United Nations Earth Summit+5 Success Stories - Urban Squatters Resettlement Project: Rehabilitation and community support & services to urban poor.

EARTH SUMMIT+5
Special Session of the General Assembly to Review and Appraise
the Implementation of Agenda 21
New York, 23-27 June 1997
SUCCESS STORIES FROM BANGLADESH

Urban Squatters Resettlement Project: Rehabilitation and community support & services to urban poor.

Location Local level programme on 87-acre site in Mirpur area, at the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Responsible organization UNDP

Description Resettlement/rehabilitation of about 3,000 squatter families with support and services such as providing low cost housing, land and infrastructure development, community services, socio-economic development and assisting, through NGO involvement, in income-generating activities, addressing issues related to equity, benefits to women and children.

Issues addressed Increased quality of life;
Sustainable livelihood through vocational education; skilled development training;
Credit delivery for income generating activities;
Equity, human rights, benefits to women and children.

Objectives To assist the Government of Bangladesh in its efforts to provide appropriate housing and basic community services to the urban poorest without shelter. In response to this objective it is intended to implement a pilot project to develop a model that will serve as the guide to formulate a national strategy and methodology in providing low-cost housing on self-help basis for low-income urban peoples in the capital city and elsewhere in the country.

Results achieved Security of land tenure and house ownership to 2600 families with a total population of 11,000 people;
The project implemented basic infrastructure services, core houses and community facilities such as opportunity for income generating activities, safe drinking water supply, sanitation & sewerage, embankment for flood protection and overall environmental enhancement for the community as a whole.
All families became owner of the house through collection of hire-purchase fees within 10 years is an example of poor's access to resource & ownership.
Since the project started, average family income increased 300% over 7 years.
Created positive impact on living and working condition, on income generating potential, on social services and women and children. Community facilities supported by the international NGOs included a women's training centre for 250 women; pre-school education unit for 225 children; vocational education for 574 children; preventive health programme; nutrition/rehabilitation unit for 100 children/mothers.

Lessons learned Assetless peoplecan be resourceful if there opportunities are created within an appropriate programme and firm commitment of the government. This programme has a combination of basic needs delivery through participation of the concerned people, government, development partners and the civil society working together. The technical assistance provided by the UNCHS and UNDP and the capital investment of UN Capital Developmet Fund along with the NGO assistance have resulted in establishing a systematic approach in implementation and development of human empowerment and settlement projects.
Keeping the level of the unit cost of resettlement within range of the urban poor leads to replicate such operations. The programme should be appropriate with sufficient level of self-help initiative and involve other partner organizations in the project management and financial support systems.

Financing UNCDF provided US$4,876,000.
UNCHS provided technical support.
Government purchase of the land for resettlement, flood protection and project administration.
UN Capital Developmet Fund contributed to housing and infrastructure, site development, income generating fund and programme support.
UNDP contributed with some funding providing technical support costs such as expatriate civil engineer, support personnel for administration, local subcontracts/consultants and equipment.
UNICEF contributed to support community water supply and sanitation programmes.
Local and international NGOs also contributed in community development activities.

Contact Durafshan H. Chowdhury
UNDP, House # 60, Road 11A, Dhanmondi R/A, GPO Box 224 Dhaka, Bangladesh
Tel. (880 2)818600-06 Fax (880 2) 813196, 817811, 818617
Email: fo.bgd@undp.org

Copyright © United Nations
Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Comments and suggestions: esa@un.org
1 November 1997

	Urban Squatters Resettlement Project: Rehabilitation and community support & services to urban poor.
	Location	Local level programme on 87-acre site in Mirpur area, at the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh.
	Responsible organization	UNDP
	Description	Resettlement/rehabilitation of about 3,000 squatter families with support and services such as providing low cost housing, land and infrastructure development, community services, socio-economic development and assisting, through NGO involvement, in income-generating activities, addressing issues related to equity, benefits to women and children.
	Issues addressed	Increased quality of life; Sustainable livelihood through vocational education; skilled development training; Credit delivery for income generating activities; Equity, human rights, benefits to women and children.
	Objectives	To assist the Government of Bangladesh in its efforts to provide appropriate housing and basic community services to the urban poorest without shelter. In response to this objective it is intended to implement a pilot project to develop a model that will serve as the guide to formulate a national strategy and methodology in providing low-cost housing on self-help basis for low-income urban peoples in the capital city and elsewhere in the country.
	Results achieved	Security of land tenure and house ownership to 2600 families with a total population of 11,000 people; The project implemented basic infrastructure services, core houses and community facilities such as opportunity for income generating activities, safe drinking water supply, sanitation & sewerage, embankment for flood protection and overall environmental enhancement for the community as a whole. All families became owner of the house through collection of hire-purchase fees within 10 years is an example of poor's access to resource & ownership. Since the project started, average family income increased 300% over 7 years. Created positive impact on living and working condition, on income generating potential, on social services and women and children. Community facilities supported by the international NGOs included a women's training centre for 250 women; pre-school education unit for 225 children; vocational education for 574 children; preventive health programme; nutrition/rehabilitation unit for 100 children/mothers.
	Lessons learned	Assetless peoplecan be resourceful if there opportunities are created within an appropriate programme and firm commitment of the government. This programme has a combination of basic needs delivery through participation of the concerned people, government, development partners and the civil society working together. The technical assistance provided by the UNCHS and UNDP and the capital investment of UN Capital Developmet Fund along with the NGO assistance have resulted in establishing a systematic approach in implementation and development of human empowerment and settlement projects. Keeping the level of the unit cost of resettlement within range of the urban poor leads to replicate such operations. The programme should be appropriate with sufficient level of self-help initiative and involve other partner organizations in the project management and financial support systems.
	Financing	UNCDF provided US$4,876,000. UNCHS provided technical support. Government purchase of the land for resettlement, flood protection and project administration. UN Capital Developmet Fund contributed to housing and infrastructure, site development, income generating fund and programme support. UNDP contributed with some funding providing technical support costs such as expatriate civil engineer, support personnel for administration, local subcontracts/consultants and equipment. UNICEF contributed to support community water supply and sanitation programmes. Local and international NGOs also contributed in community development activities.
	Contact	Durafshan H. Chowdhury UNDP, House # 60, Road 11A, Dhanmondi R/A, GPO Box 224 Dhaka, Bangladesh Tel. (880 2)818600-06 Fax (880 2) 813196, 817811, 818617 Email: fo.bgd@undp.org