Neglecting the Urban Poor in Bangladesh: Research, Policy and Action in the Context of Climate Change

Abstract

In Bangladesh, urban poverty is neglected in research, policy and action on poverty reduction. This paper explores the underlying foundations for this relative neglect, including national identity and image, the political economy of urban poverty, and the structuring of knowledge creation. It argues for more comprehensive policy and programmes for the urban poor given Bangladesh's increasingly urban future and the growing magnitude of urban poverty. The impact of climate change will accelerate Bangladesh's ongoing urbanisation, as well as deepen the scale and severity of urban poverty. That urban poverty reduction will subsequently be increasingly important to the ability to meet national goals for poverty reduction means that policy and action must pay more attention to the urban poor. This is contingent upon two factors: a better understanding of the scale and nature of urban poverty reduction and vulnerability, and the confrontation of powerful interests necessary to secure national commitment to urban poverty reduction.

Livelihoods Limitations: The Political Economy of Urban Poverty in Dhaka, Bangladesh

“…A deeper understanding of how social networks and local governance structures influence urban poverty is critical, embedding our analysis of urban poverty within the social and political processes that limit access to better incomes, assets, services and employment opportunities. While our focus here is on the local (settlement‐level) political economy, we have to contextualize this within the broader institutions and processes of urban governance, including a national and municipal policy framework that neglects the needs and rights of the urban poor (Banks et al., ) . This has led to the creation of informal systems of governance that connect informal settlements with the wider city, but in a way that creates and reproduces inequalities within them.…”

“…In the process, the interests, power and authority of local leaders are protected (Suykens, ) . Through these leaders — and their committees and strongmen — the government can manage and control low‐income settlements as vote banks, provide alternative forms of ‘informal’ service provision, or distribute goods and entitlements such as food rations or blankets in emergencies (Banks, ; Banks et al., ). Working with these intermediaries, ward commissioners and other officials have little incentive to be directly responsive towards, accountable to, or inclusive of, settlement residents (Banks, ).…”

“…This requires a shift for policy makers, planners and researchers who have spent decades focusing on rural development and livelihoods. Across many countries, including Bangladesh, previous development priorities have led to a rural bias in policy, action and research on poverty reduction, weakening the conceptual tools for imagining poverty reduction in urban areas (Banks et al., ; de Haan, ; Jha et al., ; Mitlin and Satterthwaite, ).…”

A ‘post‐aid world'? Paradigm shift in foreign aid and development cooperation at the 2011 Busan High Level Forum

“…Shifts in political leadership in a number of DAC countries and the global financial crisis have stimulated a much stronger discourse of national interest and ‘value for money’ within foreign aid (Banks et al . ; Breman ; Mawdsley et al . ; Noxolo ).…”

Understanding Poverty

“…The social exclusion approach captures multiple dimensions of social inequality but refers mainly to excluded groups and segments in society such as the aged, the disabled, ethnic minorities, and so on, thus taking a too narrow view. As yet another aspect of poverty, there is call for critical urban research and action as policy tends to underestimate the growing magnitude and impact of urban poverty (Banks, Roy, & Hulme, 2011).…”