https://thesis.eur.nl/org/6/ List of Publications en https://thesis.eur.nl/pub/12007/ Sun, 05 Jun 2005 00:00:01 GMT <div>Isfandiari, S.</div> To describe, compare and analyse the rural community development to enhance their productivity. https://thesis.eur.nl/pub/12002/ Thu, 01 Sep 2005 00:00:01 GMT <div>Serna, J.M.M</div> This document pretends to explore the dynamics of income generating activities in the context of a low income housing project in Bogotß-Colombia. Low income housing programs represent one of the most critical issues in the process of rapid growth in Bogotß, together with the proliferation of illegal settlements and its pressure in the urban territory. Low income families are being targeted with a series of financial programs for housing acquisition, supported with the realisation of big scale low income housing projects under the scheme of a local institution created for this purpose, Metrovivienda. The process of transition that families affront when moving out from an informal housing setting to a formal developed and designed housing solution appeared to bring a complex series of dynamics that families adopt to adapt their socioeconomic needs and preferences in the new formal environment. Income generating activities at home are found amongst the strategies that poor families use to overcome situations of poverty, unemployment and vulnerable situations that the weakest affront. The study aims to explore the realisation of such activities in the context of Cuidadela El Recreo, the first project built under the concept of Metrovivienda, and to figure out the intricate relation of different aspects beyond their performance. The study compares the literature of the concept of Home-based enterprises with the experience of the residents of Cuidadela El Recreo. 23 families are interviewed to figure out the extent to which Ciudadela El Recreo enables for income generating activities. The importance of such activities amongst the poor is supported by the informal sector debate that claims the sort of creative alternatives that contribute to eradicate poverty. However, the informal sector discussion also put forward the issue of sustainability of such practices when arguing their very small scale of operation that do not allow for more than a temporary survival strategy, while squeezing the poor' scarce resources and contributing to their impoverishment. The document raises the two folded rationale behind informal practices of income generation by using the house as one of the most important asset that the poor have in their account. The appropriateness of such practices is demonstrated in the short run when families can make use of their available resources in a flexible way and in specific situations where home-based enterprises appear to be the most suitable solution. On the other hand, the study also showed how residents claim for a bigger scale of provision of goods and services; this fact raises the concern about the sustainability of such practices if the aim of housing projects is also to contribute to the economic development of poor communities. Having the complexity of the phenomenon in mind, the main contribution of the study is to bring forward the concern about the carefulness with which policies and projects should address the process of transition of poor families when pretending to accommodate them in a formal scheme of housing, while understanding the strategies they use to cope with economic pressures and situations of unemployment. It is also to recognize that the development of poor families is a slow process in which practices like home-based enterprises are likely to continue as a take off strategy. The extent to which Ciudadela El Recreo allows for income generating activities is thus tackled from three perspectives: the physical component of the project and its built environment at the household scale as well as at the neighbourhood scale; the specific conditions of the families in the sample, their willingness, capacity, needs and constrains; and the rationale of the formal housing scheme compared with the informal one and their implications for the sustainability of economic practices and development of poor communities. https://thesis.eur.nl/pub/12003/ Mon, 12 Sep 2005 00:00:01 GMT <div>Badea, D.M.</div> The broad goal of this paper is to asses the extent to which the citizen participation initiatives and projects are developed in Romania and to provide an insightful analysis of one of the most developed forms of citizen participation to the decision making process, the Neighborhood Consultative Councils formed by the municipality of Timisoara. Several major perspectives have been considered in order to achieve this objective. The literature review on the subject matter of democracy and citizen participation provides a good understanding of the concept of public participation in general and of the "ingredients" that form it. Further on, the study of the political, legal and social context of Romania is meant to design the framework in which the citizen participation initiatives are developed. At the same time, a proper understanding of this general context proves helpful when it comes to a more in depth analysis of any of the policies developed as far as citizen participation is concerned. This leads to the more specific objectives of this paper, which are giving insight into the relation between the Neighborhood Consultative Councils and the municipality of Timisoara, providing a strengths and weaknesses analysis and identifying the possible elements that can lead to a more efficient functioning of these councils. https://thesis.eur.nl/pub/12011/ Sat, 01 Oct 2005 00:00:01 GMT <div>Aman, Y.