ABSTRACT
Equitable partnerships are based on mutual trust and understanding of the goals, objectives and aspirations of all partners, by all partners. They therefore depend on high levels of explicit transparency and inter-stakeholder communication. The 'numbers' case for support to incremental housing largely rests on the fact that up to some 70 per cent of the urban population of developing cities already produce their housing incrementally, the majority of them informally with little or no security of tenure. The financial case for support to incremental housing is based on securing household investment in housing and community facilities. The urban management case for incremental housing strategies is premised on the principle of subsidiarity: the recognition of the most effective level or location of decision-making and authority for each component of an activity. Closely allied to fostering good governance, incremental housing processes can be an important and effective catalyst to the social and economic development of poor households and communities.
