Integrating Home-Based Enterprises in Urban Planning: A Case for Providing Economic Succour for Women of Global South

Abstract

A major challenge of urbanization in the global South has been the unemployment-led informal economy that has grown beyond the capacity of African governments in general and urban planners in particular. The socio-cultural status of women, and other inequalities in largely patriarchal African societies, have caused them to resort to the most invisible and adaptable sub-sector of the informal economy: Home-based enterprises (HBEs). This study examines the contributions and challenges for women in HBEs using empirical evidence from Enugu, Nigeria. The study employed mixed methods and made use of both primary and secondary data. The study findings confirm that HBEs provide economic succour to women excluded by the formal sector. Among the benefits of HBEs are income provision, supplementary household income, provision of goods and services, skill acquisition, social value and self-esteem, and the ability to look after sick family members. The challenges of HBEs were inconsistency and noise effects as reported by non-operators, while operators complained about multiple levies collected by government agencies, poor infrastructure, and insecurity.

Live-Work Housing Concept for Rusunawa in Indonesia: Is it Possible?

“…This study did not take into consideration how the proposed architectural designs that incorporate the live-work concept for the Rusunawa will impact the construction costs and the overall feasibility of such Rusunawa for low-income people. However, there are exciting findings related to the opportunity to bring back live-work life or home-based enterprises into the design of Rusunawa, as suggested by several scholars (Adeokun & Ibem, 2014;Afrane, 2003;Ezeadichie et al, 2018;Lawanson & Olanrewaju, 2012;Matsebe, 2009;Tipple et al, 2002). This study may have implications for the design of Rusunawa, which should take into account the nature of live-work life of its residents and how Rusunawa should not only serve the housing needs of its residents but also have a positive economic impact to improve the quality of life of the residents.…”

“…Home occupation refers to places where small-scale work activities take place in homes (Dolan, 2012;Khoury, 2014). They are home-based enterprises and are more commonly conducted by women than men (Ezeadichie, Jiburum, Onodugo, Onwuneme, & Kingsley, 2018;Reuschke & Domecka, 2018;Tipple, Coulson, & Kellett, 2002). A home-based enterprise is defined as income-earning activities located in the home, using personal assets and living quarters for income-generating activities (Lawanson & Olanrewaju, 2012).…”

“…For example, the informal settlements of low-income people in Semarang City, Salatiga City, Boyolali Regency, Surakarta City and Surabaya City (Tyas et al, 2019), in Egypt (Nadim, 2016), in Mumbai (Yang, 2019), in Nigeria (Adeokun & Ibem, 2014), in Kumasi Ghana (Afrane, 2003), where residents use their homes not only for living but also as a working, workshop or storage space. It is estimated that one out of every three households in Indonesia has a home-based enterprise (Ezeadichie et al, 2018).…”

“…Home-based enterprises are an essential source of income and employment for low-income people and have a positive impact on improving their quality of life and the general welfare of the local neighborhood (Afrane, 2003;Ezeadichie et al, 2018;Lawanson, 2012;Lawanson & Olanrewaju, 2012;Matsebe, 2009;Tipple et al, 2002). Thus, several studies have suggested that housing policymakers and city planning agencies should support and recognize the importance of home occupations and home-based enterprises and their positive implications for low-income people in social housing policy schemes and architectural design solutions Vina Triyuliana and Susinety Prakoso (Adeokun & Ibem, 2014;Afrane, 2003;Ezeadichie et al, 2018;Lawanson & Olanrewaju, 2012;Matsebe, 2009;Tipple et al, 2002).…”

Future Planning of Global South Cities with Inclusive Informal Economic Growth in Perspective

“…Neo-liberalism supports a milieu that promotes free economic enterprise with minimal, if any interference from the state. The implication of the tenets of neoliberal theory is the roll back of the state and by extension, the reduction of formal sector which unfortunately, contemporary formal urban planning in developing countries superintends [25,26]. The growth of urbanization and complimentary Future Planning of Global South Cities with Inclusive Informal Economic Growth in Perspective DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.89145 deregulation of the economy as supported by neoliberal thinking and forces provides theoretical explanation of the growth of informal sector in developing economies of the global South.…”