URBAN SLUMS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: UNDERSTANDING THEIR ORIGINS/EVOLUTIONS AND METHODS FOR IMPROVEMENT

Abstract

 Currently, it is estimated that one billion people live in urban slums and the
expectation is that the number will double in the next twenty-five years (Tibaijuka 2005). Of all
the geographical areas in the world, sub-Saharan Africa has the worst record of meeting the
Millennium Development Goals and has the highest percentage of slums dwellers as a percentage
of the urban population (Hugo Ahlenius (UNEP/GRID-Arendal) 2005; UN-HABITAT 2003b).
Many of the UN Millennium Development Goals could achieve maximum effects if urban slums
were targeted for improvements due to the large populations they constitute. While some attention
is being given to improving the conditions of urban slums, the progress is slow and there appears
to be a scarcity of information about what is being done and if it is working. Slums have evolved
from their origins in Britain‟s industrialization in the 18th century through the social reformers of
the 19th century to today‟s slums, which are deemed unsafe because of a lack of basic
infrastructure and services. Additionally, three cases studies of improvement projects in subSaharan Africa give some insight into potential successful improvement methods, however, much
of these plans are yet to be implemented.