Country Context
Uganda is experiencing a historically unprecedented absolute rate of urban growth. Averaging almost 5 percent per year, this rate suggests a doubling of the urban population of the country in the next 15 years. This acute urbanization process is accompanied by serious urban pathologies: Kampala, and the rapidly growing secondary cities are lacking in basic infrastructure, provide minimal access to running water and sanitation, and exclude the majority of their population from basic services and safe housing. Given these facts, and their future repercussions, urban Uganda represents an extremely valuable field study for students interested in urbanization and international development.
Project Context
The Uganda IFP aims to study the phenomenon of urbanization as it unfolds across East Africa. Building upon the successful past experiences the program offers a variety of internships and researches. Students belonging to diverse disciplinary backgrounds (GPIA, Milano, NSSR, Parsons) will conduct research on the various aspects of urbanization in the capital and other secondary cities. Several questions will be given particular attention:
- Creation and delivery of adequate housing.
- Housing affordability for low-income urban dwellers.
- Infrastructure creation, provision and delivery.
The role and capacity of the main stakeholders in urban development (community groups, public sector, private sector, government and international agencies) will be extensively analyzed.
Objectives
The Uganda IFP aims to create not only a unique learning experience for the students participating in the program. It will achieve this by:
- Creating a holistic view of the urbanization phenomenon in Uganda: As a rapidly urbanizing country Uganda offers important insights for the understanding of African urbanization in general.
- Producing a consistent body of research across disciplines by promoting an innovative multidisciplinary approach: the program will benefit from the rich intellectual background of the participants in order to create links and establish connections throughout academic disciplines (economics, sociology, urban policy, architecture and design).
- Establishing partnerships with leading academic institutions in the sub-Saharan region: partnerships with the Makerere University and will further enhance the quality and scope of the research.
- Encouraging synergies between the New School and international leading actors of the urban development field: World Bank, UN-Habitat, the Gates and Rockefeller Foundations, Slum Dwellers International are all strong protagonists in shaping policies of urban development in Uganda. Through the IFP, the New School will have the chance to collaborate with all of the aforementioned agencies.
Partner Organizations
Students will have the opportunity to conduct research and intern with international agencies (World Bank, UN-Habitat etc) government institutions (Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development), transnational community groups (Slum Dwellers International) and NGOs active in the urban field.
Living Arrangements
Students will stay at the Diplomat Hotel in Kampala.
Program Info and Requirements
Begins: 1 Jun 2013
Ends: 31 Jul 2013
Supervisor: Achilles Kallergis
Required Language: None
Required course: Urban Development Policy in Africa
Concentrations: All concentrations in International Affairs may be applicable to this program but Cities and Social Justice as well as Development concentrators are especially encouraged to apply.
Syllabus: Forthcoming
Achilles Kallergis Contact Information: achik700@newschool.edu