Addressing Informality in Disaster Risk Management:

Towards Inclusive Urban Planning Approach

Third Country Training Program Results-based Public Sector Excellence (Disaster Risk Management)

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore – Asian Development Bank

Singapore, 16-19 April 2012

Fajar Eko Antono, ST, M.ScPolicy and Planning SpecialistDirectorate General of HighwaysMinistry of Public Works IndonesiaJakarta, Indonesia

Boris Zerjav, M.Arch, M.ScProject OfficerRoyal Institution Of Chartered SurveyorsDisaster Management CommissionLondon, United Kingdom

Background

• Growing global awareness on disasters, more commitments and mitigation efforts made by related stakeholders.

• Growing global urban population, estimated at about 60% by 2030, requires disaster risk management to be integrated in urban development.

• The number of people live in informality (slum), estimated 1 out of 3 urban residents, thus more vulnerable, and is significant to be addressed in policy formulation.

Definition

“Multidimensional phenomenon involving thorny issues related to: a fragile land tenure, noncompliance with urban norms and regulations, inadequate provision of public services and equipment and occupation of improper areas.” (Smolka and Biderman, 2010)

Lacks one or more of the following: (1) Access to improved sanitation; (2) Access to improved water; (3) Access to security of tenure; (4) Durability of Housing; and (5) Access to sufficient living areas (UN Habitat)

Informal Settlement: Typical Portrait(Source: UN Habitat)

Risk(s) of Informal Settlement

• Under representation/lack of participation • Neglected in planning• Dangerous location• Insufficient protection against disaster• Limited help due to informal status• Also contributing risks to the city/urban

areas/other groups • Etc

Informal Settlement: Vulnerability(Source: UN Habitat)

Possible Solutions (1)No Scheme(s) (+) (-)

1 Prevention of informality • Solving the cause of problem• More effective/efficient in the long run• Inline with preventive spirit of DRM

• Requires improvement in many aspects of urban policies• Empirically facts show informality keeps happening (urbanization)• Requires long time

2 Upgrading • Immediate/short term effects• Politically popular• Ensuring housing adequacy (no eviction) • Motivate community to invest more on housing/neigbourhood

• Expensive in terms of infrastructure provision• Does not change location• Legal/formal constraint in • Encourage further informal settlement

Possible Solutions (2)No Scheme(s) (+) (-)

3 Relocation • Solving the problem associated with dangerous/improper location• New settlement of better planning/ infrastructure

• Difficulty to acquire land• Lost in access to livelihood and/or social networks• Problems in community adaptation

4 Any other possible solutions

Way Forward

• Significant percentage of urban populations living informally are vulnerable to disaster.

• Reducing/preventing the occurrence of informal settlement contribute to reduction of risks to the respected group as well as the city.

• New paradigm, policies, approaches and methods are needed to address this issue in the future.

Thank You