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Socio-Spatial Micro-Networks: Building Community Resilience in Kenya

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Resilience vs Pandemics

Part of the book series: Urban Sustainability ((US))

Abstract

The adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic have exposed the lack of multi-scalar community resilient strategies that catalyze the development of alternative coping mechanisms for future challenges. To address the immediate needs of vulnerable and marginalized groups, especially in times of crisis, as evidenced by the pandemic, micro-networks within communities have mitigated and reduced harm through self-devised ingenuity based on local ways of life. Socio-spatial micro-networks have the potential to empower communities to self-organize, engage, collaborate, co-design, co-build, and connect with other communities to improve their resilience. This paper focuses on the impact of micro-networks of care, participatory action research, community health, solidarity and mutual aid in Nairobi (Kenya), comparing their resilience strategies, pre- and post Covid-19 pandemic era. Through analytical, empirical, and comparative studies, this paper envisions viable ways of augmenting and enhancing self-devised, self-sufficient, and resilient culture in marginalized communities in Africa and worldwide.

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Acknowledgements

We want to express our gratitude to the Huckabee College of Architecture (HCOA) at Texas Tech University for organizing an excellent seminar series on the theme of Resilience. Additionally, we extend our sincere thanks to the City. Space. Architecture association in Bologna for inviting us to participate in the Italian Pavilion, the 17th International Architecture Exhibition’s seminar series, and the exhibition, ‘Resilient Communities for the Global Goals.’ Their seminar series and exhibition inspired our work extensively, and we are grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of it.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Huckabee College of Architecture, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA

    Asma Mehan & Sina Mostafavi

  2. Altopia, Nairobi, Kenya

    Neady Odour

Authors
  1. Asma Mehan
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  2. Neady Odour
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  3. Sina Mostafavi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Asma Mehan .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Qingdao City University, Qingdao, Shandong, China

    Ali Cheshmehzangi

  2. Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia

    Maycon Sedrez

  3. University of Nottingham, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China

    Hang Zhao

  4. University of Nottingham, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China

    Tian Li

  5. University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK

    Tim Heath

  6. Greenwich University, London, UK

    Ayotunde Dawodu

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Mehan, A., Odour, N., Mostafavi, S. (2023). Socio-Spatial Micro-Networks: Building Community Resilience in Kenya. In: Cheshmehzangi, A., Sedrez, M., Zhao, H., Li, T., Heath, T., Dawodu, A. (eds) Resilience vs Pandemics. Urban Sustainability. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-7996-7_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-7996-7_9

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-99-7995-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-99-7996-7

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