Knowra Informal settlement Informal settlement An urban residential area where housing or land occupation lacks some forms of legal recognition, secure tenure, or adequate services. Conditions and legal status vary widely across settlements.
Land tenure : The legal or customary arrangements governing access to and control of land. Uncertain or unrecognized land rights are a common source of settlement informality.
Rural–urban migration : Movement from rural areas to towns and cities, whether temporary or permanent. Migration can increase demand for affordable urban housing faster than formal supply grows.
Slum upgrading : The improvement of housing, infrastructure, and services in existing low-income settlements. Upgrading can address unsafe conditions without requiring residents to leave.
Kibera : A large, densely populated settlement in Nairobi, Kenya, with diverse neighborhoods and tenure arrangements. Its varied land claims and service conditions resist treating settlements as uniform.
Environmental justice : The fair distribution of environmental benefits and burdens, with meaningful participation in decisions. Settlement residents may face hazards while having limited influence over environmental decisions.
Security of tenure : The degree of protection people have against involuntary eviction from their homes or land. It distinguishes residents’ practical protection from formal ownership.
Incremental housing : Housing built or improved gradually as households acquire resources over time. Residents often construct homes in stages rather than through a single formal development.
Tenure regularization : A process that gives informal occupants more formal recognition or security of land rights. It can reduce eviction risk, though it does not automatically provide services.
Dharavi : A densely populated district in Mumbai, India, known for housing, workshops, and small industries. Its mixed residential and productive uses complicate redevelopment plans.
Public health : The organized effort to protect and improve the health of populations. Overcrowding and inadequate water or sanitation can increase health risks.
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