the Global Challenges Research in which the terms of engagement in Fund (GCRF) risks ‘ripping off ’ the poorest research projects for staff are openly people in the world because it moves discussed and arrangements identified resources away from the poorest and puts that benefit all parties. But if Northern them into sectors where investments have researchers do not want to take resources the highest returns for UK society. On the away from global South higher education Recognising the scarcity of reliable other hand, current UK aid policies allocate and government institutions by offering data and other information about large amounts of money to multi-national a parallel salary and diverting people Freetown, and the limitations of local companies and private sector consultancies from their critical work, then a long-term research capacity, the UK NGO Comic for programmes that many consider partnership approach is the only viable Relief, which had a portfolio of funded problematic.1 Therefore, universities may do option. Having equitable partnerships with projects in informal settlements in the a better job of spending these funds. For local research institutions, however, is not city, asked the DPU to conduct scoping instance, the practice-oriented work of the enough. To improve well-being for women research on the knowledge available with DPU has always been supported by ODA. and men living in poverty, the global South a local lecturer. When they approached Nonetheless, these funds pose ethical partner institution also needs to have strong the DPU again to commission research challenges to universities. It is important relationships with communities and their into some of the important knowledge

2 DPUNEWS: ISSUE 62 gaps identified, we asked ourselves what directors and two DPU lecturers: Alexandre Above: Cockle Bay settlement. Photo by SLURC the legacy of such a project would be. Apsan Frediani and Andrea Rigon, with This prompted discussions with Njala the aim of getting DPU lecturers to University, the leading academic institution progressively withdraw from management. opportunities for learning between cities. in Sierra Leone, after which a case was The centre then hired researchers and Another element that illustrates the made to Comic Relief about the need for administrative staff. importance of this partnership between a larger investment. The project proposed This was not an easy arrangement research institutions is the complementarity to establish a research institution to build to set up. Firstly, both UCL and Njala of the networks provided by the DPU research capacity of urban professionals bureaucracies had to negotiate an acceptable and Njala University. The DPU’s and communities in Sierra Leone, to set a agreement. Secondly, that agreement had to international network facilitated access locally-relevant research agenda, to deliver be implemented. to key stakeholders such as DFID, IIED, high quality research in partnership with Cities Alliance, foreign governments and others, to disseminate research outputs, and Partnerships for justice donors, as well as recruiting expertise for to work in partnership with urban actors to To achieve its goals, SLURC needed to the international advisory committee. The advocate for urban justice. establish important relationships, most network also helped SLURC to learn from The Sierra Leone Urban Research crucially with communities living in the experiences of DPU’s friends, such as Centre (SLURC) was officially launched informal settlements. The centre was the lessons from Arif Hasan in setting up in early 2016, aided by sustained support part of a larger programme funded by the Urban Resource Centre in Karachi, from the Njala University management, Comic Relief involving international and which Arif shared during a visit to London whose Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Dean local NGOs implementing development by the SLURC team, and also from the of the Environmental Science Faculty have projects in Freetown’s slum communities. struggles for tenure regularisation of the remained directly involved throughout. This network allowed SLURC to build Los Pinos community in Quito which the SLURC is based at the Institute of relationships with communities and set up team visited with the Mayor of Freetown Geography and Development Studies at a research and training agenda relevant to during the Habitat III conference. Njala University. Therefore, a financially the needs of these communities and their However, the strong network in Sierra autonomous legal structure – controlled by organisations. In particular, SLURC was Leone cultivated by Njala University a board composed of Njala University, the able to build on the legitimacy that these lecturers was equally vital to the project. DPU and a local civil society representative NGOs had established over many years, As a research institution highly involved – was set up to ensure the operational and to communicate the role of a research in practice work and training, SLURC has flexibility needed to implement complex organisation. SLURC was accepted by positioned itself as an institution trusted practice-oriented research projects. Njala local governance actors, including local by communities, NGOs, government and University also seconded, on a part-time chiefs, community disaster management international organisations and is therefore basis, two of its lecturers to direct SLURC: committees as well as by members of the capable of brokering partnerships that Joseph Macarthy and Braima Koroma. urban poor federation. Moreover, this can transform urban development paths The DPU hired a project manager who is network was able to participate in a 4 in Sierra Leone. For example, SLURC full-time seconded to SLURC for an initial cities initiative, also involving Cape Town, served as a mediating platform between period of three years. Currently the centre is Kampala, and Lusaka, aimed at improving city authorities and NGO representatives co-managed by a committee of two SLURC the lives of slum dwellers. This created who have not always trusted each other.

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SLURC trainings are opportunities for evidence about the capacities of local organisations, including NGOs, the community members, academics, NGO communities in responding to disasters, as government as well as communities and staff and government officials to work well as the institutional barriers to involve their groups. As this usually involves making together, get to know each other and to communities in wider policy and planning collective decisions across institutional build relationships. The centre has already processes. Our next piece of research will boundaries, it has sometimes been difficult fostered conversation between international focus on the role of action area plans in to ensure the active participation of some and local actors to explore the possibility bringing about more inclusive and just city- stakeholders and/or their commitment to of a city-wide slum-upgrading programme making. the issues. Moreover, while in the case of in Freetown. And, in October 2016, the Comic Relief-funded partners, it was SLURC organised a delegation to Habitat Partnership challenges occasionally possible to make decisions III including the Mayor of Freetown, who SLURC initially faced a number of based on consensus, the implementation of met with the UN Secretary-General and organisational challenges. To begin with, actions was often challenging due to varying key donors, bringing Freetown needs to because it was difficult to clearly anticipate capacities among organisations as well as the international attention. the workload that was expected from differing strategies they pursue. As a result of these synergies, SLURC co-directors, only a few working days Regarding the sustainability of the and the DPU have initiated key research were arranged for their involvement with centre, a key challenge lies in searching for projects drawing on the agenda of the centre. Once the centre became fully additional funding opportunities, especially local groups and SLURC partners. For operational, with more new research in the face of on-going changes in donor example, research on urban livelihoods in funding opportunities emerging, it became financing mechanisms following the global informal settlements conducted by Braima clear that more was needed of their time financial crisis. Partnering with the DPU Koroma and Sudie Sellu of SLURC, with than was originally thought. Coupled with and other organisations to prepare funding Andrea Rigon and Julian Walker of the their existing teaching and other academic applications has required not only reshaping DPU, worked with the Federation of the workloads at the university, it has been SLURC’s organisational structure but also Urban Poor and the Pul Slum Pan People difficult for them to easily take on the adapting activities and strategies to the (PSPP) network of NGOs working in added work. Moreover, because running fluctuating funding environment. This Freetown’s informal settlements. The a research centre was a relatively new has required staff to be proactive and to findings were launched at a high-level experience for the local university, it was make decisions in a timely manner, as well workshop in Freetown in August 2017. difficult to find candidates with the relevant as cultivating new skills and knowledge to The research revealed the importance of training for the different positions created effectively mobilise resources. labour-intensive livelihood systems for the at the centre. SLURC therefore prioritises employment and wellbeing of women and skill- and knowledge-building of its staff. The importance of building local men in informal settlements, as well as for However, it has also been a challenge to institutions and capacity the wider city level economy and social retain some of the centre’s highly-skilled A key focus of the partnership is on cohesion. It also highlighted the extent to and performing staff in view of the strong building capacity of a wide number of which these livelihoods are threatened by competition from other organisations. To stakeholders. Therefore, the first condition current approaches to urban governance. address this, efforts have been put in place of SLURC to any potential research partner Another project, led by Joseph Macarthy to recognise and motivate staff, and to is that their work must also involve a major and Suleiman Kamara of SLURC with ensure staff expectations are in line with the capacity building component. For example, Alexandre Apsan Frediani of the DPU, has organisational vision. research projects start with training in focused on the role that urban humanitarian Another challenge is the management which SLURC brings together residents of responses have played in the empowerment of relationships with other stakeholders. informal settlements, NGO staff, academics, of informal settlement communities SLURC activities generally require the civil servants and other urban professionals. in Freetown. This generated important active involvement of different stakeholder Unlike a single research project, such a strategic partnership needs institutional Left: Livelihoods research commitment and the involvement of on fisheries at Portee many people. This is truly a DPU-wide Rokupa, Freetown. Photo project, with almost 20 DPU staff already by SLURC collaborating with SLURC. Alexandre Apsan Frediani and Andrea Rigon direct the project on the DPU side, while Giovanna Astolfo ensures smooth implementation and coordinates activities. Nkenji Okpara and Elsa Taddesse support the complex management and relationship with UCL central finance and contribute to the training of SLURC staff. Michael Walls sits on the SLURC International Advisory Committee representing UCL and delivered the keynote lecture at the SLURC high- level conference on the Freetown economy. Caren Levy provided key input in the

