This objective of this paper is to rationalise the different approaches to informal settlement
upgrading and identify dominate themes or practices that appear to underpin successful projects,
with the word successful being used here in the context of a capacity to replicate an approach.
This is done by firstly defining elements of commonality between different projects and then by
identifying which of them is underpinned either by a theoretical/conceptual framework or by a
detailed description of the application (depending upon whether the approach has a theoretical
construct or is empirical). Deriving from this analysis, the paper will argue that there are a number
of distinct thematic approaches that can be defined. However each of them has weaknesses that
limit their widespread application. By identifying these weaknesses it is possible to identify where
further work is required and how this might begin a move towards a more generic approach to the
subject of informal settlement upgrading.