Informal infrastructure provision: Self-organized street paving in Maputo, Mozambique

In the absence of state engagement in informal settlements, self-organized infrastructure provision has become a common yet understudied practice. This study examines self-organized paved streets in the informal settlement Maxaquene in Maputo, Mozambique. Using a mixed-methods approach involving semi-structured interviews, geospatial surveying, and photographic documentation, it finds that informally paved streets emerged recently and expanded to cover 11.7 % of public space over a three-year period. Residents coordinate funding and implementation to mitigate risk of erosion and property damage with limited involvement from authorities. Residents perceive public space in front of their plot as an extension of their property and consider it legitimate to invest in its development. Authorities express understanding for the need for infrastructure development but view it as temporary and an infringement on state responsibility. The study highlights a conceptual distinction between infrastructure developed by external centralized providers such as electricity and decentralized internal developments like paved streets. It identifies technical challenges, such as variations in quality and downstream issues. Considering the likelihood of continued lack of state engagement, the study discusses recommendations for utilizing self-organized infrastructure provision for informal settlement development, including standardized designs, financial pooling, and coordination to mitigate downstream issues.