4 DPUNEWS: ISSUE 62 development of the proposal and now sits experiences with UCL research, library, and tasks like booking flights with routes that with Julio Davila, Julian Walker, Adriana finance staff. Discussions with the UCL minimise visa requirements, to identifying Allen and Michael Walls as senior advisors Vice-Provost International contemplated common priorities and languages. Today, on the project. Julio Davila has also played the creation of a secondment scheme for SLURC management meetings are very a key role in negotiating the contradictions UCL staff to SLURC and also discussed efficient, we have identified a common between UCL’s structures and procedures other initiatives. vision and language, and we understand and the Sierra Leonean institutional context. Final reflections each other’s ways of working. Such a DPU investment and commitment Setting up such a partnership and building a relationship is a long-term project: it has has been substantial but benefits are also sustainable institution requires an enormous taken three years to get to this point. significant. SLURC has become a platform amount of very labour-intensive work. Despite the challenges, we are convinced that has enabled UCL researchers to Are academics willing and able to spend of the fundamental importance of this conduct ethical and meaningful research significant time dealing with financial approach. The spirit of the SLURC project in Freetown. For example, Adriana Allen, management, contracts, legal registration, builds on a long history of DPU strategic Cassidy Johnson, Emmanuel Osuteye consultants, recruitment processes, internal partnerships to build the capacity of and Rita Lambert conducted research and policy development, management meetings, research institutions in the global South: training in Freetown as part of the Urban staff mentoring, and networking and from the Institute of Technology Bandung ARK project, and are now preparing to advocacy meetings rather than working school of planning in the 1980s to the more take MSc Environment and Sustainable on research and publications? Does the recent support for curriculum development Development students to Freetown for their at the Indian Institute of Human fieldtrip in 2018.Daniel Oviedo recently Settlements, and now including SLURC. It submitted a research proposal on transport Below: Participants of the Gender and Urban is also part of the same ethos of the new with SLURC directors. Livelihoods Training Programme. Photo by SLURC. GCRF project Knowledge in Action for SLURC is also a key partner in the Urban Equality, whose award demonstrates GCRF ESRC project Knowledge in Action how funding bodies are recognising the for Urban Equality led by Caren Levy (see importance of partnership. Finally, we feel also the announcement under Research in that SLURC embodies the core principles this edition of DPU News). This £7 million behind UCL’s Global Engagement Strategy, project, involving a range of research which aims to build partnerships to support partnerships sharing similar principles with the capacity of local institutions rather than SLURC, is a demonstration of how GCRF building UCL campuses across the world. can be used to build research capacity UCL’s Global Engagement Strategy through partnerships for social justice. was on our side, as was our shared Other activities involving DPU staff departmental vision of creating include Walker and Rigon’s training partnerships of equivalence aimed at and research on gender and livelihoods. strengthening local higher education Frediani and colleagues from Architecture current university structure acknowledge institutions in the global South. Therefore, Sans Frontières-UK delivered a training the importance of these efforts, given that this experience demonstrates that for on participatory planning and design. academic promotion is strongly based on meaningful partnerships to come about, Magdalena Gatica and Milimer Morgado peer reviewed publications? We were lucky the process cannot rely solely on the conducted fieldwork for their MSc to receive internal support from colleagues motivations of individual academics. It dissertations in Freetown and Morgado at the DPU and UCL, which allowed us to requires institutional support that values also contributed to an IIED-funded commit to SLURC, but this may not be the long-term collaborations, committed to research project with Frediani. More DPU case for others. tackle the power asymmetries between students will be working on SLURC-related While SLURC received praise and higher education institutions, backed by dissertations this year. ESD alumnus support directly from the top management the commitment of tangible resources to Alexander Stone is now spending 9 months of UCL, the increasing centralisation permit those partnerships to develop. at SLURC as the Information and Data of many university bureaucracies, with Management Officer. Many more DPU 1 Witness, for example, the scandal surrounding the processes and systems designed to work consultancy Adam Smith International or ASI – https:// staff will be progressively involved; for in the UK or the EU or North American www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/mar/02/uk- instance, SLURC has already discussed contexts, poses further obstacles for aid-company-bosses-quit-crackdown-profiteering- adam-smith-international (accessed 5/9/17) working together on urban health with academic staff trying to set up such Haim Yacobi. This list does not include partnerships and arrangements. These are 2 For a definition of multidimensional poverty, see the other researchers at UCL and in other Oxford University OPHI website http://www.ophi.org. institutional barriers that we should work uk/research/multidimensional-poverty/ (accessed institutions who have interacted with to challenge. Moreover, traditional research 5/9/17) SLURC so far. funding may not always be suitable to set When setting up such an institution, up an institution; a creative funding strategy, fundamental capacities do not only relate exploring a broader range of funders, to academics – the skills of professional including NGOs, may be necessary. services staff are just as important. During Such a partnership also implies a capacity building trip to London, SLURC unlearning and relearning how to work staff were able to learn and exchange together, across institutions, from small

