| Youth
Information Networks in Kibera, Nairobi, Kenya
Kibera is a low income, informal settlement in southwest Nairobi,
Kenya. With an estimated population of one million housed on less
than 2% of the total municipal residential land , Kibera holds one
of the highest population densities in sub-Saharan Africa. Concurrent
with the available posters, pamphlets, and workshops offered to
the population of Kibera, a concentration of minds and needs forms
a complex network of information distribution. Neighbors talk to
neighbors, and stomachs are agents in decisions. Days are filled
with information exchanges, people are inundated with choice.
Access to information has often been synonymous with the ability
to choose. It is true that lack of information does inhibit choice.
Not knowing about rights, available services, plans for the area,
or options for tackling certain problems exacerbate the vulnerability
of the urban poor. But what happens when the information is conflicting
or contains only partial facts? How does this inconsistent or incomplete
information affect the ability to choose? Does information always
lead to the ability to make good choices?
Click
here to read Courtney's report
Kibera
Social and Economic Mapping:
Household Survey Report
GoK / UNHABITAT
The socio-economic mapping exercise was part of the Kenya Slum-Upgrading
Program (KENSUP) – a collaborative initiative between the
government of Kenya (GoK) and the United Nations Human Settlements
Program (UN-HABITAT). The purpose of KENSUP is basically to improve
the livelihoods of the people living and working in slums and informal
settlements and contribute to poverty reduction in urban areas of
Kenya. Due to its fast expansion and worsening living conditions,
Kibera (and other three sites) has been selected as part of the
program’s target for upgrading. Prior to the upgrading initiative,
the GoK and UN-HABITAT envisioned a need to map out the socio-economic
activities and lifestyles of Kibera people. The overriding objective
of the socio-economic mapping exercise was therefore to provide
an understanding of the real and actual situation of the living
conditions of people living and working in Kibera. To realize these
objectives, the Consultant (Research International) was mandated,
inter alia, to-
Identify the key players in the day-to-day activities in Kibera
Conduct field surveys and obtain relevant data on people’s
lifestyle as well as the living conditions in Kibera
Adopt a participatory approach and engage the residents in the socio-economic
mapping exercise
Record in retrievable formats all the data collected or information
obtained
Present a comprehensive report on the socio-economic mapping exercise
highlighting the findings and recommendations to guide the up-grading
initiative
Click here to
read Courtney's report
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