What are the challenges of addressing urban informality?

The challenges of addressing urban informality include:

1. Lack of legal recognition: Informal settlements often lack legal recognition, making it difficult for governments to provide basic services and infrastructure to these areas.

2. Limited access to basic services: Informal settlements typically lack access to basic services such as clean water, sanitation, healthcare, and education, leading to poor living conditions and health outcomes for residents.

3. Inadequate housing conditions: Informal settlements are characterized by substandard housing conditions, including overcrowding, lack of proper ventilation, and inadequate structural safety, which pose risks to the well-being of residents.

4. Social exclusion and marginalization: Informal settlements are often stigmatized and marginalized, leading to social exclusion and limited opportunities for residents to access formal employment, education, and social services.

5. Lack of tenure security: Informal settlements are often built on land without legal ownership or tenure rights, leaving residents vulnerable to eviction and displacement.

6. Informal economy and limited economic opportunities: Informal settlements are often associated with a high prevalence of informal economic activities, which can limit economic opportunities and hinder formal economic development.

7. Environmental challenges: Informal settlements are often located in environmentally vulnerable areas, such as flood-prone zones or areas with limited access to green spaces, exacerbating environmental risks and challenges.

8. Governance and policy challenges: Addressing urban informality requires effective governance and policy frameworks that can balance the need for regularization and upgrading of informal settlements with broader urban development goals.

Overall, addressing urban informality requires comprehensive approaches that involve legal recognition, provision of basic services, improvement of housing conditions, social inclusion, tenure security, economic opportunities, environmental sustainability, and effective governance.