Can Organisations of the Urban Poor be Significant Actors in 'building' Social Capital?
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The document explores the role of organizations of the urban poor (OUPs) in enhancing social capital and solidarity among marginalized communities in Kisumu, Kenya. It highlights the dynamics of social capital within slum areas and critiques the reliance of both Neighborhood Planning Associations and Slum Dwellers Federation on external support, which limits their sustainability and inclusivity. Despite their potential to empower the urban poor, these organizations often exclude the most vulnerable and thereby challenge the effectiveness of their participation in development policies.
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Can Organisations of the Urban Poor be Significant Actors in 'building' Social Capital?
- 1. ‘ Building’ Social Capital and Solidarity amongst the Urban Poor An Exploration of the role of Organisations of the Urban Poor (OUPs) in Kisumu, Kenya Caroline Cage London South Bank University
- 2. Why is Social Capital important in Urban Environments Local officials? NGOs? ? Resources Information Who should represent the Urban Poor? The poor themselves?
- 3. Kisumu, Kenya (Associated Press)
- 4. Many self-help groups women’s, youths, mixed Community Based Organisations Microfinance organisations Social Capital in Kisumu’s slum areas is dynamic Source: Interviews with representatives of the Social Services Department (responsible for registering groups in Kisumu), NGO representatives and informal conversations with group members within and outside OUPs
- 5. Makika Local Network, Kisumu, Kenya
- 6. Two Organisations of the Urban Poor Neighbourhood Planning Associations (NPA) Slum Dwellers Federation (SDF) Sources: Focus group sessions with OUP higher and lower level groups. In-depth interviews with members of smaller lower level groups. Observations in the field. Interviews with government officials and NGOs working in the two areas
- 7. Neighbourhood Planning Associations Formed by NGOs Outward looking Even distribution Officially registered and connected to local officials
- 8. Neighbourhood Planning Associations But… Limits to growth, How much are they reliant on, guided or controlled by external actors? Long term goals are hard to sustain
- 9. Slum Dwellers Federation Flexible and dynamic Better at linking existing SC Empower marginalised members Short term goals build solidarity Long term goals and investment in the group build cohesion Legitimate representatives?
- 10. Slum Dwellers Federation But… Not an even representation Risk strengthening the networks of elites? Less well connected to local stakeholders / structures Still dependent on external support (financial management, representation, links to external partners)
- 11. Both Organisations Exclude those who are the poorest (membership, contributions to savings and loaning etc.) Have issues with poor participation at the umbrella group level Are dependent on external support
- 12. Discussion Understand existing Social Capital (SC) Aim to strengthen existing SC with inclusivity Economic empowerment and shared resources can strengthen SC But… Strengthen the SC for who? Accessible for who? Controlled by who? Short-term bonding SC / long-term goals
- 13. Organisations of the Urban Poor can be significant actors in ‘building’ the social capital of the Urban Poor But both organisations in this study… Are still dependent on external support And both exclude some of the most vulnerable Until structural societal inequalities are changed can Organisations of the Urban Poor be sustainable and inclusive without support?
- 14. “ the successes of participation within contemporary development policy and practice have depended upon them being part of a broader project that is at once political and radical. By this we mean a project that seeks to directly challenge existing power relations rather than simply work around them for more technically efficient service delivery” (Hickey and Mohan, 2005) The pursuit of “ participation as citizenship ”