The Spatiality of Livelihoods: Urban Public Space as an Asset for the Livelihoods of the Urban Poor in Dhaka, Bangladesh

When pursuing their livelihood activities, the urban poor often run the risk of sacrificing the functionality of the city. By using urban public spaces, such as streets, vacant land or street corners, they tend to block vehicular access, encroach upon land reserved for public infrastructure and threaten public health by occupying the last remaining open spaces. This paper explores the importance of urban public space as a livelihood asset for the inhabitants of slum areas or informal settlements in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Based on fieldwork conducted in two slum areas, the function of urban public space for the livelihood activities of the residents is investigated. It is argued that urban public space comprises a contested resource with various interests defining its shape, its accessibility by the urban poor and its suitability for a livelihood-related use.