Call for papers: 8th N-AERUS Conference, 6th-8th September 2007, London, UK

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Grassroots-led Urban Development:
Achievements; Potentials; Limitations

There is a growing recognition within development of the role of grassroots organizations in addressing problems in urban areas in low- and middle-income nations – not only in what they demand and negotiate from governments but also in what they themselves can do. Their achievements, innovations and capacities are documented in a growing number of case-studies – for instance of ‘slum’/squatter financing and upgrading, new house developments and basic service provision. There are also many nations where grassroots organizations have formed their own ‘slum’/shack/homeless people’s federations to support each other’s initiatives and press for support and change within municipal, city and national governments. This development of ‘collective capacity’ by grassroots organizations and federations has led to large-scale programmes in many nations and many strong and innovative partnerships between these organizations, the private sector and local governments. There are also some examples of national governments and international agencies developing mechanisms to team up with grassroots-led urban development. These initiatives emerge in specific social, political, cultural and economic contexts and there is much to be learnt from understanding the contexts within which the potential for interaction between grassroots-led actions, initiatives and movements and state structures and supports is realised.

At the same time, such recognition is accompanied by a debate highlighting the limitations of the role that grassroots-led initiatives can play in urban development. This debate questions the capacity of grassroots organisations to bring about urban change at scale, efficiently and effectively; the legitimacy and accountability deriving from their growing political role and its claim for bottom-up politics; and the way in which the emerging configurations of grassroots, private sector and local authorities tend to marginalise central government involvement.

This Conference aims to provide an opportunity for researchers, policymakers, development practitioners, private sector representatives et alia from Europe and elsewhere to reflect critically on the achievements, potentials and limitations of grassroots-led urban development.

Papers are encouraged on any topic of relevance to this Conference theme, including:
  • Networking and federating as strategies to increase grassroots organizations’ scope for action and for negotiation;
  • The interface and configurations of power between grassroots-led initiatives and other institutional stakeholders within an understanding of local context;
  • Tools, methods and financial provisions that support grassroots-led urban development;
  • Intra-city, inter-city and international exchanges as means for promoting learning and action;
  • Grassroots perspectives on livelihoods and on social protection/safety nets;
  • Avoiding evictions and negotiating tenure or, where this is not possible, community-managed relocation;
  • Grassroots-led strategies and actions for changing urban governance; and,
  • Current and potential roles for international donors: do they support, co-opt or subvert grassroots-led development?

    • The Conference is organised and hosted by the Development Planning Unit (University College London) and the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED).

    Submission timetable:
    Abstracts of between 150 and 250 words should be submitted in .rtf or .doc by Friday, 15th June 2007, to calls©naerus.net. Abstracts should:

    a) state the issue to be addressed
    b) define the context
    c) highlight the main arguments

    Authors of the selected papers will be notified by e-mail by Friday, 15 June 2007. Final papers should be submitted by Wednesday, 15 August and will be posted on the N-AERUS website.

    N-AERUS will try to provide paper copies for distribution at the Conference. However authors, particularly from Europe, are strongly encouraged to bring their own copies.

    FUNDING: Limited financial support will be available to support the participation of some researchers or practitioners from Africa, Asia and Latin America, whose papers are accepted for presentation at the Conference (deadline for abstract submissions: 1st June 2007). Candidates are encouraged to indicate their wish to be considered for funding when submitting their abstracts.

    ACCOMMODATION: Some low-cost accommodation will be available for participants. Relevant details to apply for low-cost accommodation will be provided on the conference website (www.naerus.net) along with supplementary information on additional accommodation at special negotiated rates.

    COSTS: No registration fee accompanies attendance of the conference. There will be however a charge for all participants to cover the costs of documentation, lunches and coffee/tea and an optional excursion.

    Network-Association
    of European Researchers on Urbanisation in the South
    WWW site: http://www.naerus.net