Promoting Examples of Participatory Local Empowerment in Urban Planning (PEOPLE UP)
The project seeks to improve the living conditions of poor and marginalised urban and peri-urban residents by accessing and sustaining basic municipal and infrastructure services.
Specifically, the project will work on:
- Demonstrating inclusive and replicable approaches for the delivery of basic urban services for women and men in Mutare and Epworth which will have enhanced ownership and improved incomes of the residents.
- Increasing the participation of urban residents in the governance of the delivery of basic services in their communities as a vehicle to improving their living conditions.
- Implementing strategies for planning and delivery of basic infrastructure services at the war level with a view to strengthening community voices and promoting more participation by residents through their representative structures and enhance their input in selecting technological and delivery options in service delivery.
The challenging socio-economic environment which has prevailed in the Zimbabwe for several years has among other factors, contributed to a deterioration of essential urban services provision. The result has been weak and under resourced local authorities leading to poor delivery of urban services. Planning for services by local authorities is characterised by minimum or no involvement of the urban residents who also lack knowledge of civic planning and processes.
The project seeks to achieve the following:
- Strengthened Local Authorities with established structures and processes to consult and fully integrate infrastructure service delivery needs and priorities of poor urban and peri-urban residents.
- Enhanced capacity and voices of local communities and their leaders to understand and demand improved service delivery.
- Partnerships formed that increase income and employment opportunities for urban poor from service delivery.
- Inclusive approaches in service delivery for the poor and marginalised documented and disseminated to influence policies and practices for 10 other Local Authorities in Zimbabwe.
The project is being implemented through a partnership involving Practical Action Southern Africa, the Mutare Housing Cooperatives District Union (MDU) and the Civic Forum on Housing (CFH). Project work is also carried out in close cooperation with the Mutare City Council, the Epworth Local Board and the Urban Councils Association of Zimbabwe.
