Building Sustainable Urban Settlements: Approaches and Case Studies in the Developing World

In this collection of studies, environmental, institutional, social and cultural aspects of sustainability are considered in a variety of towns and cities in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Central and South America. Many of the contributors focus particularly on meeting the needs of the urban poor. The main themes are:
* urban environmental management with particular reference to economic activities and housing
* achieving institutional, social and cultural sustainability
* managing urban development processes to reduce their environmental impacts, to improve the produced built environments and sustain improved practices.
Drawing on case studies of individual cities and countries as well as comparative research and analytical procedures, the international group of contributors evaluate government policies and practices and make suggestions for improvements.

In this collection of studies, environmental, institutional, social and cultural aspects of sustainability are considered in a variety of towns and cities in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Central and South America. Many of the contributors focus particularly on meeting the needs of the urban poor. The main themes are:
* urban environmental management with particular reference to economic activities and housing
* achieving institutional, social and cultural sustainability
* managing urban development processes to reduce their environmental impacts, to improve the produced built environments and sustain improved practices.
Drawing on case studies of individual cities and countries as well as comparative research and analytical procedures, the international group of contributors evaluate government policies and practices and make suggestions for improvements.

Carole Rakodi is Professor of International Urban Development in the International Development Department, School of Public Policy, the University of Birmingham. She is a geographer and town planner, with professional experience in Zambia and Kenya. Her main research interests are in urban planning and management, land and housing markets and policy, and urban poverty. She has carried out research in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Ghana and India.

Sam Romaya is an architect/planner specializing in urban planning, urban design and urban conservation with interest in developing countries in general and the Middle East in particular. He practised as an architect in Iraq, and taught environmental design for many years in the universities of Nottingham and Cardiff, as well as lecturing on short courses in a number of universities including Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Malaysia and Lesotho. His research interests include climatic design, urban regeneration and sustainability. He is currently engaged in research, consultancy and voluntary work.