New Research on Urban Children’s Risk and Agency is Published

The International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) is one of the most influential international developmental and environment policy research organizations, and conducted much research and work, particularly in urban poverty reduction and urban environmental issues. Recently IIED, together with one of its partners, Plan International, has finally published its research papers on urban children’s risk and agency in urban cities.

The research presents the findings from a study on urban children’s risk and agency in four large Asian Cities: Dhaka (Bangladesh), Kathmandu (Nepal), Manila (the Philippines), Jakarta (Indonesia). The study conducted focus group discussions with street children, working children and squatter and slum children; key informant interviews with relevant local, national and international agencies involved child rights and/or disaster risk reduction in each city.

The research examines population dynamics involving urbanization and the “youth bulge” in the four target countries, and the implications these dynamics present for child-centered urban disaster risk reduction and planning in Asia. This work also outlines the main factors that contribute to vulnerability in urban centers such as poor quality housing on land exposed to hazards, coupled with underlying drivers of poor quality provision for water, sanitation, drainage, infrastructure, healthcare and emergency services.

To download the full version of the research paper, please click the link below:

  1. working paper
  2. briefing paper