Uncertainty is detrimental, yet remains a common characteristic in the lives of the urban poor. To see how the urban poor of Dhaka city cope with uncertainties using social networks, we conducted a qualitative study. It was found that the use of social capital and information networks to secure employment is a common practice within low-income communities. Moreover, in the absence of formal networks, they use fluid networks. We argue that strong socioeconomic networks within low-income settlements have been an encouragement for many to remain within these communities despite poor living conditions.
Researchers: Kaneta Zillur; Farhana Razzaque
Partners: Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC)
Timeline: April–October 2016
Status: Completed
Contact: Md. Sirajul Islam
sirajul@bracu.ac.bd
Publication
Working Paper: Coping with Uncertainties: Trust Dynamics, Fluid Networks and Poverty Traps of the Urban Poor
Context
The transformation of the urban landscape in Bangladesh has been drastic. It has brought about new challenges and uncertainties, especially to the urban poor in Dhaka. The dynamism of a big metropolitan city like Dhaka poses threats to the urban poor’s stable employment, tenancy, and access to basic services, such as transportation, healthcare, education, and social safety nets. Moreover, various urban services, such as safe water, electricity, gas supply, toilet facilities, and garbage disposal remain out of their reach. Even if they do have access, the services are of substandard quality and are irregular and inadequate in terms of supply. With more and more people migrating from rural to urban areas, uncertainties in the lives of these urban poor are also likely to increase. However, the urban poor are not passive; their agency is realized in the coping strategies they use to deal with these uncertainties. While there are numerous studies done to understand the vulnerabilities of the poor, greater insight and more robust analysis is needed to shed light on these coping mechanisms that the urban poor utilize in an attempt to ensure stability in the face of vulnerabilities and uncertainties.
Objectives
The objective of this study was to identify the role of social networks in the context of urban poverty and how the urban poor of Dhaka city use it as a coping mechanism. The study sought to capture the generation of social capital, networks, and trust, for example, in poor communities, particularly in slums and low-income settlements in Dhaka.
Methodology
To conduct this study, we purposively chose two slums and one scattered low-income settlement from Korail, Meradia, and Dhalpur City Palli. We collected our data from key informant interviews (KIIs), focus group discussions (FGDs), group interviews, and non-participant observations. The qualitative nature of the study allowed us to gain an in-depth understanding of the subject matter.
Findings and Recommendations
It was evident from our study that the existence of fluid networks—networks that are adaptive, responsive, and resilient—is a testament to the ability of the urban poor to find solutions in the face of great adversity. Fluid networks and the underlying trust dynamics in a community are moulded by a number of factors, key among them is the structure of low-income settlements. Different settlement structures result in distinctive coping mechanisms for the urban poor. In Korail, for instance, the tightly-knit settlement structure has influenced the development of fluid social networks, which have been critical in building a cohesive and economically vibrant community, where people have abundant opportunities to earn a living. By contrast in Meradia, the scattered settlement has resulted in limited social networks and weak community cohesiveness. The case of Dhalpur City Palli, however, makes it clear that location remains another crucial factor. An organised settlement structure is a resource only when the settlement is located in an economically advantageous area. Moreover, we found that urban poor rely heavily on single-purpose networks for employment.
Undoubtedly, using social networks the urban poor can cope with uncertainties and manage to survive in a dynamic urban environment. But whether these social networks can be leveraged to achieve greater collective benefits for the urban poor, such as better access to services or even graduate out of poverty, remains a question.
