Environmental quality improvement through informal settlement upgrading. Case of Agatare, Kigali City

Abstract

Informal settlements refer to housing units built on land without legal claims or in violation of planning and building regulations, accommodating around one billion people worldwide. These settlements exacerbate challenges of rapid urbanization, such as housing shortages and environmental degradation, especially in developing Nations. In Africa, including Rwanda, informal settlements are rising, intensifying issues like insecurity and inadequate social services. Rwanda, particularly in Kigali, faces similar challenges due to rapid urbanization. To address these issues, the government, with World Bank support, has launched programs like the Agatare project to upgrade informal settlements by enhancing infrastructure and providing affordable housing. However, alongside socio-economic development, addressing environmental concerns like waste management and water drainage is crucial for holistic urban improvement. This study evaluates how informal settlement upgrading contributes to environmental sustainability in upgraded areas. The study aimed to assess how the Agatare settlement upgrading project promotes sustainable residential neighborhoods, identify challenges hindering environmental quality improvement, and propose strategies to address these challenges. The study employed interpretive techniques to analyze field data, existing literature on informal settlement upgrading, and GIS techniques to analyze spatial data from various institutions. The findings revealed that the Agatare project significantly improved socio-economic infrastructure and environmental health by managing stormwater, planting trees along roads, encouraging home gardens, and facilitating solid waste management. Despite these efforts, persistent challenges remain, including open drainage systems that allow solid and liquid waste disposal, waste deposition in wetlands, and improper waste collection in some households. Addressing these issues is essential for maintaining a healthy environment in the upgraded area.