Developmental aid: those with means think of plans and execute those plans to help those without means. That is how it was and is, but will this also be the future? During this year’s UN Habitat’s World Forum, a new voice arose: “We are fed up with this system,” it said.
“We,” that is Slum Dwellers International, are slum inhabitants from around the world, united by this global organization. They no longer wish to be the mere subject of discussion, but want to be active participants in decisions concerning their own fate. The rich can still help the poor, but only if the poor agree to their course of action. This viewpoint gave much food for thought.
According to the UN Habitat’s 2006 figures, more than half of the world’s population lives in cities. This number is growing. It is estimated that more than a quarter of those citizens will be living in a slum by 2020, because cities are not equipped for the expected expansion. They are thus faced with a growing problem. The new city slickers in Third World countries live in poverty and have little chance of improvement while their governments ignore this ever-expanding group. Two decades ago, the UN established UN Habitat as an advisory body to try to contain this growing problem. Up until now, UN Habitat has failed, as the number of slum dwellers has increased.
According to Anna Tibaijuka, head of UN Habitat, “Developmental aid is aimed mainly at the countryside, while city inhabitants live in worse conditions. They lack proper housing, sanitary conditions, clean water, education and healthcare.” More children die of diarrhea in city slums than in the countryside. Organizing help from above, from governments and independent support organizations, does not achieve any results, despite expensive specialist debates.
Poor poor?
No, not entirely, as seen during the most recent Habitat Forum in Vancouver, Canada, where representatives of Slum Dwellers International (SDI) let themselves be heard. SDI, with the support of the Dutch developmental aid organization Cordaid, threatened to change their name to “Fed Up.” They are fed up with waiting for help and tired of listening to expensive specialists, telling them how to live their lives. Jockim Arputham, head of SDI, is clear: “What are all those expensive words worth? Nothing! That is why we have decided to no longer listen to their lip service. While they talk and talk, the poor only get poorer. You will have to join forces with us, or you will be left behind. We are going to change the world!”
SDI has a network of organizations representing slum dwellers (among which there are many homeless), who take matters into their own hands. SDI is active in 12 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Due to the people’s weak social position, they do not have the means to confront their governments. But together they develop alternative strategies to help the homeless onto land and into housing.
One of those strategies is a so-called “land picnic” whereby they try to outsmart the government. Homeless people move their things onto a stretch of land where there will be a picnic. Men and especially women take children and household items, enjoy their “outing” and await action from the local authorities. If they have to leave, they pack up their belongings, so they are not demolished if their new hideout is destroyed. As soon as the police leave, they rebuild their “houses.” If they manage to stay longer, some basic facilities are procured. Women play a central role in this part. They use their local credits to form the basis of development. They form the heart of what is also called the “grassroots up” movement.
“Development is not something which is granted to you, because then it would remain a present,” Arputham says. “You yourself have to be the source of your own development. You have to earn it, to make it a reality. If you do, it will give you pride, power and self-esteem.”
A second strategy of SDI is the forming of a federation. Many quiet voices can make one loud voice, which is especially useful if you wish to join the global level of discussion. SDI creates negotiation strategies with governments and land owners and by doing so strengthens the position of slum dwellers to negotiate for more.
“SDI wishes to be partners, rather than foes, because that could result in a political battle,” states Arputham.
Outside help is always welcome. Cordaid helps with plotting strategies and judicial support and lobbying. For most governments it is a big step to accept ideas from poor slum dwellers. If governments are willing to listen and if they are open to unbiased communication, it will open up a pathway into a valuable information system for the government and be a triumph for the “unprofessional professionals.”
Still, could claiming land in a world where land ownership is becoming uncommon be seen as a political act? South American history, especially, is filled with bloody battles over land ownership. According to Arputham, “Land is politics.” He adds, however, “We are not a political party. We have managed to get developmental projects to explain their motives. They cannot keep up with our development. The UN Habitat’s agenda has always been controlled by those who pay, and Habitat lacks the courage to resist its money-makers.
“Until now, since we have approached them. Land is a political metaphor. Without politics, there is no acquiring land. The World Bank claims that it would take all their money to work on urban politics. Such arrogance! They really believe that only their money talks. We have strength in numbers, something that is worth more. We want to take part in the decision-making process, to work with others, and not to have others work for us. We have had enough of that already. Ninety percent of our members are women. Let’s put them in charge. One cannot reach one’s goals if one does not try to achieve them.”
Tibaijuka agrees.
“Habitat is struggling with politics,” Tibaijuka says. “We are working on empowerment of the poor, not a revolution. We are talking about one billion people who need legal rights. That is where we help. The poor help themselves to rights if they are without them, but if they do, the governments throw them out on the streets. They are powerless. This has been happening for years already. The UN’s objective is to stimulate change. Some countries have produced a commission to deal with legal empowerment of the poor. Without it, the poor will empower themselves. The goal of the UN is to let that change occur peacefully and gradually, with the help of countries with an orderly reformation process. The poor work hard for such a meager result. Nobody helps them. Our most important objective is to acknowledge and support their attempt. We are opposed to slums, not their inhabitants.”
It is still to be seen if the SDI will change the world. It is, after all, not easy to change structures and political affairs quickly. Arputham, however, is hopeful. Money is not the issue, since many countries and support organizations are drawn to the idea of self-help. He simply states that the number of people having to live in slums is growing rapidly and that their sheer number will eventually cause the balance to tip. The demographics of urbanization will make a different political approach necessary, he believes. Such an approach will see the poor as key partners.
Arputham is not about to adapt his program to the subsidizer’s demands. This is simply because is he not afraid to say “no” and because he and the slum dwellers know how to live without support. This is their daily reality, after all.
