Doctoral Thesis Defense in Social Sciences by Mr. Ouassim BENSOUDA KORACHI

The Université Euromed de Fès (UEMF) is pleased to inform the public of the

public defense of a doctoral thesis in Social Sciences

The thesis defense will take place on Monday, October 14, 2024 at 1:00 PM at UEMF

Location: the Main Hall of the Incubator (LOC001994)

The thesis will be presented by Mr. Ouassim

BENSOUDA KORACHI on the theme:

“INFORMAL SETTLEMENT: FROM VULNERABILITY TO SPATIAL RESILIENCE Adaptation and Transformation Dynamics of Housing in the Oula Mbarek Sector”

Abstract

Informal settlement, a worldwide phenomenon linked to rapid urban growth and a shortage of affordable housing, is often seen either as an expression of socio-economic vulnerability or as a manifestation of resilience (economic, social, spatial, etc.).

In Morocco, various programs have been undertaken to address this phenomenon. The most recent of these, the “Cities Without Slums” program, has tackled the problem of informal settlement through three different operational modes: rehousing, restructuring, and resettlement.

Although widely adopted, resettlement has encountered a number of challenges, leading to a phenomenon of re-informalization, characterized by the reproduction of spatial practices specific to informal settlements. This phenomenon is particularly evident in the Oulad M'barek sector, the focus of our study.

In the context of this thesis, we postulate that while the phenomenon of re-informalization highlights the limitations of the adopted operational mode, it also reveals the resilience of the vulnerable populations concerned by the program. A better understanding of this phenomenon could therefore lead to the development of more appropriate programs.

Our thesis therefore set out to identify the spatial characteristics that confer informal settlement its capacity for resilience, to analyze the processes by which they are reappropriated in resettlement sites, and finally to draw up recommendations for improving housing production methods in resettlement programs.

To this end, four indicators of spatial resilience specific to informal settlement were developed: self-organization, connectivity, diversity, and flexibility. These indicators represent the spatial attributes that promote the consolidation and integration of new spatial components within informal settlements.

Through these indicators, a theoretical framework was developed. This framework, made up of behavioral, integrated, and emergent sub-indicators, was applied in the case study carried out in the Oulad M'barek sector in Kénitra (Morocco).

The data, collected using transects, focus groups, structured surveys, and architectural surveys, were subjected to a thematic analysis.

The results of the Oulad M'barek case study confirmed the persistence of resilient informal practices despite the interventions carried out as part of the resettlement program. Spatial resilience, characterized by the adaptation, transformation, and expansion of the informal fabric studied prior to its demolition, was transposed and reappropriated in the new resettlement sites.

This has led to the emergence of hybrid housing production mechanisms, located at the confluence of the formal and informal domains. These mechanisms enable resettled populations to adapt housing development to their specific constraints

The results of our research led to the creation of a practical guide addressed to local actors, including recommendations derived from the analysis of spatial resilience observed in the study area. The guide supports a holistic and inclusive approach, recommending a dynamic and adaptive vision of resettlement programs.

Keywords:

Informal settlement, Resettlement, Vulnerability, Resilience, Spatial resilience, Design guide

Summary:

Informal settlement, a worldwide phenomenon linked to rapid urban growth and a shortage of affordable housing, is often perceived either as an expression of socio-economic vulnerability or as a manifestation of resilience (economic, social, spatial, etc.).

In Morocco, various programs have been undertaken to address this phenomenon. The most recent, the "Cities Without Slums" program, has tackled the resolution of informal settlement through three operational modes: rehousing, restructuring, and resettlement.

Resettlement, although widely adopted, has encountered several difficulties, leading to a phenomenon of re-informalization, characterized by the reproduction of spatial practices specific to informal settlement. This phenomenon is particularly marked in the Oulad M'barek sector, the subject of our study.

In the context of this thesis work, we postulate that while the phenomenon of re-informalization highlights the limitations of the adopted operational mode, it also reveals the resilience of the vulnerable populations concerned by the program. A better understanding of this phenomenon could therefore foster the development of more appropriate programs.

Our thesis thus undertook to identify the spatial characteristics that confer informal settlement its capacity for resilience, to analyze the processes of their reappropriation in resettlement sites, and finally to draw recommendations to improve housing production methods within resettlement programs.

To this end, four indicators of spatial resilience specific to informal settlement were developed: self-organization, connectivity, diversity, and flexibility. These indicators represent the spatial attributes that promote the consolidation and integration of new spatial components within informal settlement.

Through these indicators, a theoretical framework was developed. This framework, consisting of behavioral, integrated, and emergent sub-indicators, was applied in the case study conducted in the Oulad M'barek sector in Kénitra (Morocco).

The data, collected through transects, focus groups, structured surveys, and architectural surveys, were subjected to a thematic analysis.

The results of the Oulad M'barek case study confirmed the persistence of resilient informal practices despite the interventions carried out as part of the resettlement program. Spatial resilience, characterized by the adaptation, transformation, and expansion of the informal fabric studied prior to its demolition, was transposed and reappropriated in the new resettlement sites.

This has led to the emergence of hybrid housing production mechanisms, located at the confluence of the formal and informal domains. These mechanisms enable resettled populations to adapt housing development to their specific constraints.

The results of our research led to the design of a practical guide intended for local actors, containing recommendations derived from the analysis of spatial resilience observed in the study area. This guide supports a holistic and inclusive approach, recommending a dynamic and adaptive vision of resettlement programs.

Keywords:

Informal settlement, Resettlement, Vulnerability, Resilience, Spatial resilience, design guide.

This thesis will be presented before the jury members:

Last and First Name	Institution	Role
Pr. Abderrahman TENKOUL	FSHS-UEMF	President
Pr. Majid MANSOUR	ENAR	Reviewer
Pr. Etienne GODIMUS	FAU-UMONS	Reviewer
Pr. Laurent DEBAILLEUX	FPMS-UMONS	Reviewer
Pr. Abderrahmane HADDAD	ISJP-UEMF	Examiner
Pr. Isabelle DE SMET	FAU-UMONS	Examiner
Pr. Iman Meriem BENKIRANE	EMADU-UEMF	Thesis Supervisor
Pr. Vincent BECUE	FAU-UMONS	Thesis Supervisor
Pr. Jérémy CENCI	FAU-UMONS	Co-Supervisor
Pr. Sanae KASMI	ISJP-UEMF	Guest
Pr. Abdelhadi IBNYAHYA	ENAR	Guest