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In Latin America, urbanisation and demographic transition have driven an increase in informal construction. In Peru, 93% of urban growth is informal and around 70% of the housing stock is considered informal, which is equivalent to almost 20 million people living in highly-vulnerable housing. Low-quality construction and the incremental construction process in which homeowner progressively adjust and expand their homes over up to 30 years, pose significant safety threats, particularly in a seismic area such as the pacific ring of fire.
Incremental construction is a system in itself, involving different actors, markets, challenges and opportunities. On the one hand, it can lead families to build in dangerous spaces, without technical criteria and using inadequate materials that render them vulnerable, preventing their access to an equitable urban environment. On the other hand, this system has an important economic dynamism due to the high consumption of construction materials and because these houses represent the main asset of the families.
The Vivienda Progresiva – VIPRO project aims to enable the owners of incrementally-built homes to make better decisions that will allow them to live in safer (and healthier) houses. This will become possible through the introduction of structural improvements that reduce the risk of injury and death in seismic events. In order to achieve this, we want to raise the awareness of homeowners to create a demand and in parallel develop a vibrant market for construction solutions that offers families practical measures to strengthen and improve their houses. Financial mechanisms are made accessible to facilitate homeowners’ access to these solutions.
The strategy of the Vivienda Progresiva – VIPRO project has a market innovation approach. This strategy is based on a comprehensive approach that encompasses four key components:
To improve the supply of and access to services, products and technologies that allow families to improve their living conditions and reduce construction errors generated during the incremental development of their homes. This will improve the earthquake resisting capacity of the structure of their houses.
This project is financed by Hilti Foundation. It is part of the Swisscontact Development Programme, which is co-financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA.