Poverty alleviation by using labour based infrastructure provision in informal settlements : the case of Dar Es Salaam City (Tanzania)

Abstract

Labour based technology (LBT) is a strategy popularised by intemationa I organisations such as International Labour Organisation (lLO), United Nations Development Progranune (UNDP) and Word Bank, to address poverty, unemployment and infrastructure provision especially in informal urban settlements. More emphasis has been placed on using the LBT approach in sub-Saharan countries where unprecedented urbanisation is taking place leading to the formation of informal settlements, high levels of unemployment as well as poverty. The LBT approach has been implemented in many developing countries including Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. However, there is little available evidence on the long-term impact of LBT on poverty alleviation and employment creation opportunities. This study examined whether the labour-based approach to delivering infrastructure in informal settlements had impacted poverty alleviation and created sustainable employment opportunities. The study had five main objectives namely (I) To explore the situation of infrastructure in Oar es salaam informal settlements; (2) To eXlmine LBT with respect to the nature and characteristics of the various forms used in practice to understand the advantages and disadvantages of each form; (3) To identify the nature of LBT approaches used to upgrade informal settlements; (4) To explore the extent to which LBT in infrastructure provision can contribute to creating employment and alleviating poverty; and (5) To examine the extent of private sector involvement and community participation in present LBT approach in the three settlements. Literature was reviewed on using LBT approach to deliver infrastructure in informal settlements and its impact on poverty alleviation and creation of sustainable employment opportunities. The residents within the Hanna Nassif, Mabatini and Tabata informal settlements in Oar es Salaam Tanzania, were interviewed who participated in infrastructure provision projects. Semi-structured interviews were held with the community based organisations (CBOs), and local government authorities in the respective settlements. The study suggests that the LBT approach to deliver infrastructure in informal settlements has the potential to create large-scale employment opportunities as well as alleviate poverty. However, the extent of the effectiveness of the LBT approach to create large-scale employment and alleviate poverty is dependant on several factors such as the type of the project; duration of the project; the level of the wages paid, and the measure of skills transferred