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UCL-Nature expert panel on urban Global Citizenship Summer School groups, including government authorities, science-policy interface 2017: Rise Up! The simulation that development agencies, financial institutions, Urban policy and urban science are at a nearly went off the rails commercial developers, the media, and critical juncture. Many policymakers and During the first two weeks of June, the two resident groups. The resident groups scientists gathered for a once-in-twenty-years DPU led, for the fourth time, the UCL represent people living in two distinct areas opportunity at the Habitat III summit that Global Citizenship Summer School under of Dar es Salaam: Kurasini, which lies close launched the UN’s New Urban Agenda in the Grand Challenges Sustainable Cities to the centre of Dar es Salaam, by the port, Quito in October 2016, and both reiterated strand. Based on the case of Dar es Salaam, and Chamazi, a relatively new and rapidly how this momentous occasion was flawed , this two-week programme draws growing settlement in the periphery. The by poor science-policy interfaces. Science, as from the MSc level Windsor Workshop, simulation asks participants to immerse argued in Nature, is ‘disparate, marginalized which was developed in collaboration themselves in negotiations between these and ill-prepared to interact effectively with with our Tanzanian partner, the Centre different actor-groups in order to determine global policy’, while others argued evidence- for Community Initiatives (CCI). The a collective vision for Dar es Salaam. The based policymaking is ‘dysfunctional in many Windsor programme was designed by actor groups themselves are quite diverse, parts of the world.’ Ruth McLeod, and adapted for the Global with a number of sub-groups who may Citizenship Summer School by Alexandre have differing interests. For instance, the Apsan Frediani and Stephanie Butcher, development agencies include international with a wealth of material produced by groups like UN-Habitat and WaterAid, as Gynna Brightside and Matthew Wood-Hill. well as local NGOs like CCI and researchers This year, the programme was coordinated from . Financial institutions by Nikhilesh Sinha and Ricardo Marten- include large corporate institutions like Caceres, with Pascale Hofmann leading the Barclays Bank together with microfinance programme thematically, drawing from her entities that work closely with resident long experience of working and researching initiatives. Even within the resident groups, To redress these limits and advance the in Dar es Salaam. participants are encouraged to take on development of more integrated, cross- The Global Citizenship programme differing roles ranging from poor fisherfolk disciplinary, and policy-engaged research is designed to introduce undergraduate to wealthy landlords. on cities, Nature Sustainability, the new and graduate participants to international The idea behind the simulation is to interdisciplinary journal of Nature Research, development issues and theories of urban structure the diversity at play, pushing and the City Leadership Lab at University sustainability, while helping them develop participants to seek common interests with College London have established a ground- critical thinking, negotiating skills and the others while learning to navigate diversity breaking Expert Panel on the urban science- ability to work collaboratively in groups. of opinions within their groups. Role play policy interface for global sustainability. The Additionally, the programme offers provides a flexible structure and ‘safe-space’ Panel brings together 25 internationally- opportunities to develop language skills for participants to explore ideas, while recognised urban experts from a variety through Swahili lessons, as well as video- inculcating a sense of fun in the research of disciplines, geographies and research making and editing techniques. It promotes process. However, it is also fraught with backgrounds to build an interdisciplinary an immersive role-play approach to learning, ethical issues, especially when participants assessment of the urban science-policy wherein participants are invited to take on take on the roles of real personalities, but interface. the identities of various actors involved. also in terms of being sensitive to how The core conveners of the Panel are the Participants are assigned to different actor they represent the residents of informal UCL City Leadership Laboratory, based in settlements. This is where the facilitators, UCL’s Department of Science, Technology, Below: ‘Residents of Chamazi’ protest injustice. a number of PhD students from the Engineering and Public Policy (STEaPP) Photo by Nerea Amoros Elorduy DPU, play an invaluable role in guiding the and Nature Sustainability. The Panel benefits from the support of the UCL Office of the Vice-Provost (Research) and the UCL Grand Challenge of Sustainable Cities, as well as the International Council for Science (ICSU), the DPU, and the Prince of Wales’s International Sustainability Unit. Adriana Allen has been supporting this initiative as Co-Director of the UCL Grand Challenge for Sustainable Cities and as a member of the panel that met in London on 3rd - 4th July 2017. She was also one of the contributors to a public event on Science and the Future of Cities held on 5th July at the headquarters of Springer Nature.

6 DPUNEWS: ISSUE 62 highlighted the strength of the simulation, while to the south has been riven by and the investment of the participants in years of clan-based division and to date has continuing to stay in character and to reach been unable to organise elections on a one- a solution that allowed all to move forward. person-one-vote basis. For the DPU, the programme offers an opportunity to introduce its concern for DPU and SLURC organise first socially just and sustainable development to high-level conference on Freetown participants and explore the complexity of economy actors, processes and claims that characterise Julian Walker and Andrea Rigon with negotiations to address existing challenges. the Sierra Leone Urban Research Centre (SLURC) organised the First High-Level Above: ‘Tanzanian Government’ announces DPU leads International Election Conference on the Freetown Economy: plans at a contentious press conference. Observation Mission in Somaliland formal and informal synergies towards a Photo by Nerea Amoros Elorduy The DPU’s Michael Walls has been prosperous city on 23rd August 2017. The contracted by the UK Foreign and conference brought together academics, simulation to keep the participants grounded Commonwealth Office to lead an election central government, local authorities, but also to ensure that portrayals are realistic observation mission to observe a Presidential communities, politicians and NGOs to and respectful of their real-life counterparts. Election scheduled in Somaliland for 13th discuss what the livelihoods of informal Over the two weeks, participants had November 2017. The mission is being run sector residents contribute to the city. The the opportunity to develop their characters, through by UCL’s consulting arm, UCL keynote lecture was given by Michael Walls drawing on multiple resources available Consultants, and will involve a six-person who presented new insights into thinking to them. Morning lectures delivered by Coordination Team, supported by project about the informal economy. The session external partners and DPU staff introduced management out of UCLC’s London office, on synergies between informal and formal participants to international development who will draw together a total of about sectors in Freetown brought contributions and the kind of socio-environmental 60 international observers. Michael has from economists and planners from the challenges facing Dar es Salaam and cities been one of two coordinators for election two main universities in Sierra Leone. The across the global South. Urban sustainable observation missions in 2010 and 2012, in conference was an opportunity to present development formed the overarching association with the international NGO findings from a DPU-SLURC research framework for the entire simulation, and Progressio, and he was also a member of the project which documented the real-life this year, participants utilised the Sustainable organising team in 2005, for parliamentary livelihood strategies of women and men Development Goals (SDGs) as a tool to elections. However, this will be the first living in informal settlements. A final explore possibilities for collaboration, while time the mission will be organised solely by session discussed wider urban strategies for also acknowledging its limitations. UCL, with Michael playing the role of Chief livelihood sustainability and a prosperous The programme is punctuated by four Observer. city economy with the participation of major events that help catalyse the action. The Coordination Team will need to spend NGOs and communities. The first is a social event where actors get just over a month in the region, organising to introduce themselves to each other in deployment plans for observers, accreditation character and exchange business cards, with the National Electoral Commission, and which are useful as a networking tool later a schedule of briefings covering everything Top left to right: Braima Koroma and Michael Walls on in the simulation. The second event is from the principles of election observation Below: Conference participants. a televised chat-show, where group videos through the practicalities of this particular All photo by Alexander Stone are shown and discussed by a panel of mission, arrangements for security, transport experts, and where each group is allowed to and so on. clarify their position and ask questions to Somaliland is building a strong record others. In the second week, the government of successful elections, with the November authorities call a press conference to poll being the third presidential vote since announce their plans, and this session often their unilateral declaration of independence gets contentious! The final event is a second in 1991. As well as the 2005 election of television show where videos of newly MPs in the lower house of Parliament, formed alliances are screened and discussed. local elections were held in 2002 and 2012, The best video is later shared with the other and presidential ballots were cast in 2003 strands of the Global Citizenship Summer and 2010. The initial years in Somaliland’s School. reinstated independence did see the This year the press conference was recurrence of conflict, but a series of particularly fractious - several groups conferences resolved issues and established a expressed deep suspicions regarding system of representative democracy, with the government plans - and led to an impromptu result that there has been no recurrence of election. The current administration widespread violence since 1997. This places was re-elected, largely due to an alliance Somaliland in direct contrast to its troubled formed with citizen groups to bolster their neighbours. Djibouti and are yet reputation and legitimacy. The experience to find a formula for electoral democracy,

