Safe and Inclusive Cities Programme

Safe and Inclusive Cities Programme

Summary

Plan International Denmark’s ‘Safe and Inclusive Cities’ (SAIC) programme aims to tackle the multi-dimensional social, economic, security, political and environmental drivers of fragility which often co-exist in urban spaces. For example, urban contexts are often home to highly diverse and mobile populations, which experience increased social and economic integration challenges. Violence is an everyday occurrence in cities, with most urban centres also suffering from elevated levels of crime. SAIC has implemented a holistic intervention package with local civil society organizations and youth in select urban contexts in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Inspired by the OECD’s report on States of Fragility in 2016, Plan International Denmark’s ‘Safe and Inclusive Cities’ (SAIC) programme aims to tackle the multi-dimensional social, economic, security, political and environmental drivers of fragility which often co-exist in urban spaces. For example, urban contexts are often home to highly diverse and mobile populations, which experience increased social and economic integration challenges. Violence is an everyday occurrence in cities, with most urban centres also suffering from elevated levels of crime. SAIC has implemented a holistic intervention package with local civil society organizations and youth in select urban contexts in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The programme is based on two key assumptions. First, that the drivers of urban fragility in informal settlements are lack of safety, unemployment, and limited participation in decision-making. Second, that urban youth-led community-based organisations and youth savings networks as well as relevant civil society partners, government authorities, and private sector actors have capacities and creative resources to build on to address urban fragility. By strengthening young peoples’ capacity to collectively address all of the drivers of fragility the programme will contribute to making cities safer, more economically dynamic and more inclusive for young people.

  • Safety in communities and public transportation interventions
    • Developed and strengthened youth-led safety initiatives at the community level (safety mapping of spaces, installation of lights in dark spaces)
    • Developed and strengthened multi-stakeholder initiatives for safe public transport at the city level (including sensitising and training local transport drivers to harmful gender norms and being alert to violence in public)
  • Youth governance and active participation interventions
    • Strengthened youth-led groups’ participatory governance through youth community-based organisations and savings ad business groups
    • Established and strengthened alliances between city level authorities and civil society organisations on improved safety and economic opportunities
  • Decent work and youth economic empowerment interventions
    • Empowered young women and men to access decent employment, as well as self-employment, opportunities
    • Developed multi-stakeholder initiatives for decent work opportunities and conditions.

SAIC is unique in that it includes a thorough research and documentation component. The data collected from these components is used to assess the progress in the implementation of the New Urban Agenda in the selected countries where SAIC operates. The results of the Urban Research Series will be especially helpful in assessing the progress in the implementation of the NUA. For example, insights gathered from qualitative data sourced from the SAIC intervention evaluation suggest that urban areas with economic policies more favourable to youth entrepreneurship (and supporting governance and implementation structures) are likelier to support the development of more prosperous and inclusive cities.

At programme midline:

1. Urban violence and conflict affecting young women and men has declined

  • There has been a 15% increase in reporting violence among SAIC participants

2. There is an increased feeling of safety among all young women and men engaged in the programme

  • 14% of young women and girls reported an increase in feeling safe in their communities
  • 15% of young men and boys reported an increase in feeling safe in their communities

3. Vulnerable and excluded young people, especially young women, working in the urban informal sector are enabled to engage in decent work

  • There has been an 18% increase in young people who work among SAIC participants

4. Through strong civil society organisations, young women and men are influencing urban governance and planning on safety and economic opportunities

  • A 21% increase of young people engaged in the programme reported joining together to address a common problem in their community
  • There has been a 13% increase of young people reported a problem in their community
  • A 10% increase in young people who think actual change resulted from their advocacy work has been reported.

  • Ethiopian Centre for Development -Young Men’s Christian Association (Ethiopia)
  • Young Women’s Christian Association (Ethiopia)
  • Plan International Ethiopia
  • Dialogue on Shelter, Slum-Dwellers International’s affiliation in Zimbabwe
  • Junior Achievement Zimbabwe
  • Youth Alliance for Safer Cities (Zimbabwe)
  • Zizo Motion (Zimbabwe)
  • Mbilez24 (Zimbabwe)
  • Youth Ensemble (Zimbabwe)
  • Uganda Youth Development Link (UYDEL)
  • ACTogether, Slum-Dwellers International’s affiliation in Uganda
  • Akiba Mashinani Trust, Slum-Dwellers International’s affiliation in Kenya
  • Uraia Trust (Kenya)
  • Undugu Family (Kenya)
  • Kibera Joy Initiative (Kenya)
  • Maria Rossane Community Centre (Kenya)
  • Generation Shapers (Kenya)
  • United Destiny Shapers (Kenya)
  • Talanta Africa (Kenya)
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs Denmark

Organization

Plan International

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Geographic scope

Regional

Themes

Migration

Safety

Social Inclusion

Youth & Livelihoods

Sustainable Development Goals

Goal 11 - Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

Goal 16 - Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

New Urban Agenda Commitments

Sustainable Urban Development for Social Inclusion and Ending Poverty
Sustainable and Inclusive Urban Prosperity and Opportunities for All
Environmentally Sustainable and Resilient Urban Development
Planning and Managing Urban Spatial Development

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