Sylvia Maher

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to compile, analyze and present information on the current Egyptian government’s approaches for dealing with slums to enable the assessment of their success and sustainability. Those approaches are basically eviction, demolition and relocation (80% of the interventions), in situ development (20% of the interventions) and community participation. In addition, the thesis researches international experiences from the developing world, tackling in situ and relocation approaches. The cases were selected in order to come up with their success factors and shed light on their applicability to the Egyptian context. A case study using qualitative analysis demonstrates a typical example of the relocation approach adopted by the Egyptian government; that is Osman Housing (Masaken Osman) in Sixth of October City. In-depth interviews were conducted with the relocated residents from Deweka area to find out whether the government’s intervention solved their housing problem or not. The findings show that the Egyptian government’s relocation approach concentrated more on trying to eradicate existing slums rather than addressing the socio-economic drives that led to the growth of informal areas including urban poverty. This approach resulted in making the poor even poorer and slum dwellers even more marginalized. The thesis concludes with a set of recommendations based on the learned lessons and success factors of the international experiences introduced in the study, the literature review, and the realities and findings reflected in field work of the case study. These recommendations highlight the need for political and institutional support for intervention programs, promoting community participation and adopting a rights-based approach that recognizes that residents of slum areas have the same rights as other citizens in formal areas.

Department

Public Policy & Administration Department

Degree Name

MA in Public Administration

Graduation Date

6-1-2017

Submission Date

February 2017

First Advisor

Abdelhalim, Khaled

Committee Member 1

Barsoum, Ghada

Committee Member 2

Al-Ibrashy, May

Extent

95 p.

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Rights

The author retains all rights with regard to copyright. The author certifies that written permission from the owner(s) of third-party copyrighted matter included in the thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study has been obtained. The author further certifies that IRB approval has been obtained for this thesis, or that IRB approval is not necessary for this thesis. Insofar as this thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study is an educational record as defined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 USC 1232g), the author has granted consent to disclosure of it to anyone who requests a copy.

Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval

Approval has been obtained for this item

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