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Knowledge in Action for Urban Wesely), the UCL Institute for Risk and Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP), Equality: Challenging structural Disaster Reduction and Statistical Sciences with the involvement of DPU’s causes of inequality in cities of the (Serge Guillas), the London School of Camillo Boano and Giovanna Astolfo, is global South Economics and Brunel University. The developing a participatory process with Knowledge in Action for Urban Equality aim of the project is to analyse tsunami local communities, local authorities and (henceforth KNOW) is one of 37 risks and model coastal inundations to the national government to co-produce interdisciplinary projects recently granted elaborate how urbanisation processes sustainable spatialities and promote funding by the Global Challenges contribute to potential impacts of alternative livelihood systems in the Research Fund (GCRF) Research Councils tsunamis on communities, and to assess Amazon, starting from local technologies UK Collective Fund. Caren Levy will corresponding modelling and policy and knowledges. The project aims to lead a global partnership to deliver uncertainties. The project thereby draws create evidence-based methodology for transformative research and capacity for attention to tsunami risks in coastal a more participatory implementation innovation in policy and planning that cities along the West Coast of India, process of preventive relocations. The will promote urban equality. Involving a which have so far been neglected, and project looks at the city of Iquitos, in consortium of researchers based at UCL, it aims to produce relevant information the Peruvian Amazon, where a massive the University of Durham, IIHS (Indian for decision-makers, such as state relocation process of around 16,000 Institute of Human Settlements, India), disaster risk management authorities people living in the low-lying and Ardhi University (Tanzania) and FLACSO and urban planners, to reduce those flood-prone district of Belén has long (Latin-American Social Sciences Institute, risks. A workshop with policymakers experienced considerable difficulties Costa Rica), KNOW will work with local and academics was conducted at the posed by flooding and consequent academic and community-based partners IIHS in Bangalore in early May 2017 to community dissatisfaction. A particular in Sierra Leone, and Tanzania, discuss existing information needs and problem is that relocation threatens Cuba, Peru, Costa Rica and Colombia, preliminary project findings. Cassidy the traditional spatial organisation India and Sri Lanka. With a budget of Johnson contributed by presenting an of Amazon communities, negatively over £7 million, KNOW will run to the urban planning perspective on tsunami impacting livelihood systems. In July, as end of 2021, creating a network of Urban risk management and highlighted the part of the project, Giovanna Astolfo Learning Hubs that will continue the work importance of considering informality for took part in a participatory workshop beyond the end of the project. disaster risk management in India’s coastal (Taller Partecipativo) in Nuevo Belen The GCRF is a £1.5 billion research areas. with the CASA team and students from programme and forms part of the UK PUCP. The work focused on alternative Government’s Official Development Sustainable Cities of the Amazon design proposals for the creation of self- Assistance (ODA) commitment The two-year research project Ciudades sufficient systems to ensure the economic to contributing 0.7% of GDP to Auto-Sostenibles Amazónicas (‘Self- sustainability of resettlement, and to international aid (see also the lead article sustaining cities of the Amazon’ or in this edition of DPU News). The fund CASA), coordinated by BUDD alumna aims to ensure that UK research plays a Belén Desmaison at the Pontificia Above: New housing, Iquitos by CASA. leading role in addressing the global issues faced by developing countries. For more information, visit: http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/ funding/gcrf/.

Tsunami risk for the Western Indian Ocean: steps toward the integration of science into policy and practice The 10-month project Tsunami risk for the Western Indian Ocean: steps toward the integration of science into policy and practice is funded by the UK’s Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) through a Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) Resilience Foundation Award. It brings together a multidisciplinary team of statisticians, earth scientists, civil engineers, archaeologists, philosophers and urban planners from India and the UK. On the India side, that includes the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS) and Indian Institute of Science, while in the UK, partners include the DPU (Cassidy Johnson and PhD candidate Julia

8 DPUNEWS: ISSUE 62 create new livelihood options. Proposals, developed by an interdisciplinary team of PUCP students and validated by the community, investigate which technologies and construction techniques are better adapted to the context in social, spatial and climatic terms. For more information, visit: https://casapucp.com/.

