Abstract:
The development and proliferation of informal Settlements is a function of socio-spatial relations.
Today, approximately 75% in the city of Dar es Salaam lives in informal settlements and about
61% of the city built-up area is covered with informal settlements. Informal settlements in Dar es
Salaam have a long history of socio-spatial relations that date back to the colonial period and have
continued to expand to this day. Since independence, various interventions have been implemented
to address these socio-spatial disparities, including squatter upgrading, community infrastructure
programs, community infrastructure upgrading programs, and regularization and formalization of
informal settlements, among others. However, the interventions have contributed less to the overall
improvement of informal settlements quality of life and are inadequate to contain further growth
and development of informal settlements. Therefore, adopting a qualitative case study approach
with multiple data collection methodologies, Vingunguti, Hanna Nassif and Manzese informal
settlements in Dar es Salaam were selected to investigate the socio-spatial relations of informal
settlements interventions. That is, the study concludes that the colonial urban planning policies'
socio-spatial relations and configurations have been maintained, and that this dictates the
management of subsequent informal settlements interventions, which are perpetuating socio-spatial
exclusion and inequalities in the settlements. In Dar es Salaam, the existing socio-spatial relations
of informal settlements are characterized by socio-spatial inadequacy, tenure insecurity, and
dynamic informal socio-spatial morphologies, among others but characterized by social and
behavioural perspective of urban informality. In addition, incoherent legal and policy frameworks, a
multiplicity of actors with competing jurisdiction, and coordination failures, including inadequate
community participation, characterize informal settlements governance of the socio-spatial relations
of interventions. As a result, the study suggests reforming informal settlements interventions to
integrate informal socio-spatial morphologies in settlement management, as well as strengthening
local governance and promoting good governance.
