Solution

Upgrading Slums via Climate Resiliency

This solution addresses unsafe spaces at the nexus of flooding and environmental risk in Kibera, a community of Nairobi Kenya for slum residents, government and NGO officials

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Problem Description

Kibera is one of the most notorious slums in the world. It faces a number of complex challenges such as high rates of poverty, poor sanitation, overcrowding, pollution, disenfranchisement, and vulnerability to routine flooding. Since 2006, KDI, a design and community development organization has worked on the ground in Kibera developing an array of 'Productive Public Spaces' that tackle these problems. These new spaces generally take polluted, underutilized, and unsafe zones and design replacement structures alongside community institutions to take their place. Each public space is different and addresses specific situational challenges, but is united under the goal of building not just social but also physical resiliency.

Building Blocks

Story

Kibera is the largest informal settlement in Sub-Saharan Africa with upwards of 3/4 million residents. Despite $25 million spent by nearly 200 NGOs each year, the city had no trash system and 1 toilet for every 250 people. Unemployment and poverty soared. Since 2006 KDI has built 7 Productive Public Spaces (with two more on the way) that aim to change these numbers for the better. Most recently KDI's solution was chosen as one of the winners of a OpenIDEO Amplify challenge. With this comes extra funding and resources as well as the opportunity to try out this solution in other parts of Nairobi.

Photos

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Resources

Contributed By

  • Wilson Sageka, Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI)

Solution Stage

One of the 7 stages of an innovation. Learn more
STAGE SPECIALIST SKILLS REQUIRED EXAMPLE ACTIVITIES RISK LEVEL AND HANDLING FINANCE REQUIRED KINDS OF EVIDENCE GENERATED GOAL
Growing scaling and spreading6
Strong leadership, management, implementation skills
  • Business or organisational growth
  • Franchising
  • Licensing
  • Legislation
  • Spreading ideas
  • Transferring practice
  • Fidelity assessments may be important
  • Strong capacity needed to ensure transfer of practice
MEDIUM
  • Equity, loans, payment by results, social impact bonds
HIGH
Evidence derived from evaluations in multiple sites, and independently run randomised control trials
Innovation or impact at scale

Submitted By

Bryan Lehrer74310022 copy

Key Details

Activity