The Long-Term Impact of Slum Upgrading on Vulnerability to Natural Disasters in Medellín

This summer of 2024, I had the incredible opportunity to conduct research in the slums of Medellín, Colombia, thanks to the support of the Wrigley Institute Graduate Fellowship. My research focuses on a critical issue: the long-term impact of upgrading slums on their vulnerability to natural disasters.

Slums are often located in the peripheral areas of cities, where the land is more affordable but also more prone to risks such as landslides, floods, and other natural hazards. These informal settlements, due to their location and lack of proper infrastructure, are highly vulnerable to such disasters.

In the 1990s, the city of Medellín implemented an ambitious slum upgrading program aimed at reducing this vulnerability. The program was not just aimed at improving living conditions; it was also about building resilience. The upgrades included basic neighborhood infrastructure such as paving streets and constructing water pipelines and sewerage systems. Together with these changes, the city carried out significant interventions focused on disaster risk reduction: building retaining walls, channeling water, and geo-stabilizing soils.

This summer, I had the chance to visit the upgraded areas and visually inspect the local improvements made by this program. It was enlightening to see firsthand how these interventions have shaped the landscape and the lives of the people who live there. I also gathered data on the physical and economic conditions of these slums before and after the upgrades, providing a comprehensive view of the long-term effects of the program.

In addition to my fieldwork, I collaborated with government agencies that provided me with valuable data on the parts of the city that are most vulnerable to natural disasters. These agencies also guided me through some of these vulnerable areas, giving me a deeper understanding of the ongoing risks that these communities face.

This research is not only relevant to Medellín but to urban areas in developing countries around the world. As climate change accelerates, these regions are expected to be the most affected by natural disasters. Understanding the long-term impacts of interventions like Medellín’s slum upgrading program is crucial for informing future policies aimed at building resilience in vulnerable communities.

In conclusion, my research this summer has reinforced the importance of integrating disaster risk reduction into urban development policies, especially in rapidly growing cities in developing countries. Although further research is needed to understand what kinds of policies are better at reducing vulnerability to climate change, investigating the effects of urban-reforming policies is a first step to providing rigorous evidence for policymakers.

Juliana Pinillos is supported by the Diane Sonosky Montgomery and Jerol Sonosky Graduate Fellowship for Environmental Sustainability Research.