Women, Urban Informality and Collective Resistance : A case study on the value of self-help groups for marginalised women in Mathare informal area, Nairobi

Sammanfattning: Rapid urban growth has brought along various social, economic, and environmental issues, including the expansion of informal settlements – deprived areas lacking proper housing, basic services, and safety. Informal areas, inequalities and exclusion are common features in Nairobi, where more than half of the population is residing in slums. Women are the most vulnerable in this context, struggling with patriarchal systems and gender-based violence. Yet, they have found ways to resist by forming self-help groups (SHGs) to collectively improve their situation. Although its impact on women's economic advancement in rural areas is well-studied, we know less about the value of SHGs for women in vulnerable urban spaces. Thus, this thesis aims to determine how participation in SHGs contributes towards women's advancement in the case of Mathare informal area, Nairobi. Primary qualitative data was collected through ten semi-structured interviews with women and a key informant, and analysed relying on Social Capital and Social Network theories. The findings show that social relations within SHGs have strongly contributed towards women’s social and economic, but most importantly, personal advancement, offering emotional support and personal growth. Therefore, SHGs provide an essential social network, assisting women in Mathare to resist marginalisation in a vulnerable urban environment.