Building Sustainable Infrastructure through Community-Driven Repairs and Maintenance Solutions in Informal Settlements

This learning paper is about strengthening infrastructure in informal settlements by leveraging community-driven approaches. It highlights the key points from the Sustainable Informal Settlement Infrastructure Summit hosted by Asivikelane on 25 August 2025. The main focus is on:

• Improving repairs and maintenance of essential services, specifically water and sanitation infrastructure.
• Fostering partnerships among diverse stakeholders, including community members, local authorities, and technical experts.
• Exploring innovative, sustainable solutions that ensure dignified access to basic services.
• Documenting a multi-pronged strategy that shows how communities can actively participate in maintaining and repairing infrastructure, making it more resilient and sustainable over time.

In short, it’s about empowering communities to take ownership of infrastructure maintenance to achieve long-term sustainability and better service delivery in informal settlements.

Abstract based on original source.