</div> The issue of public participation in decision making has increasingly received due attention. This resulted in evolving of vast literatures that provide different continuum of understanding, ranging from expert-driven perspective to empowerment. It is these perspectives that have influence on conceptual understanding of public participation on one hand and that are complement each other in explaining this complex subject. These perspectives have evolved different mechanisms that facilitate public participation. They are as many as understanding of the concept itself, ranging from traditional methods to innovative. Citizen Advisory Committee/Board is one of these mechanisms that comprises of citizens and government officials to play a role in representing the interests of the wider public and to serve as a community point of contact. Similarly there has been a growing interest in examining the success of public participation. Despite this growing of interest, there remains a limitation in developing consistent framework for evaluating it. This gave way for evaluation of pubic participation to be categorised into process-based, outcome-driven and user-based methods. Of the three methods this study adapted "social goals" which is part of the outcome-driven. The whole mark was to answer the research questions dealing with the extent to which the Citizens Advisory Committee has been effective in promoting public participation in decision making of Adama city? To what extent has the CAC been effective in mobilizing public needs and preferences to incorporate into decision making of the city? To what extent has the CAC been successful in influencing the decisions of the city hall towards the needs and priorities of the citizens? To investigate these, the data were collected using focus group discussion, semi-structured interviews and survey, and were analysed on the basis of some standard analytical technique like frequency distributions, comparing proportions and qualitative analysis. In general, when assessed the role of CAC in educating both the wider public and its members, increasing trust in the municipality, incorporating of public values into municipal decision making and improving decision quality, it was found that the extent of effectiveness of CAC was very low in achieving these goals. What this implies? The findings imply either the need to dissolve or still reform the CAC. But the former has negative connotation as it can exacerbate the already on pipeline trust between public and the municipality. This study favours the second option and proposes the areas in which CAC can be improved. To this end, it recommends strong and determinant political will, commitment of adequate resources, creation of environment for public awareness and educating CAC, development of mechanism of incorporating public values, and evaluation of the progress regularly. Finally the study proposes two areas of further research. Accordingly, a component of "social goal" conflict resolution and investigation of some of the barriers to public participation in decision making will deserve further research. https://thesis.eur.nl/pub/12012/ Sat, 01 Oct 2005 00:00:01 GMT <div>Karazoun, Z.</div> Based on the problem definition, the objectives of this research are: Objective 1: Understanding the social, economic and physical characteristics of the Old City. Objective 2: Assessing potential impacts of these characteristics on the rehabilitation process and ultimate preservation of the area. Objective 3: Coming up with recommendations that address the problem discussed above. https://thesis.eur.nl/pub/12006/ Mon, 24 Oct 2005 00:00:01 GMT <div>Hintz, L.G.P.</div> In the beginning there was only space. It was only after mankind started to worry and delft into metaphysical considerations about the limitation of their own existence on earth by counting days, seasons, years, that the notion of time came into existence. Yet, time has and will always be somehow connected to space, to movement across space. Geographical economics shrewdly captures the relative notion of time and space with the concept of transport costs. As long as there is a distance between things, it will take time to carry people, goods, knowledge, or information from one place to another. No matter how infinitesimal the dividing time or space between things may be made by technology, there will always be an economic cost related with the abridging of it. As long as our time on this common ground remains scarce, both time and space will have an opportunity cost associated with it and, therefore, an economic cost. Some will argue that, besides transport costs, there are many other determinants to the spreading or agglomeration of human activity over space. I do not dispute with them. Yet, for a geographical economics model to deserve praise, transport costs will have to be reflected in it one way or the other. The level of transport costs has always played a significant part not only in the development of countries but also in the shaping of the urban scenario within countries and regions. The Brazilian roads system has in the past been the major driving force that propelled development and interconnectivity of urban systems across this continent-size country. Until recently the policy of the federal government had leaned towards granting users free access to roads in order to promote economic development. Under the argument of the `failure of the state' in providing for the maintenance of the roads system, the federal government shifted its policy towards the privatization of the utility. The change, however, has been decided almost strictly upon political, managerial and financial considerations. Little attention has been given to the possible implications this abrupt policy change might have had on the ongoing economic development process of the affected cities and regions. Now, with the new insights offered by geographical economics, the opportunity of drawing a clearer picture of the issue is at hand. After gathering the necessary historic data, this research sets out to first offer a review of the recent displacements of economic activity over the Brazilian ground, then to present a description of geographical economics, its core model and its variant inclusive of congestion, of the Helpman_Hanson model of geographical economics, and finally we apply the core model of geographical economics to Brazilian recent reality. The expected outcome of this study is to offer politicians in Brazil a tool _ shaped to fit more closely to a developing country's reality _ to be used when deciding on policies that bear direct implications on trade and displacement of human activity across this continent-size country. https://thesis.eur.nl/pub/12008/ Fri, 01 Sep 2006 00:00:01 GMT <div>Cila, J.