Informal smart urbanism: A case study of digital resilience in Mathare informal settlement

Informal smart urbanism is an emerging field that explores how digital technologies shape urban development in contexts marked by informality. We understand informality as a dynamic set of interactions that arise when formal regulations fail to meet people’s needs. Our study analyses digital resilience practices—the everyday ways households respond to shocks through digital technologies. These practices are widespread but often overlooked, especially given the vulnerabilities inherent in informal settings. We explore how repetitive digital practices form extra-legal rules. In Mathare, Kenya, four forms of digital resilience practices emerge: (1) belt tightening: households with low resilience use digital networks to receive digital gifts, replacing non-digital support; (2) maladaptive: digital tools are used in ways that undermine community resilience; (3) adaptive: digital platforms are used to strengthen household resilience in the short term; and (4) transformative: digital technologies systemically improve household resilience in the long term.