Authors : Ighodaro Ikponmwosa David and Nkonki- Mandleni Busisiwe
Abstract: Due to the rapid growth of cities and towns, especially in many developing nations the world over, the problem of informal settlements and dwellers is expected to continue as a major challenge that everyone will continue to deal with especially, those responsible for development. Although, giant strides have been taken by many world leaders in meeting the UN target to transform and reduce population of informal settlements and its dwellers, dealing with informal settlements requires an appropriate engagement tool or framework. This must begin from the point of being able to define and classify the term. It also requires the use of an appropriate tool or framework which is the focus of this study. The core suggestion of this study is that by its very nature (Poor living conditions) informal settlements cannot change by itself unless there is a constructive and skillful engagement, aimed at improving situations of the area, informed by an appropriate analytic tool or framework. This framework must see the overall situation of living in an informal settlement as a system resulting from the combine effect of individual and mediating factors, creating the type of lifestyles prevalent in the area. This form of engagement process is very imperative because informal settlement as a system has the capacity to reboot itself in cycle of degeneration in what might be called a vicious cycle of poverty, food insecurity, environmental degradation and all forms of social ills.
Ighodaro Ikponmwosa David and Nkonki- Mandleni Busisiwe, 2019. Department of Sociology, Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, P.M.B. 1010, 480213 Abakaliki Ebonyi State, Nigeria. The Social Sciences, 14: 93-99.