</div> The present study explored the relationship between internal migration and poverty in Bathore, Tirana under a livelihoods focus. DFID's Sustainable Livelihoods Framework was used as the theoretical basis of this research, with few adjustments, like inclusion of political capital. A case study design was conducted, which made use of both quantitative and qualitative data gathered from primary and secondary sources. The study aimed at gaining a better understanding of the migration process and migrant livelihoods, as well as exploring possible policy issues of relevance to migration and development. The demise of the communist regime in the country marked the start of a chaotic mass migration of unprecedented dimensions, giving rise to a wild process of urbanisation. From 1990, when migration to Bathore started, until the present day, migration has been continuous, and has operated in a laissez faire situation, largely unaffected by policies and regulations. Despite the significance of the phenomenon, attention has been minimal, both from a governmental/institutional and academic perspective. Migration to Bathore is characterised by whole-family migration, driven by the hope for a better future for one's children. Income and employment opportunities were important, albeit not major factors in the migration decision. The majority of the migrants are neither poor nor rich, although both the very poor and the wealthy have adopted migration as a livelihood strategy. Despite poor financial capital and severe unemployment, migration has resulted in improved livelihoods, in terms of better access to physical, human, social and political capital. Migrants engage in a variety of livelihood strategies, but for most, these strategies are targeted at survival. Thriving is difficult since the current, very limited asset base, does not allow for capital accumulation. Findings revealed a marked gender dimension in various respects, like intra-household power relations, employment and education. This calls for the inclusion of the gender perspective for effective policy making. Bathore is in urgent need of state-led interventions in many respects. Investments in improving household's physical and financial capital seem the two most important, and most immediate interventions, which can have spillover effects to other assets. Special attention needs to be given to building human capital, indispensable for breaking the intergenerational transmission of poverty. There is a need for migrants in Bathore, and similar areas, to be recognised as vulnerable categories. In addition to the role of the government, and other actors, in improving the livelihoods of thousands of migrants, the findings also indicate the need for the Government of Albania to guide future migration so that the process of urbanisation goes hand in hand with the sustainable development of the country. Importantly, migration should not be the only livelihood strategy open to poor rural households. Needless to say, one of the recommendations emerging from this study is the absolute need for future research on internal migration in Albania. https://thesis.eur.nl/pub/12020/ Fri, 01 Sep 2006 00:00:01 GMT <div>Gisele, R.</div> This study aims to contribute in the discussion of topics related to urban waterfront redevelopment strategies adopted worldwide, focused mainly on the organisational capacities of governments influencing in the implementation of these large-scale revitalisation projects. The main objective of this research is to understand why there is no progress in the implementation process of "Porto do Rio" _ The Urban Restructuring and Revitalization Plan of the Old Port of Rio de Janeiro. In order to achieve this main goal, the secondary objectives of this study are to propose a theoretical model of how a waterfront redevelopment process can be organised and find out which organisational capacities have contributed to the "successful" implementation of waterfront redevelopment projects in European urban port areas. Regarding the importance of learning from the most relevant theories and international experiences in these large-scale redevelopment schemes, this research carries out a comparative analysis of European case studies _ London Docklands and Rotterdam Kop van Zuid _ through a conceptual framework with the final purpose of draw theoretical and practical recommendations for the case of Rio de Janeiro. https://thesis.eur.nl/pub/12021/ Sat, 09 Sep 2006 00:00:01 GMT <div>Kusumastuti, D.</div> The development of the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) system in Jakarta is assumed to give an influence on the spatial distribution of economic activity within the Jakarta Metropolitan Area. But, what kind of impact will it bring in the future? And what are the impacts of changing the sequences of the project development and the value of parameters on the economic activity in this area? These questions, in this research, are answered using the theory of geographic economics and the computer simulation developed by Brakman, Garretsen, and Van Marrewijk (2001). In order to analyze the hysteresis of the BRT project, together with the impact of this development on the final distribution of economic activity, the long run equilibrium before and after the development of the project are calculated using several different scenarios of distances. Following these simulations, other simulations are done in order to observe the impact of changing the value of congestion cost, transport cost, elasticity of substitution, and share of income spent in manufacture parameters. Ultimately, there are several conclusions that are drawn from this research. First, it can be concluded that hysteresis does not play an important role in determining the final distribution of mobile activity after the development of the first three corridors and the completion of the entire project. Second, the development of the project benefits Jakarta by allowing this city to attract a larger share of mobile activity. In the future, the BRT corridors will act as forces that counteract the decline of the economic activity in Jakarta due to the high congestion cost. The decline of economic activity will occur less rapidly than what it otherwise would have been done in a relative time. Third, it is important to consider the impact of the BRT project on the welfare level of people living in the Jakarta Metropolitan Area. It is clear that the development of this project increases the welfare level of both mobile and immobile workers in all the twelve regions. It is an investment in infrastructure, and thus increases the interaction between the regions. The mobile workers gain from the reduction of the transport cost and the growth of interaction between regions. The immobile workers in the centre of the Jakarta Metropolitan Area benefit, because the increase of mobile economic activity in their regions reduces their import over some goods. The immobile workers in the outskirt of Jakarta also gain, because the goods that have to be imported from the centre can now be imported with the lower cost. https://thesis.eur.nl/pub/12022/ Mon, 11 Sep 2006 00:00:01 GMT <div>Mbembela, P.J.K.