Increasing Land Rights for Slum Dwellers
Dhaka, Bangladesh, is one of Asia’s fastest growing megacities. It is
also one of the poorest:
of the 13.5 million people in Dhaka, 4.1 million are living in slums and squatter settlements, with limited land security. For that reason, the Urbis program in Dhaka focused on bolstering the capacity of Nagar Daridara Basteebashir Unnayan Sangstha (NDBUS), a city-wide organization representing 1.5 million slum dwellers and whose primary objective includes tackling land tenure challenges.
Prior to the Urbis activities in Dhaka, NDBUS was a large but dormant organization. Its impact was not commensurate with its size. DIG, therefore, envisioned transforming NDBUS into a vibrant, participatory and influential citywide urban poor network. The Urbis team designed a three-step strategy to address this untapped opportunity: First, to leverage the exceptional outreach of the organization, DIG and the Center for Urban Studies (CUS), a local research and training organization, focused on energizing NDBUS membership through training in highly demanded job skills such as computer and cell phone repair. Secondly, to help the organization amplify the voice of its members on evictions, human trafficking, and insufficient access to basic services, the Urbis team trained NDBUS trainers in advocacy and women’s empowerment. We also strengthened the organization’s outreach efforts so it could leverage other poverty reduction programs in the city. Thirdly, the Urbis team developed a robust savings program, using savings as a tool for community development in targeted urban poor neighborhoods.
Results: The Urbis program successfully stimulated NDBUS’ membership base, increasing loyalty among the existing members and enlisting over 3,000 new members over the course of the program. Through Urbis, NDBUS demonstrated its ability to provide advocacy and job-skills related training. Such activities have led to an increase in income and jobs and have generated increased participation from NDBUS’s members.
The NDBUS savings program achieved particular success. The savings program strategy established clear programmatic and financial targets and included a solid quantitative reporting framework that helped the board of directors take on a new oversight role. In addition, the savings program provided a platform for discussing cash management, accountability and transparency. As of December 2010, the organization established 235 savings groups comprised of 3,525 members saving close to USD 19,500. Based on a market study, the program is on track to grow to 75,000 members and reach USD 6 million in savings by 2014. These savings groups serve as an engine for NDBUS’ citywide organizational development and will be fundamental in the organization’s success moving forward.
To professionalize NDBUS, the Urbis program supported the organization’s board in establishing a vision and plan, and assisted NDBUS in officially registering as an NGO. This status formalization enabled NDBUS to establish key partnerships with development organizations to implement programs targeting slum dwellers. For example, NDBUS signed a one-year contract for USD 140,000 with the Urban Partnership for Poverty Reduction Project (UPPRP) to support the implementation of the country’s largest urban poverty reduction project in Dhaka. This partnership secured a funding source for NDBUS and enhanced its image as a credible, results-oriented organization.
NDBUS also enhanced its voice, showcased during the government’s August 2010 attempt to evict 2,400 households in the Sattala slum. To resist the eviction, NDBUS immediately called a press conference and organized a human chain event where hundreds of slum dwellers lined the streets in protest. The government stalled the eviction and opened discussions on rehabilitation. NDBUS also worked closely with the Member of Parliament, Saber Chowdhury, on drafting a “no eviction without rehabilitation” bill that is expected to become law.
For more information on the Urbis program in Dhaka, please visit NDBUS' Urbis blog.
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