How can urban planners address inequality in rapidly expanding Asian cities?

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Urban Planners Must Integrate Marginalised Communities and Informal Spaces to Combat Inequality

Urban planners in rapidly expanding Asian cities must actively involve the poorest residents in decision-making processes and incorporate informal spaces to effectively address rising inequality. With the Asia-Pacific region now predominantly urban, a significant portion of its city dwellers, approximately one-third, live in informal settlements and face constant threats of eviction. This situation is exacerbated by planning approaches that often create a stark division between formal and informal, legal and illegal urban development.
Engaging the Urban Poor in Planning Decisions

Development experts emphasize that the "right to the city" extends beyond individual access to resources and livelihoods to encompass informality and community cohesion. However, planners are increasingly overlooking the needs of the most vulnerable populations, including slum dwellers and street vendors. This exclusion leads to the proliferation of informal settlements and a deepening of urban inequality. A fundamental shift is needed from traditional territorial, land-based planning towards a more people-centric approach that prioritises community needs.
Recognizing and Integrating Informal Spaces

Current urban planning often categorises informal elements, such as street vendors, as hindrances to development, leading to their eviction. This overlooks the reality that public spaces should be accessible and beneficial to all members of the public. While cities like Singapore, Australia, Japan, and South Korea have achieved high liveability rankings by co-producing solutions with their citizens, many Asian urban centres continue to focus predominantly on the formal sector, neglecting the substantial informal economy and its inhabitants.
Leveraging Technology for Inclusive Planning

Innovative approaches are emerging to foster greater community participation. For instance, some cities are utilising the video game Minecraft as part of a UN-Habitat programme to engage communities in upgrading public spaces. This tool allows residents to contribute to identifying safety concerns and planning improvements, particularly benefiting marginalised groups like women and girls. In Hanoi, Vietnam, for example, Minecraft was employed to pinpoint safety issues and enhance public spaces, empowering women and girls to voice their concerns and participate more actively in urban planning and management.

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How can urban planners address inequality in rapidly expanding Asian cities?

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