</div> Good monitoring system of small scale industries in the informal settlement indicates the compliance of the industrial operation to environmentally and friendly living environment. The concept represents an equilibrium state between the pollution prevention brought by the industries operation to the environment and citizens. The achieved locating and monitored operation that has led to pollution prevention in the settlement implies the presence of good monitoring mechanism by the responsible authorities. On the other hand, it implies the government is properly functioning in executing its policies, legislation and development standards, otherwise the reverse is true The aim of this study was to document and assess from the governmental perspective the key actors' role and powers in monitoring the locating and operating of the industries in informal settlements. It was also aimed in analysing the existing enforcement tools used for monitoring the same. Thereafter, to identify the basic elements for improvement if the prevailing situation has to rectified This research has answered one main research question including six supplementary questions. The main research question aimed in determining whether there are monitoring mechanisms in locating and monitoring the operations of the small scale industries in informal settlements in Dar es Salaam City. The sub research questions aimed in identifying factors considered for locating, actors involved with the roles and powers, assessing the operations monitoring mechanisms, individuals' perception on the operation of the industries towards environmental and health risks. Finally but not least it aimed at identifying main elements for improvement if the settlement has to have friendly living environment. Non standardized guideline questions were used for information collection. In assessing the monitoring system it was realised the presence of weak monitoring mechanisms despite the presence of general legislations and policies for guiding small scale industry development and operations. About 82% of the industrial developers and operators interviewed neither complied with the legislation and policies nor did they the environmentally friendly. About 50% of the housing unit owners interviewed have a negative perception of the industry operations particularly for the environment friendly and health risks. The uncoordinated government institutions responsible for monitoring the small scale industries have contributed tremendously to the existing situation. This study recommends to have a thoroughly review on monitoring mechanisms and enforcement tools. Despite the environmental awareness creation to different potential institutions responsible for locating and monitoring, this study recommends the adoption of new technology to include Cleaner production and Upsizing (Zero Emissions) by the government to the industrial developers. Beside, it is important to take into account both internal and external factors that might affect the establishment of this new changes. https://thesis.eur.nl/pub/12014/ Mon, 11 Sep 2006 00:00:01 GMT <div>Mwangakala,a I,D.</div> In many countries, property tax is the major source of revenues to local authorities. This is also true for Tanzania. In realization of this fact, the URT government and donor agencies have been spending considerable amount of resources to revamp property tax yield. Likewise, much of the researches have been initiated with view to explore the best practices to tap the full potential of property tax. Much of these initiatives have been focused on property tax reforms i.e. improving the fiscal cadastre, improving valuation and an emphasis on the need to improve property tax collection. As much as these efforts are critical, none of these have been directed at ensuring that the tax yield resulting from tax reforms does not decline immediately after reforms are completed. These initiatives have not attempted to ensure that prevailing economic conditions _ especially inflation, does not overtake property tax system. Consequently, despite considerable commitment of time and resources to revitalize property tax revenues, the property tax yield is fast dwarfed by economic reality, if the situation remains unfettered, the tax would become cost ineffective to administer. This study envisaged studying critical property tax administrative issues that could be reviewed in order to adapt property tax system to inflation. Based on the findings, the study aims at providing a primer on inflationary characteristics of property tax in Tanzania from which a further debate on the subject can be extended. The scale of inflationary loss on tax revenues is so pervasive even to central governments especially in developing countries. Available literatures have ample quintessential cases illustrating the ramifications that rigid tax systems have on the outlook of governments' revenues. The scale of the problem of inflationary loss is even larger to most local government taxes. Of all local governments' local taxes, property tax is the most susceptible to inflationary corrosion. The findings of this study corroborate this argument. The study findings indicate that the share contribution of property tax revenues of TMC to total locally generated revenues even in nominal terms has been falling. This is a stark reality to those who argue that property tax takes an important role in local revenues. There are two main reasons; one is lack of frequent valuations or indexing which makes the tax base (in the valuation roll) as obsolete as the last valuation. Incidentally lack of frequent valuations has far reaching repercussions that any other property administrative components. Second is due to tenacious collection lags which help in dragging down property tax real revenues. It has been found empirically that property tax rates have limited impacts on property tax real revenues growth. In fact, property tax rates failure to impact on real revenues is attributed to the existing rates that are small, token and in economic terms unrealistic. To the contrary, while property tax real revenues have been declining, available indicators have been rising. The rental price index which can be taken as a proxy for property values has been steadily rising. Likewise real per capita GDP of Tanga region which may reflects taxpayers' real income has also been on the steady rise. It is desirous to adjust property tax system to become reactive to inflation, but not before existing prohibitive legislations governing property tax administration are amended. https://thesis.eur.nl/pub/12019/ Mon, 11 Sep 2006 00:00:01 GMT <div>Varona, M.F.Y.