How Do Successful Infrastructure Technology Pilots Lead to Policy Change?

What is the chain of institutions and activities that link technology pilots in informal settlements to policy responses?

Project Summary

Informal settlements, often termed slums, are home to over a billion people worldwide, a number expected to double by 2050. These areas are characterised by inadequate infrastructure and high poverty levels. The UN Sustainable Development Goal 11 aims to improve these conditions by making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable by 2030. Effective responses from policymakers are essential to achieving this goal.

While many innovative infrastructure solutions are being developed within informal settlements, scaling these solutions to benefit a larger population remains a challenge. The key issue is how to link successful local innovations with broader policy actions to address infrastructure deficiencies and promote sustainability in these areas.

The project will explore how innovative infrastructure solutions in informal settlements can be effectively scaled up through “pilot-policy chains,” which are the connections between informal settlements, non-state actors, and policymakers. By understanding these linkages, the project seeks to facilitate the translation of local successes into wider policy implementation.

A transdisciplinary team of experts and partners from international and non-governmental organisations will develop a global database of approximately 300 pilot infrastructure projects in informal settlements. This data will show how these pilot projects impact policy decisions and identify factors that influence the adoption of new technologies. This approach will extend existing theories on technology transitions from formal urban settings to the context of informal settlements.

This research will contribute valuable insights into how successful infrastructure innovations can be scaled and integrated into broader policy frameworks. The findings will be disseminated through a public registry of pilot projects, academic publications, policy briefs, a symposium, educational materials, and workshops led by international organisations. By doing so, the project aims to support the achievement of SDG 11 and improve infrastructure and living conditions in informal settlements.

Research Team

Yael Borofsky
Coordinator
ETH Zurich

David Kaufmann
Co-coordinator
ETH Zurich

Andrew Earl
Principal Member
Stellenbosch University

Status

ongoing

Disciplines

SDGs

Policy domains

Regions

Host Institution

Coordinator

Co-Coordinator

Year