Emerging Planning Practices Among Urban Grassroots in Zambia: Insurgent planning or Co-production

Abstract: This thesis seeks to understand collective practices of urban grassroots, rationalities behind the practices and their potential role in urban politics. The study used insurgent planning and co-production frameworks to highlight practices of the studied organization and adopted theories about relationship between the local and the global. The thesis addressed questions about collective practices for building self-reliance, practices that aim to directly engage the state and how being part of an international network of slum dwellers shapes the collective practices of the local organization. The research is based upon a case study of Zambian Homeless and Poor People’s Federation. The empirical data was collected during two months of fieldwork in Zambia using observations and semi-structured interviews. The results indicate that the studied organization uses elements of both insurgent planning and co-production in its practices. The federation starts with self-help and building financial assets to continue with practices aimed at engaging the state. The results suggest that, as an affiliate of an international network, the federation is influenced by the flow of ideas in the network and that the international cooperation has potential implications for the local urban politics.