housing Archive - Urbanet

Navigating Heterogeneity: The Way to a Just Energy Transition in the Global South’s Housing Sector

Spotlight on: Energy in Cities

Navigating Heterogeneity: The Way to a Just Energy Transition in the Global South’s Housing Sector

By Marie Urfels|2023-04-20T11:29:57+02:00April 20th 2023|Basic Infrastructure & Housing, Energy & Waste, Housing & Informality, housing, informal settlements, Just Transition, Lagos, Nigeria|

Achieving a just energy transition in the urban housing sectors of the Global South demands recognition and engagement with their heterogeneous energy networks and rapidly evolving spatialities. Marie Urfels explores the challenges of achieving a just energy transition in the housing sector of the Global South while emphasising the importance of embracing these complexities to create targeted, context-specific solutions.

Perceptions Data Reveal Patterns of Tenure Insecurity in the Middle East and North Africa

Perceptions Data Reveal Patterns of Tenure Insecurity in the Middle East and North Africa

By Shahd Mustafa|2021-03-23T09:51:34+01:00March 23rd 2021|Global Urban Debates, housing, land tenure rights, Middle East, North Africa|

Understanding what drives perceived security can help policymakers and urban planners make better choices. Shahd Mustafa shares new findings from Prindex’s report on land rights in the Arab region.

Land Rights in Africa Are About People, Not Paperwork

Land Rights in Africa Are About People, Not Paperwork

By Ibrahima Ka and Cynthia Berning|2021-03-02T15:31:23+01:00March 2nd 2021|Governance & Finance, Africa, gender equality, housing, land tenure rights|

As part of the Prindex global dataset, people in 34 sub-Saharan countries were asked about their feelings of security or fear regarding possible eviction. Dr Ibrahima Ka and Cynthia Berning share intriguing findings.

Egyptian Eco-Communities: Reintegrating the Homeless

Egyptian Eco-Communities: Reintegrating the Homeless

By Ayman S. Mosallam|2019-10-30T10:30:54+01:00October 30th 2019|Housing & Informality, Egypt, housing, sustainable urban development, urban resilience|

Homelessness is an issue that countries are struggling to address. Professor Ayman Mosallam’s proposal for building Eco-Communities represents an innovative solution that equips homeless people with new skills and purpose. At the same time, the Eco-Communities also promote sustainable living.

Leave No One Behind in Cities: How Can Knowledge Gaps About Marginalisation Be Filled?

Leave No One Behind in Cities: How Can Knowledge Gaps About Marginalisation Be Filled?

By Leah Moss and Davie Malungisa|2019-07-30T10:54:28+02:00July 30th 2019|Urban & Metropolitan Governance, Bangladesh, housing, informal settlements, Leave No One Behind, SDGs, urban governance|

Street dwellers and the urban poor often don’t have access to their cities’ services. One reason behind this problem is the fact that they are not surveyed and consulted in data collection. How can this gap be filled?

The Role of Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations in Kenya’s Housing Finance Sector

The Role of Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations in Kenya’s Housing Finance Sector

By Davina Wood|2019-06-11T10:05:49+02:00June 11th 2019|Municipal & Climate Finance, finance, housing, Kenya, municipal finance|

Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations play a key role for housing security in Kenya. Davina Wood explains how they work and discusses benefits and current challenges.

The Future is Community-led: How People Are Improving Their Neighbourhoods Across Africa

The Future is Community-led: How People Are Improving Their Neighbourhoods Across Africa

By Bea Varnai, Kirsty Bryant & Mariana Gallo|2019-05-16T22:17:24+02:00May 16th 2019|Housing & Informality, Africa, housing, informal settlements, Senegal, slums, Uganda, urban planning and construction, Zimbabwe|

All across Africa, the most rapidly urbanising continent, locals are taking action to improve their neighbourhoods and get access to adequate housing and services. Leading up the UN Habitat Assembly, URBANET presents examples from Senegal, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.

When Communities Transform Old Socialist Housing into Adequate Housing – Part 2

When Communities Transform Old Socialist Housing into Adequate Housing – Part 2

By Boram Kimhur|2019-05-14T10:06:30+02:00May 14th 2019|Basic Infrastructure & Housing, Asia, housing, urban planning and construction, Vietnam|

Socialist-era apartment buildings in Vietnam’s cities, so-called KTT, are decaying rapidly. Tenants’ community organisations could help upgrade them and prevent redevelopment, says Boram Kimhur.