</div> The point of departure of this thesis is on the belief that the role of Technical Assistance NGOs (TA NGO) also referred to as technical service organizations (TSO) in the Philippines, is crucial in helping address the problem of insufficient and inadequate housing for the poor. TA NGO is herein defined as an organization of technical professionals primarily in the urban planning, architecture, and engineering disciplines involved in development work. These are non-profit non-government organizations that focus on issues of housing and land tenure issues for the poor in the Philippines. Housing in this thesis is defined based on John Turner's definition of not just the physical infrastructure but also involves the environment, basic services, community organization as well as economic opportunities (Turner, 1976). By understanding the roles of TA NGO, technical assistance to the poor in housing will become more effective and through a clear understanding of the legal and policy environment in housing and relationships between TA NGOs and key actors in housing, initiatives to enable the poor access housing by TA NGOs will be more efficient, integrated and coordinated. The thesis starts with a review of housing and its issues from an international perspective, touching briefly on the effects of globalization and rapid urbanization in cities especially of developing countries. This is followed by a discussion on the consequent urbanization of poverty and the growing roles of NGO/civil society as acknowledged by international declarations and covenants stressing the importance of NGO/civil society participation in the fight against the effects of urban poverty as manifested by homelessness, insecurity of land tenure, poor housing conditions, poverty, and urban crime1. General concepts and theories on civil society and NGOs are explored by the research where the definition for TA NGO is finally drawn. At the local context the development of the Philippine NGO movement is discussed-its history, dynamism and diversity which facilitated the emergence of TA NGOs in development work. The legal and institutional frameworks in the Philippines are also discussed. These include housing policies and programs that provided the basis for involvement and continued housing assistance by various sectors of society like private and civil society organizations. This research focuses on the experience of TAO-Pilipinas, Inc. one of the three professional TA NGOs in the Philippines based in Metro Manila. A review of international experiences of TA NGOs in Thailand and Cambodia also provides important lessons in order to understand the roles of TA NGOs bringing an international perspective to the debate of the local Philippine case. Further the report makes an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and constraints of these roles. The author, being one of the pioneers in the organization of TAO-Pilipinas, has been involved with development work for already more than a decade and has first hand experience with the complexities and difficulties by technical assistance work in poor communities and this research is critical in rationalizing continued technical assistance in housing the poor by technical professionals. This research contributes to the greater understanding of the roles that TA NGOs play on the issue of housing the poor and concludes among other things that TA NGOs are important actors in supporting the initiatives of housing actors like NGOs and POs in the aspects of community development planning, project design and management, and advocacy for secure tenure. https://thesis.eur.nl/pub/12010/ Mon, 11 Sep 2006 00:00:01 GMT <div>Tovar, E.V.</div> The thesis focuses the topic of squatter settlements located along borders in twin cities on the Amazon context. The study claims that Twin Cities are integrated by informality, in this case by squatter settlements along borders. In addition to the integration, these squatter settlements are transforming the border from a limit towards a social spatial construction of their territory. Based on that, the study looks for a cross border approach which can be developed by local governments of twin cities in order to manage squatter settlements along borders as a shared and common problem. In order to develop the research, the study has been done in the case of Leticia (Colombia) and Tabatinga (Brazil) twin cities in the Amazon. The thesis is focused in a natural space which has been the border between these twin cities the San Antonio ravine. Along this "natural" limit between Colombia and Brazil has been taken place an occupation of squatter settlements that has transformed the international limit into an "informal" urban space. The thesis developed two approaches in order to study the mentioned case of squatter settlements located along borders in twin cities. First, the study developed a bottom up approach analyzing socioeconomic and physical characteristics of squatter settlements inhabitants and comparing both squatter settlements based on fieldwork findings. The comparative study looks for symmetric and asymmetric issues between both squatter settlements which are a key output towards a cross border approach between the twin cities based on needs and characteristics of squatter settlements inhabitants in the Amazon context. On the other hand, the study developed a review of urban policies of Colombia and Brazil looking for aspects that can be taking into account for local government of Leticia and Tabatinga in their local policies for managing squatter settlements on flood prone lands located on the border's fringe. In addition, the study made a review of the current frontiers policies of both countries in order to find key elements that can used by local government for developing a cross border cooperation for managing squatter settlements in a cooperation and integration framework. Finally, the study looks for a short and long term appropriate approach for managing these two squatter settlements located along the border between the Leticia and Tabatinga twin cities. The recommendations for both terms can be useful input for future housing policies, and urban planning and management instruments in the twin cities based on Amazon characteristics. Moreover, the research methodology developed in the study can be an appropriate research procedure for further urban studies in Leticia and Tabatinga twin cities, especially on squatter settlements along border's fringe. https://thesis.eur.nl/pub/12016/ Mon, 11 Sep 2006 00:00:01 GMT <div>Nguyen, M.A.