The following are broad areas under the themes under which papers can be contributed. Abstract may focus on, but are not limited to:
There have been indigenous communities in the Caribbean countries and little is known on the nature of their settlements. The most recognized form in human settlement is often the grid arrangements which had has its origins in colonial times and persists today. However, many areas developed informally leading to urban sprawl due to a range of factors, in particular, in inability of the State to exert regulatory control. What are some of the strategies which are being put in place for regulation of development in the Caribbean?
It is well recognized that complex environmental problems cannot be solved by enhanced scientific information alone; rather, the existing body of knowledge must be translated into effective actions broadly accepted by society. This translation occurs through communication between multi-scale actor networks, both formal and informal. Over the past decade there has been a significant move (globally) towards understanding these networks in environmental fields and how, specifically, the informal networks often drive change. Nowhere is this more evident in the development and operation of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME), where collaboration is a necessity to ensure long term sustainability. How do informal networks operate and have they been successful in the Caribbean? Is there a happy balance between the informal and formal that is required for full functioning of the society?
The New Urban Agenda (NUA), a key output from Habitat III, the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development in 2016, has recently concluded in Quito, is the international framework guiding urban planning and management for the next two decades and environmentally sustainable development is key to its implementation. It speaks extensively on the need to provide opportunities for persons living slum and informal settlements equivalent to those in the formal system. How has the issue of informality been addressed in the Caribbean public policy in light of meeting its commitments to local, regional and international agreements? The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the universally agreed guide to development up to 2030. The issue of informality has been recognized in the SDGs. Under Goal 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all, target 8.3.1 measures Proportion of informal employment in non agriculture employment, by sex.
Similarly, under Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable, target 11.1.1 measures Proportion of urban population living in slums, informal settlements or inadequate housing.Informality, in economics, is the collection of firms, workers, and activities that operate outside the legal and regulatory frameworks. It is easy to define however difficult to measure given by nature they are working outside of the legal and regulatory frameworks. Informal settlements also leads to inequity in service provision as formal authority face challenges in operation. Is human development taking place equally in formal and informal settlements? Is there a transition from the informal to the formal? What are the spatial manifestations of the formal and informal?
How has the formal and informal nature of cities evolved historically, what are the architectural and urban design strategies that have been deployed and how responsive have they been in addressing sustainable development? How might urban development evolve? What opportunities and strategies might be employed in the future?