Linking transport and urban health in Cali, Colombia The DPU has been awarded funding by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy to conduct an 18-month research project exploring the links between transport evidence gathered for this research, analysis Above: Participants of the Action Planning Workshop, and health in Cali, Colombia, starting in of the corredor verde, and workshops Dar es Salaam. Photo by Emmanuel Osuteye. October 2017. The lead Investigator will and debates with local practitioners from be Daniel Oviedo Hernandez, who will be a range of disciplines and stakeholders in for example, every-day and small-scale working with Julio Davila and Haim Yacobi Cali. The research will draw on qualitative disasters, such as water-borne illnesses. from the DPU and Nick Tyler from and quantitative data, with case studies in Data was collected from two informal UCL Civil, Environmental and Geomatic both high and low-income areas adjacent settlements in the city of Dar es Salaam: Bonde La Mpunga (in the Msasani ward) and Mtambani (in the Vingunguti ward). The research team worked closely with community residents, the leadership at the sub-ward (mtaa) level and the Federation of the Urban Poor who are active in both areas. At the end of June 2017, a three-day Action Planning workshop was organised, bringing together the researchers from CCI and Ardhi University, community leaders and residents, as well as external stakeholders from the Department of Disaster Management, the World Bank Tanzania Office, municipal officials and other technical experts. The workshop helped to disseminate and discuss findings from the data Above: Artist’s impression of the Corredor Verde. to the corredor verde with different collection which was undertaken using Photo by CALI characteristics in relation to the social the ‘Action at the Frontline’ methodology, determinants of health. developed by the Global Network of Engineering (CEGE). The project is Civil Society Organisations for Disaster a collaborative undertaking between Action at the Frontline: Risk in Informal Reduction (GNDR). This confirmed the UCL, the Inter-American Development Settlements – Community Knowledge range of threats that community residents Bank, the University of Lancaster and and Policy Action were exposed to, highlighted coping Universidad del Valle in Cali. The DPU, led by Cassidy Johnson and mechanisms and steps already taken by The aim of the research is twofold. Emmanuel Osuteye, has partnered with the both the community and external support First, it seeks to examine and provide Centre for Community Initiatives (CCI) agencies, and ranked community priorities evidence on concepts of urban liveability and Ardhi University, both in Tanzania, to for future action. and health equity in the context of land investigate the impacts of environmental In all, the workshop stimulated a use and infrastructure policies in Cali, risks on people living in informal healthy discussion, including a list of Colombia’s third largest city. In particular, settlements and to seek ways to influence short- and long-term priority action the research will analyse the corredor policy and community action in order to points about what measurements should verde (‘green corridor’), an ongoing large- better address these risks. be used to show the realities of risks scale urban regeneration initiative in the The research recognises that to low-income people face in a way that city. Second, the project aims to spark a promote risk reduction along with is practical and straightforward, so that dialogue regarding practices and challenges inclusive and accountable planning, policy-makers can take action. Participants for planning and assessing healthy urban local institutions need to have a also discussed communication channels environments that resonate with growing better understanding of the risks and that could be leveraged in order to ensure debates about urban health in Latin vulnerabilities to which the populations in that community voices feed into policy America. Such a dialogue will build on local their jurisdictions are exposed; including, formulation.

DPUNEWS: ISSUE 62 9 Research

This project is solely funded by Niger, as part of the Urban ARK aspects are interrelated in African cities. the AXA Research Fund. For further Fellowship scheme, to conduct research The project proposes to develop a sound information, see: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ on the range and impacts of urban risks in framework with which to analyse and bartlett/development/research/risk-in- Niamey. The specific focus of the research explain urbanisation processes based informal-settlements. was on the implications of new land on key spatial features of the city as a reforms and related issues of affordability system, namely: access to urban land, Urban Africa: Risk Knowledge (Urban and access for the urban poor. The three- distribution of spatial assets, and the ARK) updates week residency ended with a two-day urban morphology resulting from formal The DPU’s research on the ESRC/DFID workshop on urbanisation and risks in and informal land transactions. It will funded Urban Africa: Risk Knowledge Niger, featuring presentations from Urban assess the factors and actors that influence (Urban ARK) programme, led by Cassidy ARK consortium members and Catherine these processes, in order to explain ‘how’ Johnson and Adriana Allen, examines Baron (University of Toulouse, France). urban transitions are managed, steered the governance and planning practices The rest of the DPU team includes and/or self-organized. in urbanised African towns and cities Caren Levy, Emmanuel Osuteye, Barbara The project focuses on Complex Land and the ways in which they promote or Lipietz, Rita Lambert and PhD Candidate Markets – as interdependent aspects of reduce urban risk. Working in Karonga Donald Brown. For more information, the political and economic system of any (), Freetown (Sierra Leone), and see: www.urbanark.org. city – to support the design of integrated Niamey (Niger), the project investigates interventions and promote inclusive contemporary interactions between the Spatial inequality in times of urban growth, poverty reduction and access to structures of urban planning, including transition: Complex land markets in livelihoods in East African cities. organisational forms and bureaucratic Uganda and Somaliland The DPU team will be working with mandates, dominant development A DPU team led by Colin Marx, Michael project partners, the Institute for Housing practices, plan-making procedures and Walls, Cassidy Johnson and Vanesa and Urban Development Studies (IHS) individual stakeholder agency in shaping Castán Broto has been awarded £186,000 of Erasmus University (Rotterdam), the (re)production of cycles of risk of a £998,000 total budget to undertake who lead the consortium, alongside IPE accumulation and reduction. a two-year DFID-funded research project Tripleline (London). The team will also The research findings so far suggest entitled ‘Spatial inequality in times of be working with local partners in Uganda that the failings of the formal planning urban transition: Complex land markets in (Urban ActionLab, Makerere University) system and slow, retrospective, and poorly Uganda and Somaliland’. and Somaliland (Institute of Research, resourced approaches to Disaster Risk Within the context of complex Heritage Preservation and Development Management (DRM) exacerbate risk in social and economic transitions (formal of the Redsea Cultural Foundation). small urbanising towns such as Karonga, and informal), population growth and and the same findings also highlight the migration, the project focuses on urban added complexity of customary land socio-spatial development and how Below: Kisenyi informal settlement, Kampala. practices and their relationship to the economic, institutional and socio-cultural Photo by Colin Marx. planning and governance of risks. There have been DPU-facilitated workshops in both Karonga and Freetown (in July and August 2017), designed to assist residents and the devolved local government officials to develop more effective DRM measures in cities, and to create strategic action plans that break cycles of risk accumulation. The work in Freetown is being done in partnership with the Sierra Leone Urban Research Centre (SLURC). In Malawi, it is supported through a partnership with the Mzuzu University. There has also been significant progress with the development of the virtual analytical tool ReMapRisk for both cities. This process has seen a large amount of georeferenced data collected on hazards, vulnerabilities, and capacities to act, within the settlements of interest, which is being analysed and will be visualised with the ReMapRisk tool. Additionally, in July 2017, the DPU team hosted Hamadou Issaka from the Abdou Moumoni University in Niamey,

