South Africa’s economy needs to shift away from its reliance on coal and move towards a low-carbon economy. Cities as drivers of the economy need to play a leading role in this transition, in a manner that advances climate resilience, socio-economic inclusion and equity. Informal settlements cannot be left behind. In fact, informal settlement upgrading should be an urgent national development priority, that has been made even more pressing due to the disproportionate climate impacts in informal settlements. A just urban transition posits informal settlements at the centre of investment, innovation, partnerships and resilience building, which will not only result in dignified, safe, vibrant and sustainable neighbourhoods; it will contribute to the urban dividend.

Informal settlements as catalysts for a just urban transition is a joint initiative of Isandla Institute and National Treasury’s Cities Support Programme, supported by SouthSouthNorth. Informed by a series of critical dialogues, the project has produced insightful knowledge products that conclude with key recommendations for improved practice and policy.

In 2023 Isandla Institute has deepened its work on informal settlement upgrading through a project that seeks to understand what a “just urban transition” could mean in practice for informal settlement communities and municipalities. The need to address the climate crisis, particularly for those who live in informal settings, is urgent given that people who live in them often bear the brunt of recurring shocks, such as floods and droughts. Almost 20 years after its inception, a policy to incrementally upgrade informal settlements appears to a large degree stuck – resulting in little more than serviced sites in most cases where development is initiated. South Africa’s “just urban transition” strategy emphasises that upgrading informal settlements is key if cities are to decarbonise in a manner that can also address inequality and spatial injustice. Much hinges on the ability of local government to engage collaboratively with communities – something that has proved difficult to achieve in the past. In unpacking what this approach means for informal settlement residents, the project engages with a range of stakeholders, including informal settlement residents, government, urban policy experts, environmental organisations and civil society organisations working in informal settlements. From this, it aims to develop an engagement tool that government and community-based organisations will be able to use in a collaborative approach to upgrading aligned with principles of a “just transition”.

“The project was funded by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI).