Why Informal Settlement Upgrading Matters
This article explores three major slum upgrading projects—in Rwanda, Kenya, and Brazil—and the lessons they offer for inclusive urban development.
Unlike mass evictions, slum upgrading focuses on:
✅ Infrastructure development – Roads, drainage, electricity, and street lighting
✅ Land tenure security – Legalizing settlements and reducing evictions
✅ Economic empowerment – Improving job access and business opportunities
✅ Community engagement – Ensuring residents participate in decision-making
Now, let’s dive into successful real-world case studies.
Case Study 1: Agatare Informal Settlement Upgrading – Kigali, Rwanda
🔹Overview
The Agatare Informal Settlement Upgrading Project was implemented under the Rwanda Urban Development Project (RUDP I) and funded by the World Bank. It focused on Biryogo, Agatare, Kiyovu, and Rwampara Cells in Nyarugenge Sector, and Mumena Cell in Nyamirambo Sector, Nyarugenge District, City of Kigali (CoK).
The project aimed to rehabilitate and construct key infrastructure in informal settlements by:
✔ Upgrading access roads
✔ Expanding footpaths
✔ Improving drainage systems
✔ Installing public street lighting
To prevent or minimize negative impacts of the project on environment and social life of the community, the project complied with World Bank safeguard policies, including:
- WB OP 4.01 (Environmental Assessment) – To assess and mitigate environmental impacts
- WB OP 4.11 (Physical Cultural Resources) – To preserve historically significant sites
- WB OP 4.12 (Involuntary Resettlement) – To minimize displacement and support affected residents
🔹 Project Objectives & Key Outcomes
The primary goal of the Agatare Project was to support Rwanda’s urbanization by delivering basic services that improve living conditions and boost local economic development. It aligned with the Rwanda Urbanization and Rural Settlement Sector Strategic Plan (2013–2018), which emphasizes:
✔ Densification – Encouraging efficient land use to reduce infrastructure costs
✔ Social inclusivity – Ensuring that urban investments benefit all residents
✔ Economic development – Enhancing opportunities for small businesses and local markets
The project was designed with strong community participation, coordinated by Nyarugenge District and the City of Kigali. Residents actively engaged in decision-making, selecting priority infrastructure projects that would have the most impact on their daily lives.
🔹 Expansion & Replication Under RUDP II
After the successful completion (2018-2021), now, under RUDP II, the model is being replicated in other informal settlements across the City of Kigali, including:
✅ Mpazi Informal Settlement (Nyarugenge District)
✅ Nyabisindu-Nyagatovu Informal Settlement (Gasabo District)
✅ Gatenga Informal Settlement (Gatenga Sector, Kicukiro District)
🔎 Impact & Future Developments
✔ 15,000 residents now have better roads, drainage, and footpaths, improving mobility and daily life
✔ Flood risks reduced for 2,000 people through new drainage systems
✔ Small businesses have benefited from improved accessibility and infrastructure
✔ Citywide scaling – The ongoing upgrading works in the above-mentioned three settlements under RUDP II are expected to be completed by December 2025, further transforming Kigali’s urban landscape.
🔗 Want to learn more? Read about Agatare project to upgrade informal settlement in Biryogo, Agatare, Kiyovu and Rwampara, Ressettlement Action Plan, and Ground Breaking for Mpazi Informal Settlement Upgrading Works
Case Study 2: The Mukuru Special Planning Area – Nairobi, Kenya
🔹 Overview
Mukuru, one of Nairobi’s largest informal settlements, covers 689 acres and is home to over 100,000 households. In 2017, the Mukuru Special Planning Area (SPA) was declared, marking one of the largest slum upgrading projects ever. The initiative involves Mukuru’s residents, Nairobi County Government, and over 40 organizations working together.
🔹 Project Scope
✔ Participatory urban planning – Over 5,000 Mukuru residents engaged in community planning
✔ Integrated development – The plan includes sanitation, education, healthcare, and economic development
✔ Legal recognition – The government has acknowledged that traditional planning cannot solve slum challenges without community input
🔎 Impact
✔ Better water and sanitation – Reducing health risks
✔ Job creation – Infrastructure projects have stimulated employment and business growth
✔ Replicable model – Mukuru’s community-driven approach is now being applied to other Nairobi slums
🔗 Explore The Mukuru Special Planning Area, and Mukuru from planning to implementetaion
Case Study 3: The Favela Bairro Project – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
🔹 Overview
Launched in 1995, the Favela Bairro Project was a US$180 million initiative funded by the Inter-American Development Bank to integrate Rio de Janeiro’s favelas into the formal city. It impacted 253,000 residents in 73 communities and remains one of the most ambitious slum upgrading programs in Latin America.
🔹 Project Objectives
✔ Urban infrastructure upgrades – Roads, sanitation, and public spaces
✔ Land legalization – Helping residents gain formal property rights
✔ Social services expansion – Better access to education, healthcare, and public transport
🔎Impact
✔Improved safety – Street lighting and paved roads reduced crime rates
✔ Economic development – Businesses flourished due to better connectivity
✔ Challenges – Gentrification displaced some residents, and job training programs failed due to high illiteracy rates.
