A recent changes in context and basic policy affecting urban slum dwellers communities in Phnom Penh, Cambodia and implications on participatory approach in ongoing and future relocation programs | |
| Author | Din Somethearith |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.UE-01-13 |
| Subject(s) | City dwellers--Cambodia--Phnom Penh Slums--Cambodia--Phnom Penh--Government policy Relocation (Housing)--Cambodia--Phnom Penh--Government policy |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | The period between 1998 and 2000 was marked by a policy and practice of government in Phnom Penh that upheld step-by-step relocation in clearing the city of slums. In this period, relocatees and pro-poor civil society groups were given utmost participation in decision-making, planning, designing, implementing, and financing etc. This resulted in better quality living conditions in relocation site and a high satisfaction of relocatees. By 2001, government of Cambodia and Phnom Penh Municipality put high on its agenda the attraction of potential inward investments and the upgrading and beautification of the policy as the nation's capital. Many urban development infrastructure projects were launched whose aim was to attract business investments in the city and in the immediate future. This phenomenon led to the spiraling of real estate prices in the city and the landowners' rising interest in securing their urban lands and immediately clearing these of informal or squatters settlements. This change ushered in a corresponding radical shift in the previous step-by-step relocation and tolerance of government in participatory approach. Beginning 2001, the new policy was marked by quick and haphazard relocation and nonparticipation by affected squatters and pro-poor civil society groups. This policy has resulted in poor quality of living conditions in relocation areas and very low satisfaction among the relocatees. This has also minimized the positive contributions to good relocation projects, planning and policy formulation of various pro-poor advocate groups hitherto most active in these concerns. This thesis highlights the level and substance of participation in squatter's relocation issues as a function Phnom Penh government's basic land development and investment policy regime at present. It argues that change in the context and policy regime has basically changed official tolerance for participation and encouragement of step-by-step relocation, resulting in the lowering of quality and satisfaction of relocatees. It further discuses a set of recommendations for future relocation should involved both relocatees and pro-poor civil society groups and the projects should not be in a quick process. |
| Year | 2002 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Urban Environmental and Management (UE) |
| Chairperson(s) | Sajor, Edsel E. |
| Examination Committee(s) | Perera, Ranjith ;Kanegae, Hidehiko |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) ; Canadian International Development Agency/Canadian University Consortium (CIDA-CUC) |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2002 |