The role of knowledge and opinions in understanding the dynamics of informal housing in Dar es Salaam

The formulation of policies related to informal housing and the development and implementation of intervention strategies in specific informal settlements are processes that should, ideally, be based upon a good understanding of the dynamics in such areas. In practice, in cities with a highly dynamic informal housing sector, the data that is required as a basis for this understanding is likely to be limited by deficiencies in either the spatial, thematic or temporal domains. For instance, official maps, a potential source of data on physical development processes of settlement creation, expansion and consolidation, may not cover the full extent of urban development at required scales and be produced irregularly at an interval of as much as 10 years. Thematically, our understanding of socio-economic processes in informal housing may also be limited by a lack of information on relevant variables. Under such conditions, the relative importance of professional opinions and beliefs of key actors in policy debates concerning these processes is likely increase. The opinions and attitudes of such actors are therefore important variables in determining the outcomes of policy decisions and they may also have spill-over effects to other actors engaged in these debates. Such opinions are likely to be formed on the basis on a variety of informal channels and first hand experience and could therefore differ widely between individuals. This paper reports on the findings of a recent survey carried out amongst senior professionals involved in urban management in Dar es Salaam. Although rather small, the sample includes most of the senior professionals in planning, land management and engineering at municipal level, key planning and land administration staff at central government level and senior academic staff in planning, land management and land surveying. As such, the group is believed to be highly representative of the level of professional experts that is involved in policy making in this field and in the academic forming of future professionals. The survey shows that there is a fairly high degree of consensus exists amongst urban management professionals as to the status and likely future trends of informal development in Dar es Salaam. However, it is also evident that the first hand experience of this group tends to be limited to older more established settlements while knowledge of certain fringe settlements is less widespread. The survey also reveals that considerable variation in naming and delineation of informal areas exists between professionals. The observed “fuzziness” in the location and spatial extent of informal settlements in itself has the potential to undermine the quality of decision making if stakeholders do not share a common understanding of the policy objects. However, innovative methods to data capture incorporating both community based strategies and technology associated with low cost GIS approaches have the potential to improve the data base on informal settlements, thereby enriching the knowledge base and understanding of all stakeholders.