Slums and Land Markets: Getting Ahead of the Curve

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Cities of the developing world face a dual shelter challenge. Simultaneously they must address systemic problems in the way their land markets function to curb the growth of slums while continuing to attract population and investments. This session drew on global insights of the World Bank, Cities Alliance and Singapore, one of the most dramatic examples of urban transformation in contemporary times. Complimenting two overview presentations on slum upgrading and development control were presentations of two innovative Bank projects in Senegal and Colombia.

Videorecording of session 1 and session 2.

Speakers:

Julian Baskin, Senior Urban Specialist, SDNCA
Presentation identified some of the key global lessons on slum upgrading, and reviewed a new approach underway by the Cities Alliance through its Land Services and Citizenship Initiative.

Christian Diou, Senior Municipal Engineer, AFTUW
Presentation on upgrading and resettlement of Urban Informal Settlements in Dakar, Senegal as part of the Dakar-DiamNiadio Toll Highway Project.

Belinda Yuen, Visiting Scholar (FEUUR) and Associate Professor at National University of Singapore
Presentation on Singapore’s urban-led development strategy and on how the 'development control' mechanism has been used as a productive resource in guiding orderly inner-city redevelopment.

Taimur Samad, Senior Urban Specialist, LCSUW
Presentation of the Colombia Low-Income Land and Housing Project and the context and challenges for low-income land development in Colombia.