Civil participation in slum development projects : a case study of the civil participation in project Viva Lago Soldati, in Buenos Aires

Abstract: Both the United Nations and the World Bank consider participatory slum improvement to be the current best practice for dealing with slum challenges. 10% of the population in Buenos Aires live in slum areas. Many of the residents work informally and are therefore unable to get the documents needed to get a house contract outside the Slums. Lago Soldati is a Lake next to Los Piletones, a slum in the southern outskirts of Buenos Aires. The city has an ongoing project for restoration of the lake and environmental and spatial improvements in the area. The city describes the project as a good example for other slum upgrading projects. The thesis deals with participatory aspects of the project together with theories regarding civil participation in slum development. Researchers describe desirable levels of participation of slum dwellers in the different stages of a project together with facts about which groups that should be involved. The chosen project is analysed according to levels of participation, the groups that participated and also how the participation plan was done and the result of the used participatory approach. The project has been influenced by the political landscape in the country, which has contributed in making the project possible, but the political landscape has also influenced the participatory work in the project and caused conflicts with different groups. The project shows the World Banks power in influencing the participatory projects. They are an important financer with demands regarding the degree of civil participation.