</div> The thesis research analyses the encroachment process of informal settlements in the periurban of Ho Chi Minh City. After Vietnam's renovation in 1986 with an increasingly open economy to the rest of the world, there are remarkable changes in Ho Chi Minh, the biggest city of Vietnam. As a certain result of the city's growth, the periurban is affected strongly, including the expansion of informal settlements. There are some studies working on the socio-economic changes of the periurban in Ho Chi Minh City, but not focusing on the phenomenon of informal settlements in these areas. Therefore the phenomenon is still unclear in Ho Chi Minh City, especially in the context of Vietnam, a communist country where land commonly belongs to all national residents. The research aims to understand the phenomenon deeply by exploring its mechanism with the different actors involved and their preferences, as well as the effects of public policies and implementation on the process. The phenomenon is also put in international context of developing world, in order to assess the similar and specific issues in Ho Chi Minh City. The two community units in the city periurban were studied to have the clear picture illustrating the whole encroachment process of informal settlements taking place from the late 1990s up to now, the period of the strong expansion of informal settlements in the city periurban, explaining why they could build their own communities without laws and regulations. The research; moreover, discovers intervention of two district governments, which are now responsible for urban management, as the result of decentralization process in Vietnam. The similarities and differences in their policies on the informal settlements in their areas are also explored. From the results of the research, recommendations to the government in dealing with existing and future informal settlements as well as land management in the city periurban are given. In addition, by understanding the housing demand of the residents in the periurban areas the research recommends important considerations for formal housing markets and low cost housing programs in Ho Chi Minh City nowadays. Time for the research is limited, however the researcher hope that the results will contribute to useful knowledge on Ho Chi Minh City, and further research on the periurban of Ho Chi Minh City as well as housing programs for groups of residents living in informal settlements nowadays. https://thesis.eur.nl/pub/12009/ Sat, 16 Sep 2006 00:00:01 GMT <div>Jimonez, D.</div> Great inequality and very harsh living conditions for the urban poor of the city of Bogotß are issues that need to be tackled in ways that may generate great impact to the well-being of these urban poor. Approaches need to be designed for the specific context and therefore, a good understanding of the actual situation is a requirement. Social relations play a big role in the collectivistic culture of Colombia and therefore, social capital is a concept that can be tackled in order to improve the well-being of the urban poor. First hand knowledge about the way social capital works in a poor setting is essential to make use of the opportunities and account for the possible hurdles. Informal horizontal social capital was found to have great relevance in the survival strategies of the inhabitants of the studied area. It was also found to be the most common form in which social capital is manifested. The stigmatisation of the area and the lack of trust in the public institutions from the inhabitants, have limited the vertical manifestations and therefore bridging social capital. Smaller scales such as the own street and the family show the greatest levels of social capital and are of great relevance for the people's survival. Larger scales present lower levels of trust for instance. The location and conditions of the neighbourhoods have given them particular rural characteristics and have constituted a world of their own for the inhabitants of the area. That has impacts on the social capital and on its possible development that could contribute to improving their conditions. Social control plays a big role in the daily lives of the people and in their interactions. Violence and insecurity, clientelist practices and the distance of the government have also affected the social capital of the area in different ways. Social capital has had great relevance for the development of the area in the past and has great relevance for the inhabitants in their survival and also in their psychological well-being currently. https://thesis.eur.nl/pub/12023/ Mon, 06 Nov 2006 00:00:01 GMT <div>Nurtjahjanto, B.D.</div> Water security is principal concern for sustainable development regarding the multi purposes of water that makes life possible. For many years the local government has prompted many efforts to overcome water crisis but it is still viewed as mitigation effort. The recurrence of water crisis particularly in Rembang Regency encourages me to figure out the best practice of water resource management in the local context. The introduction of infiltration wells or sumur resapan in local terms bring new optimism in practicing the principles of sustainable water resources management. The sumur resapan is recommended for groundwater conservation due to technical and cost effectiveness. Nevertheless, disseminating invention often emerges gap between government objectives and community expectations that is probably influenced by perception, knowledge and awareness of the local community. This research attempted to figure out the practice of the interactive process in the implementation of the sumur resapan that is promoted to be a bridge between local government and community. Through partnership mechanism, it is expected improving awareness and participation of the local community that is stimulated by intensive communication and sufficient transfer of knowledge. Overall, the implementation of the sumur resapan still needs large improvements to be wide accepted by the community, especially in establishing legal framework for adapting the diversity of socio-cultural dimension. Considering other findings, it is