10 DPUNEWS: ISSUE 62 Connections

Three DPU alumni are currently working Luisa Miranda (BUDD 2013-14) is working Shona Curvers (SDP 2014-15) is working in different roles for CARE International as a Shelter Research Assistant for the as a consultant at New Philanthropy Capital UK. Amelia Rule (UDP 2013-14) is the Promoting Safer Building Programme (NPC) in London, a charity consultancy Emergency Shelter Advisor for CARE’s partnered by the Overseas Development and think tank that aims to make the charity Humanitarian and Emergencies Team. Institute (ODI), CARE International sector work more effectively. Shona aids She deploys specifically in emergencies to UK, British Geological Survey and in all areas of the research and consulting support shelter programmes, providing EPICentre. The research focuses on team, supporting charities to measure their assistance to people who have lost their understanding (self-)recovery processes impact and develop theories of change. She homes in a natural disaster, conflict or after disasters. Luisa’s key areas of interest also works on projects that combine NPC’s crisis. She has supported shelter projects are social justice, public space, community organisational knowledge with ongoing in various countries including Lebanon, engagement, humanitarian shelter and conversations in the sector in order to drive Nepal, Madagascar and Haiti. She has host communities, infrastructure, gender, their think tank work. also developed good practice guidance protection and inclusion. Alex Milano (SDP 2014-15) is the Project for Gender and Shelter programming, as Yara Nafe (DAP 2015-16) was working as Manager at Project Gaia, an NGO that well as a toolkit which aims to address a Senior Programme Officer at Jordan’s works to increase access to clean cookstoves gender-based violence mitigation in shelter National Democratic Institute, but in and fuels. She manages operations in programming. These tools will be adopted December 2016, she shifted to the German East Africa, specifically Ethiopia and by other shelter advisors and supported by development agency, GIZ (Gesellschaft für Madagascar. Current projects include the the Global Shelter Cluster. Internationale Zusammenarbeit), where she establishment of a women-owned social Mark Malhotra (UED 2013-14) is advises on capacity-building for civil society enterprise in Kebribeyah refugee camp Innovation Advisor at CARE, working on organisations and on gender sensitisation. in Ethiopia to deliver ethanol cookstoves the Women’s Economic Empowerment Since August 2017, Jingmei Huang and fuel to households in the camp and in team. Mark supports social businesses (DAP 2015-16) has been working as a the host community, as well as managing operated by CARE, helping them with Fundraising Officer at VSO (Voluntary a World Bank funded contract to scale strategy, finance, marketing and sales. One Service Overseas) with responsibility for up local ethanol supply for cooking in such business in is building a supply new products and digital fundraising, and is Madagascar. She also works as an analyst chain to get health products (diarrhoea based in Kingston upon Thames in the UK. at E Co. Ltd, a low carbon development medication, fortified porridge, pain relief, consultancy where she assists in bid sexual health products and clean energy) to After graduating from DPU, Priya Bhullar development. underserved and marginalised communities. (ESD 2015-16) worked on post-earthquake Caitlin Nisos (SDP 2014-15) works for The business employs women and some recovery with UN-Habitat & Architecture Friends of the Earth as a Facilitator & men to sell the products door to door, Sans Frontières UK in Nepal. She then Coach on the Bee Cause campaign, which which means the salespeople earn additional worked at a charity in London exploring aims to help reverse the decline of UK bee income and communities get access to youth development and education before populations by 2020 by getting the UK health products they would otherwise have being offered a position on Save the government to commit to comprehensive to travel to purchase. Mark will soon be Children’s Sierra Leone Programme Team, and permanent ban on all neonicotinoid spending time in Tanzania to help launch where she will be focusing on gender pesticides post-Brexit. In this role, Caitlin a new business which will support savings equality. supports the team in developing and groups with a smartphone app that digitises Alexander Stone (ESD 2015-16) worked delivering a campaign strategy and action their records, allowing them to connect with as a consultant for a children’s charity in plan, demonstrating that an alternative is formal finance in a secure way. London, and also took part in a project possible, that there is pressure for change, with UN Habitat and Architecture Sans and that the status quo has become Frontières in Nepal. Since April 2017 untenable. In addition, she works as a he has been working in Freetown, Sierra volunteer associate with Architecture sans Leone, for the Sierra Leone Urban Research Frontières and serves on the board of Centre. There he helps to carry out research Castlehaven Community Association in in informal areas of the city, working Camden, London. with residents’ groups and community organisations, assisting with their advocacy efforts, and attempting to influence government policy in their favour.

DPUNEWS: ISSUE 62 11 Hands on

Co-Learning for Action: Left: View from one of the first ‘invasions’ – Dalieh’s past and current reality in relation From risk-mitigation to transformative El Agustino, taken during a transect walk. to the wider challenges of the city of action to disrupt urban risk traps in Photo by Rita Lambert Beirut and a continued engagement with its metropolitan Lima Right: In-depth interview during fieldwork to construct urbanisms in both pedagogy and research. Building on previous years’ research, the a timeline of one of the case study settlements. With the use of a series of pedagogical fifth and final year of collaborative work Photo by Caroline Gladman approaches pertaining to the fields of Bottom: Final Presentation at the Congress of Peru. comparative urban design and design in Lima by the MSc Environment and Photo by DPU Sustainable Development (ESD) led by research, the studio has investigated the Adriana Allen and Rita Lambert, focused complexity of borders and border-making on initiatives that directly or indirectly tackle practices in contested cities. The focus has the risk traps that affect the most vulnerable MSc BUDD contribution to Dalieh been on the topological and topographical social groups in the city. The objective was Watch Day and Festival in Beirut nature of borders as well as their agency to contribute in three primary ways: The Civil Campaign to Protect the Dalieh and potential, essentially reflecting on of Raouche in Beirut invited the MSc the changing role of architecture and 1. To develop an analytical framework for BUDD urban intervention studio team to contemporary urban design practices. assessing what transformative action contribute to the Dalieh Watch Day and Part of the studio’s final outcomes were to disrupt urban risk traps means in Festival, held in Beirut from 18th to 21st exhibited at the Dalieh Watch Day, arguing practice; May 2017. The Dalieh of Raouche is a that urban design in Beirut has served as 2. To assess the transformative capacity public part of the Beirut seafront, in danger a tool for maximising private profit in a of a variety of focused and strategic of being privatised. In view of the recent star-architecture-led reconstruction of a initiatives aimed at disrupting cyclical risk listing of the Dalieh of Raouche and the post-conflict city and that a re-calibration accumulation traps; Heneine Palace by the World Monuments is needed starting from its edges and, 3. To expand the network of allies for Fund, the Watch Day aimed to raise specifically, from the contested territory of transformative change and to contribute awareness of the significance of natural and Dalieh. to the strengthening of synergies and built sites under threat. In this context and The Watch Day took place during the relationships. through numerous activities, interventions Heritage Week celebrated by the Ministry and events, the Dalieh Campaign hopes of Culture. Information about the Dalieh The fieldwork culminated in a presentation to gain wider visibility and develop a more Campaign can be found on the website: of key messages to the Congress of the targeted lobbying strategy with political www.dalieh.org. Republic of Peru on the 8th May 2017. interlocutors. Since 2015-16, students and tutors Building collective capacity to disrupt (Catalina Ortiz, Camillo Boano, Giorgio urban risk traps: Action planning Talocci, Giovanna Astolfo, Camilla Cociña, workshops in Karonga, Malawi and Ricardo Marten and Fani Kostourou) of the Freetown Sierra Leone BUDD Urban Intervention Studio, part of The DPU’s Adriana Allen and Emmanuel BUDD’s practice module, have explored Osuteye, as part of the wider Urban ARK

