期刊名称：The Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa (JSDA)
电子版ISSN：1520-5509
出版年度：2015
卷号：17
期号：6
页码：101
出版社：Institute of Sustainable Development in Africa
摘要：Recent estimates indicate a steady growth in urban informal settlements as part of the urbanizatio n and urban growth process occurring in most cities in Africa. In spite of the reality of this situation, the common understanding of urban informality is varied and often negative. This paper, through a literature stud y, discusses general perspectives on urban informality in developing countries. It then focuses on urban informal settlements, reasons for its growth in African cities and what urban planning in Africa can learn from its persistence. We also argue that such learning can influence urban sustainable urban development. The paper emphasizes the need to reconsider dominant and conventional thoughts on informal settlements to embrace its inherent patterns and processes in Africa. The paper concludes that urban informal settlements, in spite of domin ant negative narratives it has received, can offer important lessons for responsive, inclusive and effective sustainable urban planning strategies in African cities.
