What shapes good relationships between community organisations and local governments

This paper discusses what creates or enhances a successful working relationship between community organisations and local governments in upgrading and housing improvement programmes, and its influence on the quality of the interventions. It focuses on four initiatives in Greater Buenos Aires: the National Neighbourhood Upgrading Programme in three informal settlements; the Housing Improvement Programme and the Micro-Credit Fund in two informal settlements; a neighbourhood commission’s work on reconditioning a piped water network; and the advocacy work of a network of technical, social and grassroots organisations. Among the key factors for success is local government’s capacity to design programmes that have flexibility, promote inclusion and transparency, and support community leadership both through neighbourhood organisations and committed individuals.