12 DPUNEWS: ISSUE 62 Top: A workshop participant presenting a group strategic action plan. Photo by Adriana Allen.

Bottom: Action planning workshop at SLURC, Freetown. Photo by Alexander Stone programme, conducted a series of a two- initiatives for disaster risk reduction and the Committees (NRMCs), whereas in day Action Planning workshops, firstly in capacities of community residents and other Freetown, a total of 15 strategic action plans Karonga, Malawi in July 2017, followed stakeholders to act effectively in that regard. are being prepared by the five Community- by another in Freetown, Sierra Leone in Preliminary findings from theReMapRisk Based Disaster Risk Management August 2017. The workshops were a follow- data collection were shared and refined to Committees (CBDRMCs) found in each up to the process of understanding risk support the creation of several strategic of the three districts of the city (Western, accumulation over time in the two cities action plans, with each action plan drafted Central and Eastern). and to apply the practices and resources (as at the lowest identified level in the devolved By March 2018, it is expected that each part of the ReMapRisk process) that had DRR structure. In Karonga, four strategic of the action plans created will have been been mobilised to monitor and study the action plans were prepared by the four refined and prioritised, with some small risk profile. They also examined existing Neighbourhood Disaster Risk Management seed funding provided by the project for practical interventions that will serve as a hands-on learning opportunity on community–based DRR. Recent mudslides in Freetown and, in particular, that in the suburb of Regent which resulted in the loss of over 500 lives, and the displacement of more than 3,000 people, have highlighted the urgency of risk reduction in that city3.

BUDDcamp 2017 This year’s BUDDcamp explored the work of the SPRAR (Sistema di Protezione Richiedenti Asilo e Rifugiati – ‘protection system for asylum seekers and refugees’) programme, led by the Local Democracy Agency (LDA) Zavidovici in Brescia, Italy. The programme works with refugees, assisting them to achieve progressive autonomy, as they integrate and adapt to a new city. In the BUDDcamp Brescia 2017 design workshop, students looked at dwelling practices in the city of Brescia, where the presence of refugees and migrants at different stages of their migration experience has triggered a complex system of reception, assistance and hospitality. The outcome of the workshop was published to present student’s findings, as well as their personal journeys towards understanding their roles as urban practitioners, designing for socio-spatial justice.

3 More information can be found in one of the outputs arising from the research: Osuteye, E., and Leck, H. (2017) “Freetown’s mudslides and the slippery slope of urban risks in Africa”, Opinion Piece: IRIN News, 23rd August, 2017 [https://www.irinnews.org/ opinion/2017/08/23/freetown-s-mudslides-and-slippery- slope-urban-risk-africa] (accessed 5/9/17)

DPUNEWS: ISSUE 62 13 Networks and Meetings

Confronting violence and impunity in the annual short video competition and Social Protection for Inclusive water struggles in Latin America the winners of WATERLAT´s prizes to Development in the Afar Region of The theme of the eighth international the best doctoral and master thesis; a very Ethiopia (SPIDA) meeting of WATERLAT-GOBACIT (an successful initiative of the network. As has The consultative workshop of the SPIDA inter- and transdisciplinary network for become a tradition, the meeting closed with Research consortium, led by DPU’s teaching, research and practical action on a public conversation, which in its plenary Zeremariam Fre, and regional stakeholders the politics and management of water) session approved a general declaration and on the Productive Safety Net Programme was ‘Water, power and impunity: social four specific declarations for Colombia, (PSNP) in the Afar Regional State took resistances and emerging alternatives Brazil, Mexico, and the host country. The place at Samara University in Samara, the capital of Afar Regional State, Ethiopia on 3rd May 2017. The workshop was co-organised by the SPIDA research consortium (consisting of Adigrat University, UCL and PENHA), Samara University and the Disaster Prevention and Food Security Programme (DPFSP) of Afar Regional State. The primary aim of the workshop was to engage with policymakers, academics and NGOs through knowledge exchange and mutual learning, thus increasing the participation of relevant stakeholders and enhancing the validity of the SPIDA study outcomes. The second objective was to prepare for the forthcoming national conference in November 2017 by directly engaging with policymakers, academics and other actors at the Afar State level as well as nationally within Ethiopia. The third objective was for the SPIDA researchers to collect

Above left: Local activists denouncing expansion of ninth meeting will take place in João Pessoa, monocultures (particularly pineapple for exports) in Brazil, in September 2018 and the call for Costa Rica. Photo by Étienne von Bertrab proposals of activities is now open. More information is available at www.waterlat.org in the construction of egalitarian and LSE Cities report launch on inclusionary water politics’. That reflects Urban Uncertainty the seriousness of and increasing concern On 8 June 2017, Adriana Allen presented at heightened levels of state violence and a commentary at the public launch of impunity in Latin America when it comes the Urban Uncertainty report, which was to people defending human rights and the followed by a panel discussion chaired by environment. But it also reflects the ethos Ricky Burdett, Director of LSE Cities. of the network, which aims to contribute Based on a research project led by Austin to the construction of social forms Zeiderman from 2012 to 2015, the report whereby water politics and management are conceptualises uncertainty and how grounded in principles of equality, solidarity, uncertainty interacts with and shapes urban and social inclusion. As such, delegates from life across Latin America, Africa and Asia. 13 countries shared and discussed relevant Empirically focused, this interdisciplinary research and experiences aimed at reversing engagement with uncertainty around these worrying trends. As a member of the climate change, infrastructural disruption, thematic area ‘Art, Communication, Culture insecurity, speculation, pandemics and and Education’, DPU’s Étienne von Bertrab land politics highlights the many ways it shared reflections on his ongoing research manifests across local and global scales. on media and the construction of empathy The study also reveals the varied strategies with regard to water conflicts in Mexico. and tactics that individuals and groups The meeting, which took place in San – within and beyond official domains of Top: Afar pastoralists. Photo by Jeff Slazer. José de Costa Rica in early April, served as urban governance – use to govern and find Above: Afar camel market. Photo by PENHA. an opportunity to present the winner of stability in uncertain times.

