Urban poverty

Unprecedented urbanisation was one of many transformations society underwent in the twentieth century. The domination of rural populations over those in towns and cities was overturned, revolutionising social, economic and environmental conditions on a global scale. On aggregate, urban dwellers now outnumber their rural counterparts, and with this change comes a unique set of challenges. These mutually-reinforcing conditions present key obstacles to poverty reduction in urban environments. Dealt with effectively, however, urban growth could go from development problem to success story.

State of the world's cities 2006/2007

E. Miller / Panos Pictures

It is a common misconception that urban dwellers of developing countries are healthier, more literate and better off than their rural counterparts. This report, however, exposes the truth of the chronic poverty that many suffer. Those living in informal settlements, for example, are as badly off, if not worse off, than their rural counterparts.

Housing

Of the 3 billion urban dwellers today, it is estimated that 1 billion are slum dwellers – a figure set to double by 2030. More than 600 million urban dwellers in the South live in homes and neighbourhoods which are a danger to their health and safety because of poor quality, overcrowded housing, dangerous land sites and a lack of basic services. More...

Basic services

Of prime concern to a growing urban economy are reliable infrastructural services. Transport systems, electrification and water and sanitation supplies, alone, present key challenges to urban livelihoods. Together, they have a cumulative impact which permeates almost every aspect of daily life. More...

Urban governance

Could a simple lack of political will be responsible for the often chaotic state of many urban settlements? Urban governance is often blamed for the chronic poverty in which many people live. The private sector and communities both have parts to play, but the main responsibility for providing vital urban services ultimately lies with municipal government. More...

Environment

It has long been argued that economic growth and environmental degradation go hand-in-hand. When society embarks on a growth strategy, it is assumed that ecological conditions will be compromised until a certain level of economic growth has been achieved, when the environment will replenish. Evidence highlights the impact of carbon emissions, waste production and overuse of resources. Little evidence exists to illustrate the reversal of urban ecological decay. More...

More on urban poverty: the complete listings from Eldis