interesting to next research to know how local knowledge can be used for coping water crisis. https://thesis.eur.nl/pub/12024/ Wed, 08 Nov 2006 00:00:01 GMT <div>Muksin</div> Smoke haze in Pekanbaru City is mainly caused by forest and land fire, mostly occuring out of Pekanbaru City. It is predicted to have resulted in adverse impacts on urban environment of Pekanbaru. Therefore, this research tries to investigate the possible influence of forest and land fire in Riau Province as well as dominant direction of wind on the deterioration of air quality, due to smoke haze pollution, in Pekanbaru City. In addition, the research is aimed at identifying impacts of smoke haze on urban environment of Pekanbaru City according to opinions of experts & perception of citizents. The type of the research is a mixed explanatory-descriptive-exploratory research with a time scope of 2002-2005 using a purposive sampling technique used to choose key persons/experts and citizents. The research confirms that forest and land fire as well as wind direction, in general, contributed to deterioration of air quality of Pekanbaru City. Even, it looks like to exist a trend to relate the air quality deterioration of Pekanbaru City with the increase of hotspot number especially when the number of hotspot in Riau Province is very high and the number of hotspots of regencies from which dominant wind direction blows is high as it was the case of February & March 2005. However, the analysis for February and March 2002 shows that contribution of the increase of forest & land fire as well as dominant wind direction on the deterioration of air quality of Pekanbaru City is very less evident. This is probably because the existence of other variables, besides dominant wind direction, such as raining rate, wind speed and temperature which may also play an important role in the air quality of Pekanbaru City. Thereby, the hypothesis "the increase of forest and land fire as well as wind direction have contributed to the deterioration of air quality in Pekanbaru City" is only partially accepted. On top of that, smoke haze pollution in Pekanbaru City, both according to the opinions of key persons/experts and the perception of citizents, has caused adverse impacts on urban environment of Pekanbaru City both on environmental aspect and human aspect. In terms of environmental aspect, the environmental impacts are deterioration of air quality and reduction of visibility range. Meanwhile, in the light of human aspect, the impacts can be both health and social impacts. Health impacts include respiratory diseases such as Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI), eye irritation and the increasing risks of traffic accidents in the streets as a result of a reduced visibility range. On the other hand, the social impacts comprise disruption of educational activities and transportation and restriction of people from doing their daily activities. Finally, the research result also shows that key actors involved in the forest and land fire in Riau Province, leading to smoke haze pollution in Pekanbaru City, in the period 2002-2005 are categorized into 2 types; indirect actors (mostly palm-oil companies, timber estate companies and cukong) and direct actors (migrand and local community). To overcome forest and land fire in Riau Province, three types measures undertaken are prevention, suppression and law enforcement. https://thesis.eur.nl/pub/12113/ Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:00:01 GMT <div>Dagnachew, A.</div> It has been long since mobility became a major issue in Addis Ababa following the enormous horizontal expansion of the city boundaries as a result of the rapid population and income growth. Although there are studies conducted to understand and solve the problems related to motorized transport in the city, most of them focus on the orthodox approach of improving the physical infrastructure of the transport sector to enhance the service provision by constructing highways, extending road networks and increasing the number of fleet. However, the problem proliferated and reached a critical level, already. This study approaches the problem from a different perspective; designing the city in a transit friendly manner by integrating land use and transport policies. Therefore, the aim of this research was exploring the need and possibilities of integrating land use and transport policies to assure sustainable development of the city. The main research instrument used was the interview conducted with authorities involved in formulation and implementation of land use and transport policies in the city. Thus, interviews were held with seven authorities in the Addis Ababa City Administration and the Federal transport Authority together with a senior researcher in similar areas. In this qualitative research, observations in the research areas and desk studies supported the results of the interview. The initial hypothesis of the research is proved to be fully acceptable since the land use and transport authorities do not recognize the impact of one on the other as validated by the increasing pressure on the public transport system which resulted from the enormous horizontal expansion of the city. However, it was the main finding of the research that most of the activities in the city are governed by informality. Moreover, other factors including market force and politics are highly involved in determining the urban structure of Addis Ababa. Therefore, despite the need for integration of land use planning, transport policies and environmental concerns for sustainable development, the focus on policy alone would be narrow and nugatory. https://thesis.eur.nl/pub/12114/ Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:00:01 GMT <div>Heriyadi, I.