Programme de bourses "Jeunes Chercheurs"
Urban Territories, ‘Housing Technologies’, Population and Security in Amman. Jordanian strategies towards Palestinian refugee camps and informal settlements
Lucas Oesch, The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies
The objective of this research is to analyse and assess the projects and strategies proposed by the Jordanian Government to handle the issue of informal settlements, squatters’ areas, low serviced neighbourhoods and Palestinian refugee camps in Amman. The work will be carried out in direct partnership with the Jordanian Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDC), and more particularly with its Special Projects Department, as well as the French Institute of the Near East (IFPO).
Due to massive migration, mainly of Palestinian populations, and a high demographic growth, there has been an increasing demand for housing in Jordan since 1948. According to Rshaidat (1996), housing supply was mainly geared to the middle and high income groups, while the low income groups had to face overcrowding and lack of shelter for rent. This induced the development of informal settlements, squatters’ places, low serviced neighbourhoods and refugee camps in the Kingdom’s main urban centres. In our research, we will first try to explain the characteristics of these different types of settlements, by looking at the resident population, their living and housing conditions, the planning and infrastructures issues, as well as at services’ delivery. We will then focus on the governmental strategies and projects towards those places and their inhabitants. These strategies have been characterised mainly by upgrading principles.
Upgrading projects started in these settlements in the mid 1980 when the Urban Development Department (UDD) was established in order to address the issue of informal settlements and low-income housing in general (Al Daly 1999). Between 1981 and 1991, 3 Urban Development Programs (UDP) were established and the UDD upgraded 13 low-income settlements.
In April 1992, the UDD was amalgamated with the Housing Corporation forming the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDC). The mandate of the HUDC consists in the production of new housing schemes and in the upgrading of squatter and low serviced settlements (upgrading sites). In 1997, the Government of Jordan approved a national strategy to address unemployment and poverty issues through a two-stage program. As a result, a comprehensive Community Infrastructure Program (CIP-A) was adopted on a national level with Arab and international financial support. The program was undertaken by HUDC. The main objective of the program was to improve the living conditions of the poor at community level in 13 refugee camps and 14 squatter areas by the provision of minimum standards of physical and social infrastructure. The first phase of the program started in 1998 and ended in 2004. Other projects have been implemented since then and some are currently under scrutiny or being executed while further programs will be implemented depending on funding opportunities. Pilot projects characterized by different upgrading approaches are also in the making.
By focusing on the spatial organisation of upgrading sites (urban and infrastructures planning mainly), and using a conceptual framework based on the notion of governmentality developed by Michel Foucault, this research will analyse the characteristics of different ‘housing technologies’ (informal settlements, squatters’ places, low serviced neighbourhoods and refugee camps) for low income groups and Palestinian refugees in Jordan. Furthermore, by looking at past and present governmental strategies towards upgrading sites, this study will analyse how those ‘technologies of government’ of the population and territories are maintained, developed, actualised and even institutionalised. The rationalities of these strategies will be centre-stage in the study, and the question of the (in)securitization of the urban settlements and their dwellers being given a particular attention.
- Al Daly, Jamal I. (1999), Informal Settlements in Jordan: Upgrading Approaches Adopted and Lessons Learned, unpublished document, Lund University
- Rshaidat, Samer S. (1996), The Need and Feasibility of a Secondary Mortgage Facility in an Emerging Economy, the Case of Jordan, Final Report, Housing Policy and Housing Delivery Workshop, ICHUD no. 67, Rotterdam: Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies
Addresses
- Lucas Oesch
Institut de hautes études internationales et du développement (IHEID)
The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies
132, rue de Lausanne
Case postale 136
1211 Genève 21
SuisseTél: 41 – (0)22 – 908 57 00
E-mail: Lucas.Oesch@graduateinstitute.ch
Site web: http://www.graduateinstitute.chDirecteur de thèse: Prof. Riccardo Bocco
Partnership
- Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDC)
Jebal Amman, Third Circle, next to the Ministry of Planning
P.O. Box 2110
11181, Amman
JordanTel.: 962 – (0)6 - 646 43 07
Fax: 962 – (0)6 - 462 89 38
E-mail: general@hudc.gov.jo
Website address: http://www.hudc.gov.jo
- IFPO Amman (Institut Français du Proche-Orient)
P.O. Box 830413
Zahran 11183, Amman
JordanieTél.: 962 - (0)6 - 46 40 515 / 46 11 171 / 46 11 872 / 46 11 873
Fax: 962 - (0)6 - 46 11 170
E-mail secrétariat: admin_ifpo.amm@wanadoo.jo
Site web: http://www.ifporient.org