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additional information on the PSNP from The DPU welcomes Haim Yacobi as We say goodbye to Graduate Teaching the various stakeholders in order to fill any Professor of Development Planning. Assistants Di Jiang (UED), Milimer knowledge gaps in the present SPIDA study. Yacobi’s academic work focuses on Morgado (SDP) and Nina Neubauer (ESD), The workshop was attended by the (post)colonial architecture, planning and who will be leaving DPU this month. SPIDA research team members, government development in Israel\Palestine, the Middle The interim maternity cover for ESD authorities from different sectors of East and Africa. Spatial justice and urban is Dominique Chatfield, a former ESD Afar region, Samara University staff and health, contested urbanism, transnational student, and Diana Salazar will return NGO staff. The SPIDA team shared the migration and informality lie at the core of from maternity leave at the beginning of preliminary findings of the SPIDA study his research and consultancy work, teaching November. from the first year. The representative of the and activism. He will lead the DPU’s efforts Alexandre Apsan Frediani welcomed DPFSP of Afar Regional State presented his around urban health. baby Dalia, Cassidy Johnson had baby reflections on the experiences of the PSNP Daniel Oviedo Hernandez joins the Elisabeth, and Kamna Patel will soon go program implementing agencies on the DPU as a Research Associate focusing on maternity leave. Sharon Cooney has gaps identified in the implementation of the on Transport and Urban Development returned from maternity leave to resume program and actions taken so far to address Planning. Daniel will work alongside Julio her post as Programme Administrator. such gaps. Davila and Caren Levy in further developing Congratulations to all the new arrivals, and Speakers underlined the need to critically the DPU’s transport research agenda we look forward to extending best wishes to evaluate the implementation and impact through targeted publications, funding those to come! of the PSNP programme to ensure benefit applications and research projects. Yukiko Fujimoto is on secondment for sectors of the wider community in the Congratulations to Vanesa Castán to the Bartlett’s Construction & Project Afar region, including agro-pastoralists, Broto, who has been offered a Professorial Management, and is due back at DPU in pastoralists, nomads, women and youth. Fellowship at the Faculty of Social Sciences December 2017. Speakers highlighted the importance of at the University of Sheffield, and will sadly We also bid farewell to Antonio Estache, such seminars in bringing researchers, leave DPU over the summer. who will hand over teaching on the policymakers and implementers together, module ‘UE6: An Introduction to Public and in promoting informed dialogue with Economics’ to Marco Giani. relevant experts, thus enriching the ongoing policy dialogue.

PhD Programme

At the end of April Tatiana Ome Baron Following the different trajectories successfully completed her doctoral thesis of these two attempts to articulate entitled ‘An ethnography of Bogotá’s the notion of Ecobarrios as processes Ecobarrios: The construction of place- shaping urban life and territories in based eco-political subjects, subjectivities Bogotá, Tatiana’s thesis examines the and identities’, under the supervision of ways in which the emergence of eco- Adriana Allen and Julio Davila. political subjects either re-produces or As an anthropologist interested in cities, challenges micro-political dynamics of her thesis offers an ethnographic account of and from place and how it has given rise how the notion of Ecobarrios has opened to transformations in urban planning. different paths in the construction of eco- Conceptually and methodologically, the political subjects in Bogotá. Ecobarrios analysis fosters a debate about the scope, emerged as an institutional programme, capacity and limitations of anthropology implemented by the Mayor’s Office between and ethnography in advancing our 2001 and 2003. In 2009 it was adopted as a understanding of how different local initiative by the dwellers of the eastern environmentalisms are pursued through hills of the city as a ‘resistance strategy’ to urban planning processes and grassroots avoid eviction and as a means to improve initiatives. living conditions.

DPUNEWS: ISSUE 62 15 Publications

Allen, A., Belkow, T., Escalante Estrada, C., de Sinha, N. (2017). “Rental Practices in two los Ríos, S., Kamiya, M., Lambert, R., Miranda, informal settlements in Hyderabad, India”, in L., Wesely, J. & Zilbert Soto, L. (2017). “De la Sengupta, U. & Shaw, A. (Eds), Coming of an Age: mitigación de desastres a la interrupción Trends and Issues in Housing in Asia, London: de trampas de riesgo: La experiencia de Routledge: 250-277. aprendizaje-accion de cLIMA sin Riesgo”. Talocci, G. & Boano, C. (2017). “The de- Revista de Estudios Latinoamericanos sobre politicization of housing policies: the case Reducción del Riesgo de Desastres (REDER) Vol. of Borei Keila land sharing in Phnom Penh, 1(1): 6-28. Cambodia”. International Journal of Housing Allen, A., Zilbert Soto, L., & Wesely, J. in Policy, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19491247.2017 collaboration with Belkow, T., Ferro, V., Lambert, .1298365. R., Langdown, I. & Samanamu, A. (2017). Wageman, E. & Boano, C. (2017). “Disaster Risk “From state agencies to ordinary citizens: Reduction cum Climate Change Adaptation reframing risk-mitigation investments and in the context of Housing and Settlements”, their impact to disrupt urban risk traps in in Kelman, I., Mercer, J. & Gaillard, J.C. (Eds.) Lima, Peru”. Environment and Urbanization. Routledge Handbook of Disaster Risk Reduction Braier, M. & Yacobi, H. (2017). “The Planned, and Climate Change Adaptation, London: the Unplanned and the Hyper-planned: Routledge: 481- 490. dwelling in contemporary Jerusalem”. Yacobi, H. (2016). “From ‘ethnocracity’ Planning Theory and Practice. to urban apartheid: the changing urban Milner, E.L. & Yacobi, H. (2017). “Spaces of geopolitics of Jerusalem\al-Quds”. sovereignty: A tale of an unrecognized Cosmopolitan Civil Societies: An Interdisciplinary Journal Vol. 8(3). Palestinian village in Israel”. Planning Theory. Doucet, I. & Boano, C. (2016). “Disruptive Design: on design gestures, breathing, and not-doing. Interview with Camillo Boano”. Candide Journal for Architectural Knowledge (10): 113-139.

DPUNEWS is published by the Development Planning Unit Cover photo: SLURC team conducting research on Development Planning Unit, UCL. University College London urban risk in informal settlements in Freetown. 34 Tavistock Square Photo by SLURC. The Development Planning Unit is London WC1H 9EZ an international centre specialising in United Kingdom academic teaching, practical training, research and consultancy in sustainable Tel: +44 (0)20 7679 1111 urban and regional development policy, Fax: +44 (0)20 7679 1112 Planning for socially just planning and management. Email: [email protected] and sustainable development in the global South Editor: Michael Walls, with Rafaella Lima www.ucl.ac.uk/dpu

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