PROCESOS DE MEJORAMIENTO BARRIAL PARTICIPATIVO EN ASENTAMIENTOS INFORMALES: Propuestas de integración en la ciudad de Ibagué (Colombia)

rapid urban growth has caused, among other things, the increase in number of informal settlements in latin american peripheries. in many cases, an increasing inequality results in socioeconomic residential segregation, generating gaps among the different groups of a community. this phenomenon is expanding in latin america. in cities of considerable size, experiences from integration and improving interventions in slum areas are mostly enriching. however, what kind of strategies should be used in intermediate cities, with low financing possibilities and limited budget? this article analyzes the development of these processes in ibagué, colombia, and tries to find applicable strategies derived from a university cooperation project. the article establishes an approach to the aspects that contribute towards the formation of informal settlements and its possible links to socioeconomic residential segregation. it also studies, by using las delicias neighborhood as reference, the development of slum areas in ibagué. the article concludes proposing a cooperation project for neighborhood improvement in those areas.