Yangon Informal Settlements – Resettlement Programme (YIS-RP)

Background and Objectives 

Background

In Yangon, informal settlements have developed in all parts of the city. Most of the growth however is spatially concentrated in and around the ‘resettlement areas’ and along the western and eastern bank of the Hlaing/Pan Hlaing Rivers and the Nga Moe Yeik Creek. The majority of the settlements developed after 2010 are located in Hlaing Tharyar (149 settlements) Shwe Pyi Thar and Mingalardon townships. UN-Habitat’s mapping assessment conducted in cooperation with Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC) has identified/verified 423 slum/informal settlements within municipal boundaries.

Objectives

The goal of the project is mitigation of resettlement risks and increased protection for households relocated/resettled from informal settlements located in hazardous locations in Yangon’s resettlement areas.

The objective of the project is put in place protection measures/safeguards, assess the viability of the proposed resettlement site, and to develop policy, planning and design guidelines on resettlement through provision of technical support to government during the inception phase of the Yangon Informal Settlements Resettlement Programme.

Activities

Under this YIS-RP project, UN-Habitat will provide technical support to government in order to undertake the following: a scoping study to determine the suitably of the proposed land parcels for human settlements, costing for infrastructure development, planning capacity, housing design and financing, resettlement modalities and guidelines to mitigate risks posed to households, social mobilization as a first phase prior to resettlement of households.

The inception phase will finance Technical Assistance (TA) consulting services, workshops, research/data collection, surveys and assessments including experts (international and national), report/guidelines preparation, communications and administration and support services. Five areas for technical assistance have been identified in order to translate discussions into practical action on the ground.

The project will also implement activities through the People’s Process, especially during community consultations, where communities will be mobilized and involved, and they will be able to express their voice.

Expected Outcomes

Development Partner: Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)

Project Counterparts: Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC), Yangon Region Government (YRG), Department of Urban and Housing Development (DUHD), Ministry of Construction

Geographical Location: Yangon