🔗 Read about the FAVELA-BAIRRO PROJECT, BRAZIL
Key Takeaways from Successful Upgrading Projects
The Agatare Informal Settlement Upgrading Project (Kigali, Rwanda), the Mukuru Special Planning Area (Nairobi, Kenya), and the Favela Bairro Project (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) showcase different approaches to inclusive urban development. These case studies offer valuable lessons for cities seeking to improve informal settlements while ensuring social and economic sustainability.
1️. Community Engagement is Essential for Sustainability
Lesson:
The success of informal settlement upgrading projects depends on active community participation. Engaging residents in decision-making, planning, and implementation leads to better project outcomes and long-term maintenance.
🔹 Agatare, Kigali: Residents were actively involved in selecting priority infrastructure projects, ensuring that investments addressed their most urgent needs.
🔹 Mukuru, Nairobi: Over 5,000 residents participated in community planning forums, helping shape a comprehensive integrated development plan.
🔹 Favela Bairro, Rio de Janeiro: The project used grassroots-level infrastructure experts as intermediaries between the government and the community, ensuring smoother project execution.
✅ Key Takeaway:
Inclusive planning builds trust, ensures local needs are met, and fosters a sense of ownership, leading to better long-term project sustainability.
2️. Upgrading Must Address Both Infrastructure and Socioeconomic Needs
Lesson:
While infrastructure improvements (roads, drainage, street lighting) are critical, true transformation requires integrating economic and social development initiatives such as job creation, healthcare, and education.
🔹 Agatare, Kigali: The project improved urban mobility and business accessibility while also reducing flood risks, benefiting 15,000+ residents.
🔹 Mukuru, Nairobi: The SPA approach expanded beyond infrastructure, incorporating education, healthcare, and business support to create a holistic development model.
🔹 Favela Bairro, Rio de Janeiro: While infrastructure upgrades were successful, economic initiatives struggled, as many residents required literacy training before they could benefit from job programs.
✅ Key Takeaway:
Infrastructure alone isn’t enough—integrating social services and economic empowerment programs ensures lasting impact.
3️. Secure Land Tenure and Legal Recognition Enhance Stability
Lesson:
Without formal land tenure, residents face the risk of eviction, discouraging investment in housing improvements. Recognizing informal settlements legally empowers communities to invest in their own development.
🔹 Agatare, Kigali: The project supported Rwanda’s urban densification strategy, ensuring land was used efficiently while providing residents with basic services without displacement.
🔹 Mukuru, Nairobi: The SPA designation acknowledged that conventional planning could not adequately address informal settlement challenges, leading to a more inclusive legal framework.
🔹 Favela Bairro, Rio de Janeiro: The program aimed to formalize land ownership to prevent future land invasions and integrate favelas into the city.
✅ Key Takeaway:
Providing legal recognition and land tenure security prevents forced evictions and encourages long-term investment in housing improvements.
4️. Flexible and Committed Governance Drives Success
Lesson:
Government support, policy flexibility, and strong public-private partnerships are crucial for informal settlement upgrading projects to succeed.
🔹 Agatare, Kigali: The project aligned with Rwanda’s Urbanization and Rural Settlement Sector Strategic Plan (2013–2018), demonstrating a long-term vision for urban growth.
🔹 Mukuru, Nairobi: The Nairobi County Government worked with over 40 organizations from civil society, academia, and the private sector, creating an innovative, large-scale participatory model.
🔹 Favela Bairro, Rio de Janeiro: The program benefited from a flexible city government that adapted urban policies to integrate informal settlements into the formal city.
✅ Key Takeaway:
Slum upgrading requires strong political will, cross-sector collaboration, and adaptive policies to ensure long-term success.
5️. Scaling Up Requires a Phased, Data-Driven Approach
Lesson:
Successful projects should be piloted, assessed, and gradually expanded to other areas based on lessons learned.
🔹 Agatare, Kigali: After the initial success in Biryogo, Agatare, Kiyovu, Rwampara, and Mumena Cells, the model is now being replicated in Mpazi, Nyabisindu-Nyagatovu, and Gatenga under RUDP II.
🔹 Mukuru, Nairobi: The SPA is serving as a model for upgrading other informal settlements in Nairobi.
🔹 Favela Bairro, Rio de Janeiro: The project aimed to benefit 25% of Rio’s favela dwellers and serve as a replicable model for other local governments.
✅ Key Takeaway:
Gradual expansion, informed by data and community feedback, ensures that informal settlement upgrading efforts remain effective and scalable.
Final Thought: Investing in Inclusive Urban Development
Cities must prioritize inclusive, sustainable urbanization by integrating informal settlements into the formal city fabric without displacing residents. The case studies from Kigali, Nairobi, and Rio de Janeiro show that community engagement, economic empowerment, legal recognition, and strong governance are key to success.
Would you like to explore more real-world urban development projects? Check out these related articles:
🔹 Towards a Financing Mechanism for Slum Upgrading
🔹 How Smart Cities Can Solve Urban Housing Challenges
You can also read this related post: Best Practices in Street Youth Rehabilitation: Lessons from Leading NGOs https://impactsphereglobal.com/best-practices-in-street-youth-rehabilitation-lessons-from-leading-ngos/
💬 What lessons can your city learn from these projects? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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Written by Felix Uwitonze
Weldone