This paper discusses the role of local non-profit foundations in poverty reduction withinCali, Colombia’s third largest city, and how these pioneered interventions on which the municipalgovernment could build, after it had been strengthened by decentralization and democratic reforms.

This paper describes the work of an Indian NGO, SPARC and its alliance with the women’s cooperatives (Mahila Milan) formed by pavement dwellers and the National Slum Dwellers Federation. This Alliance has shown how work in many different areas such as community-based savings and credit groups, pilot projects, housing construction, the development of toilet blocks and the management of resettlement can contribute to poverty reduction, as long as these are based on what communities can do for themselves and the communities retain control. This implies the need for changes in the relationship between urban poor groups, government and international donors. The Alliance has also demonstrated the need to work at different levels, including securing policy and institutional changes through mass mobilization, based on precedents that are developed by the poor.

This paper examines the opportunities and constraints for the livelihoods of peri-urban dwellers around the city of Mopti in northern Mali. The study describes changing agricultural production systems and employment patterns (including migration and commuting) and their variations depending on gender and generation. It also explores evolving land tenure systems on the peri-urban interface, and the role of the new decentralised local government in managing land and natural resources.

Pro-poor tourism strategies aim to influence tourism development to unlock opportunities from the poor – whether for economic gain, other livelihood benefits or engagement in decision-making. Such strategies are needed to harness the potential of tourism for pro-poor growth and poverty reduction. This report reviews practical experience of pro-poor tourism strategies in order to identify useful lessons and good practice. It synthesis findings from 6 case studies in South Africa, Namibia, Uganda, Nepal, Ecuador and St Lucia.

This paper describes the initiatives to defend the environment and reduce pollution in Chimbote. This important industrial fishing port is considered the third most contaminated city in Peru due to the lack of urban environmental planning and regulation, and of any genuine leadership from local government. The paper includes an account of the work of the Association for the Defense and Conservation of the Environment of the Province of La Santa (ADECOMAPS), which started as an ecological movement for the protection and conservation of an important park. It then developed an environmental action plan (or Local Agenda 21) for Chimbote. The Association brings together 42 different institutions, including grassroots organizations, NGOs, universities, professional training institutions, politicians and government bodies. The paper also describes the reluctance of the provincial mayor to work with the Association.

The October 2001 issue of Environment and Urbanization has been prepared by Shack Dwellers International (SDI), a network of community organizations in Africa, Asia and Latin America. It includes articles by members on strategies and approaches that have been found to be of particular importance. for example; the use of savings and credit as a means of building strong local organizations, and an illustration of how the process has taken hold in a number of “new” countries. It also includes perspectives from a range of development professionals and agencies on the significance of SDI and a description of new relations with local authorities and state agencies that the grassroots organizations have been able to negotiate. Photo-essays on community site development and construction show some of the work of member organizations.

This paper describes the history of the community in El Mezquital, from the land invasion in the mid 1980s, through its consolidation and growth, until the present, drawing principally on interviews with the inhabitants and staff from supporting agencies. It analyzes the development of the different, and sometimes conflicting, community organizations and compares their different mandates and objectives. It shows important processes of community empowerment, the changing role of women and community self-help initiatives. It also describes how, in much of the settlement, basic infrastructure and services were in place and of good quality. However, it also highlights the lack of employment opportunities, how many people still live in overcrowded conditions, and the problems of violence, drug addiction and street children. It also highlights the inadequacies on the part of government agencies - including their incapacity to respond to the needs of the community, their under-estimation of community capacity and the attempts at political manipulation.