</div> Becak, a three wheeled and non-motorized vehicle, is an interesting phenomenon in Yogyakarta, a city with many predicates one of which is `city of tourism'. It is interesting because on one hand, becak was proclaimed as one of Jogja's special attraction; while on the other hand, local authority's concern on becak is insufficient indicated by lack of regulation and less attention to becak drivers. As a result, working as becak driver is no more than a choice left for marginalized group of people to stay alive. While local government seems to put less concern, started in the year 1997, an NGO namely CD Bethesda came to help becak drivers by strengthening their assets to reduce their vulnerability, through the establishment of two becak drivers associations: Parti Warjo and Bawang Manunggal. This research used a combination between a deductive quantitative and deductive qualitative method. Fieldwork findings and data analysis confirmed the initial presumption that becak drivers are categorized as vulnerable group, indicated by poor human capital (low educational background, poor skill, limited access to healthcare service as well as absence of healthcare insurance and subsidy), poor financial capital (low income, absence of saving, and limited access to credit). Otherindications that support the finding is that most becak drivers have poor physical capital (absence of physical tool such as becak to generate income, relatively improper shelter to stay in, and limited access to water and sanitation) and poor social capital (limited network and less contact and mutual agreements amongst becak drivers). The data analysis of this research also concluded that assistance programs conducted by CD Bethesda for Parti Warjo and Bawang Manunggal becak drivers associations are relatively effective to make their members less vulnerable based on the following reasons: (a) a match between what is given by the NGO and what is needed by the becak drivers. This is possible because members are invited to get involved from the initial process to implementation of the programs; (b) a fact that in some extent, the programs succeeded in bringing their members towards less vulnerability. Another conclusion is that local government put less concerns to becak and becak drivers, indicated by the absence of law that regulates becak or regulation that stands at becak's side. It happens even at basic level, such as the absence of data about how many becak and becak drivers operate in Jogja, which in turn makes it difficult to manage becak and becak driver in Jogja. From CD Bethesda point of view, factors needed to conduct assistance programs effectively are relatively supportive, indicated by for example availability of sustainable funding, ability of the NGO to identify clients' needs, and presence of support from its higher level. Within the two associations, this research found dynamic interactions between one member and another, as well as between members and the boards. Members' commitment to develop organizations needs continuous effort for encouragement. On the other side, leaderships at the board level have not satisfied nearly half of the members. For solidarity and members' participation issue, members of the two associations confirmed the presence of a good solidarity amongst them, and relatively high participation in the organizations in both regular meetings and activities. Instead of a burden, becak should be considered as an asset and characteristic that makes Jogja unique and distinctive, which in turn makes it an attraction for tourists. Inevitably, a regulation on how to give subsidy for becak and becak drivers is needed. This policy should be implemented along with strategy on how to administer and control the number of becak and becak drivers to avoid becak overpopulation in Jogja. https://thesis.eur.nl/pub/12026/ Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:00:01 GMT <div>Kamba, A.</div> This study report is addressed to the academia, researchers and local governments interested in understanding how property tax systems can be rejuvenated in order to make it a sustainable source of revenue to finance delivery of urban services. The study is motivated by my own desire to understand local government's revenue generation in Kampala City Council. It is my first attempt to investigate local government's revenue. The ultimate goal of the study is to analyze how property tax system works and describe how it can be improved to enable local governments meet their obligation of service provision. Understandably, Local governments all over the world are struggling to raise local revenues to enable service delivery but face enormous challenges in their effort. Cities, Local governments or urban authorities are privileged repository of most valuable real estates in many countries including Uganda. Although they are not necessarily the owners, they have a higher propensity to benefit from these properties within their jurisdiction. These properties are not only a sign of improved urban welfare and standard of living but are a reflection of urban wealth from which local governments must capitalise on. A tax on property is therefore seen as the most stable of all local government taxes and relevant to service provision. In essence it is the best option of sharing the burden of service provision between the public themselves and local authorities on the other hand. However, to reach at a level where the demand for urban services is met by delivery of those services a systematic and functional property tax system must be put in place and must be well administered. This study analyses and describes a number of challenges that Kampala City Council face in pursuit to administering property tax. The study also proposes a number of reforms to address the impediments, which were confirmed through the fieldwork. The focus of this study is NOT how to finance urban service delivery but how property tax (as a source of income) can be rejuvenated and used as a stepping stone to widen the delivery of urban services. The study observes that most challenges are at both policy and administrative levels where failures have been identified. The study proposes a number of reforms to address the failures especially taxpayer services - requiring fiscal and physical accountability. The study proposes the creation of a CISS as a model on how property tax information inadequacies can be addressed. The study observes that these reforms may not be easily implemented because of existing realties such as a huge backlog of undelivered urban services. The study concludes that, if Kampala had an operational and adequately managed property tax system; it would generate enough revenues to cater for the required urban services. Additionally, the thesis supports the argument that the major bottlenecks such as collection lags, poor enforcement mechanisms, political interferences, corruption and failures in taxpayer service delivery undermine property tax returns. The study recommends that property tax system must operate as a complete system, which does not only capture resources but also serves individual and society's interest. That is why reforms must address accountability and service provision as a key priority.