Urban Poverty and Development

Reviews the challenges faced by urban development facilitators today.  Engages urbanisation and migration across the planet (especially the global South), the data on urban poverty, and today’s blurring of rural and urban into a continuous, dynamic rural-urban continuum.  Looks at the role of NGOs, churches and other partners in working with the urban poor, and reviews a range of urban community-based development approaches.   Also considers the five types of urban communities, the “new physics” of urban engagement, local partnering and multi-stakeholder processes.  Students will engage in an overview of possible approaches to urban theology and mission. Course methodology includes a range of participatory activities, multi-media, mini-projects, reading, lectures, a street outing.  Evaluation includes papers, projects, participation. Pre-course assignment. See syllabus for details.