When Communities Transform Old Socialist Housing into Adequate Housing – Part 1

When Communities Transform Old Socialist Housing into Adequate Housing – Part 1

By Boram Kimhur|2019-05-15T10:19:54+02:00May 9th 2019|Housing & Informality, Asia, housing, urban planning and construction, Vietnam|

Socialist-era apartment buildings in Vietnam’s cities, so-called KTT, are decaying rapidly. Tenants’ community organisations could help upgrade them and prevent redevelopment, says Boram Kimhur.

Building from Scratch and Sand

Building from Scratch and Sand

By Gerhard Dust|2019-05-07T09:32:30+02:00May 7th 2019|Basic Infrastructure & Housing, Green & Smart Development, Housing & Informality, Haiti, housing, Namibia, urban planning and construction|

Urban areas around the world face the challenge of delivering affordable housing to ever growing populations. Availability and expenses of both building material and skilled workers are a common hindrance. Turning sand into a revolutionary new building material might offer a solution, writes PolyCare Co-Founder Dr Gerhard Dust.

Understanding and Tracking Affordable Housing Investment Opportunities in Africa

Understanding and Tracking Affordable Housing Investment Opportunities in Africa

By Kecia Rust|2019-03-12T11:20:28+01:00March 12th 2019|Housing & Informality, Municipal & Climate Finance, Africa, Ethiopia, finance, housing, South Africa|

Housing has become a policy issue that interests not only housing departments and local construction authorities, but Central Banks and financial players as well. Kecia Rust from the Centre for Affordable Housing Finance in Africa (CAHF) explains why housing has become an investment opportunity, and the role that policy makers play.

“An Urban Habitat is Not Only Brick and Mortar”

“An Urban Habitat is Not Only Brick and Mortar”

By Daniel Kerber|2021-02-22T13:20:39+01:00December 5th 2018|Housing & Informality, Berlin, housing, migration, participation|

Daniel Kerber is the founder and CEO of More than Shelters, a social business that brings a creative and innovative approach to the humanitarian context. Since it was founded in 2012, More than Shelters has been active in various places: parts of Jordan that border on neighbouring Syria, transit routes, and places where migrants and refugees arrive, such as Greece and Berlin, Germany. URBANET asked Daniel Kerber what More than Shelters brings to the housing debate.

Casa Minha Nosso Bairro: Inclusive Urban Development in Maputo, Mozambique

Casa Minha Nosso Bairro: Inclusive Urban Development in Maputo, Mozambique

By Alfonso Cabrillo Losada & Ilia Varvaroussi|2018-11-08T12:20:42+01:00November 8th 2018|Basic Infrastructure & Housing, Housing & Informality, Africa, housing, inclusive urban planning, Maputo, Mozambique|

Projects aimed at the upgrading of settlements often face the question of how to increase living standards for all residents – while keeping housing costs at a level affordable for the original population. The initiative "Casa Minha Nosso Bairro" takes an innovative approach towards this issue, aiming at living conditions that nurture a peaceful living environment for all urban residents

Shortcomings of Brazil’s Minha Casa, Minha Vida Programme

Shortcomings of Brazil’s Minha Casa, Minha Vida Programme

By Clarisse Cunha Linke|2020-04-08T15:36:57+02:00September 27th 2018|Basic Infrastructure & Housing, Global Urban Debates, Housing & Informality, Urban & Metropolitan Governance, Brazil, housing, Latin America, urbanisation|

Brazil's social housing programme Minha Casa, Minha Vida prides itself on having delivered an enormous amount of affordable housing. But putting a roof over people's heads is not sufficient if the settlements are located on the far outskirts of a city, depriving residents of access to urban resources, claims Clarisse Cunha Linke.

6 Features That Make Brazil’s Affordable Housing Programme Good for People and the Environment

6 Features That Make Brazil’s Affordable Housing Programme Good for People and the Environment

By Priscila Pacheco|2018-09-26T12:28:21+02:00September 26th 2018|Basic Infrastructure & Housing, Global Urban Debates, Housing & Informality, Urban & Metropolitan Governance, Brazil, housing, Latin America, urbanisation|

“Minha Casa, Minha Vida” (My House, My Life) is Brazil’s largest affordable housing project to this day. Priscila Pacheco describes the buildings’ sustainability features that benefit the residents and the environment.