An investigation into linkages between tenure and urban sanitation development

Demand-responsive sanitation acknowledges the need for sanitation development to be household-centred rather than technology focused. However, these strategies (such as social marketing) have a fundamental assumption that the end user has a universal freedom of choice. In view of the proliferation of informal and rental accommodation in low-income settlements of developing countries, this assumption may obscure reality. In this context, inter and intra-household members may enjoy a range of freedoms and access to sanitation resources. In considering the diversity of the urban poor, this ongoing study seeks to examine how the critical differences in tenure status and associated property rights relate to an individual’s access to improved sanitation infrastructure.