Challenges in policy transition: In situ upgrading of informal settlements in Johannesburg and Nairobi

Abstract

There has been a gradual shift in informal settlement intervention policies across the world, with In situ upgrading being considered an ideal approach as it addresses poor conditions in settlements without negatively impacting on beneficiaries’ lives. However, despite policy and programme shifts, implementation outcomes have remained limited. This study focused on the gap between informal settlement policy intents and implementation outcomes in Johannesburg, South Africa and Nairobi, Kenya. It draws from implementation experiences from the two case studies, building contextual accounts of this challenge into a comparative study. Implementation gaps in the two cities were attributed to a number of issues, including: how policies were designed; tensions and challenges within and between implementing agencies; politics of beneficiaries and other stakeholders; among others. The study’s key argument is that policy has given insufficient regard to the context of implementation and the means of implementation before coming into effect.