The “slow anatomy of change”: urban knowledge trajectories towards an inclusive settlement upgrading agenda in Freetown, Sierra Leone

Abstract

This paper examines the dominant knowledge paradigms that have underpinned planning over time in Freetown, Sierra Leone and their implications for urban equality. Looking at the history of the informal settlement upgrading agenda, it presents this analysis through a historical mapping, outlining the knowledge paradigms that have informed planning approaches from the colonial era to the present day. It then outlines three strategic moments over the past 13 years, in which organized informal settlement residents and wider coalitions have mobilized diverse forms of knowledge. By engaging both with long-term trajectories and the intimacy of more recent experiences, it outlines what we refer to as the “slow anatomy of change” through which diverse knowledges have been consolidated. The paper offers reflections on the temporalities and geographies of change; the role of knowledge production as a historical site of power disparities; and what these strategies tell us about the negotiation of power and knowledge through planning towards urban equality.

Sustaining Community-Based Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Learning Platforms at Work in Freetown, Sierra Leone

“…This situation reiterates how the improvement of most informal settlements has traditionally been anchored and steered by community volunteers whose energy, funds and resources are needed for the continued transformation that makes a difference in the lives and well-being of the residents (Macarthy et al, 2017). However, with COVID-19, the spirit of volunteerism seemed to decrease, owing to the high levels of poverty caused by the economic fallout of COVID-19 and a growing need for external funding.…”

“…This was accentuated by the fact that official government communication on COVID-19 was not tailored to the specific needs, uniqueness or challenges of informal settlements, giving room for rumours to spread. Consequently, people grew disconnected from the official responses, which did not adequately capture or consider the utility of community-led actions and initiatives (Corburn et al, 2020; Macarthy et al, 2017, p. 25). For example, an app jointly developed by the federation and Centre of Dialogue for Human Settlement and Poverty Alleviation (CODOHSAPA) to enhance the reporting of COVID-19 cases in hard-to-reach informal settlements was never recognised by the state actorsNational COVID-19 Emergency Response Centre (NaCOVERC)even though it provided a clear directive of how to report in real time, new cases from those places.…”

Assessing the Adaptive Capacity of Slum Households to Flooding in the Coastline of Portee and Rokupa, Freetown, Sierra Leone

“…The data on the average household size (5.2) in Freetown [3], and slum/informal inhabitants (6059) of the coastal parts of Portee and Rokupa [8], form the foundation for determining the sample of slum households to be studied.…”

“…Freetown city's floodplains are where most migrants and urban poor are found [8,9]. Inhabiting these places is becoming more unsafe due to frequent flood events [4].…”

“…Previous studies have discovered that the primary causes of flooding in the coastal areas of Freetown are: torrential rains; poor drainage; uncontrolled dumping of waste in gutters, which reduces the surface flow of water; stone mining; clearing of the peninsular forest and mangroves; and poor planning [1,8]. External supports in these places are rare.…”