Causes and Consequences of Informal Settlement: The Case of Fasil Sub city Gondar Town Administration, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study was aimed to identify the causes and consequences of informal settlement in Gonder town, the case of Fasil sub city. In so doing relevant data was collected from 342 randomly selected informal settlers found in three kebeles (namely Angreb, Arbegnoch and Medhaniealem) and 16 purposefully selected municipal, sub city and kebele officials. Both open and closed ended questionnaire was used to collect data from informal settlers and semi-structured interview was used to collect data from the concerned officials. Quantitative data obtained through questionnaire was analysed statistically – frequency and percentage distributions using SPSS computer software while qualitative data obtained from interviews was analyzed thematically. Results of data analysis indicated that such administrative problems like lack of timely response to the application of house seekers or informal settlers with respect to the provisions of rules and regulations. Huge, sensitive, simmering, dangerous nature of the problem of informal settlement corroborated by malpractices like corruption, lack of committed and coordinated efforts on the part of the concerned officials from kebele to city mayor’s office made the problem to become out of control. And among economic factors poverty, cost of house rent, and absence of supply of house or land for house construction on the part of the city land administration were identified as contributing factors of informal settlement in this research. Finally the consequences of informal settlement brought on the part of the settlers and the city administration were found to be problem of peace and security, deterioration of the city view or landscape, problem of providing infrastructure, wastage or improper use of land. Discussions on such findings were made in relation to the context of the city administration and the findings of other studies. Recommendations having both practical and theoretical implications were also forwarded based on the findings of the study.