Neftaly: Backyard Partnerships and Community-Led Infrastructure Improvements
Turning Informal Settlements into Engines of Growth and Dignity
At Neftaly (South African Youth Project), we believe that lasting change begins with the people most affected by poverty and underdevelopment. Our Backyard Partnerships and Community-Led Infrastructure Improvements initiative harnesses the collective strength of informal settlement residents to co-create safe, functional, and economically vibrant living environments.
The Challenge
Informal settlements often suffer from:
- Inadequate infrastructure (roads, sanitation, drainage)
- Poor access to basic services
- Overcrowded, unsafe backyard dwellings
- Lack of economic opportunities for tenants and landlords alike
Despite these challenges, informal settlements are home to dynamic, resilient communities rich in human capital. Neftaly aims to convert this energy into actionable, community-driven development.
Our Solution: Backyard Partnerships + Infrastructure Upliftment
Neftaly’s model links landowners, backyard dwellers, local micro-contractors, and municipalities in a collaborative framework that improves infrastructure while promoting economic empowerment.
Key Components
????️ Backyard Partnership Models
- Formalize rental agreements to protect tenants and incentivize investment in backyard structures.
- Offer training to landlords on safe, sustainable upgrades.
- Empower tenants to participate in community improvement projects and micro-enterprises.
????️ Community-Led Infrastructure Upgrades
- Mobilize residents to co-design improvements: walkways, stormwater systems, waste management, communal spaces.
- Train and contract local youth and artisans to build and maintain infrastructure.
- Use modular, scalable approaches suited to limited space and informal conditions.
???? Skills Development & Job Creation
- Upskill community members in:
- Basic construction
- Plumbing and electrical work
- Project management
- Create short-term jobs through community projects, with pathways to long-term employment.
???? Stakeholder Engagement & Policy Advocacy
- Facilitate dialogue between communities and municipalities.
- Advocate for flexible building codes and inclusive urban policies that recognize backyard dwellings as legitimate development sites.
Outcomes We Strive For
- Safer, cleaner, more organized backyard environments
- Improved infrastructure and access to services
- Stronger social contracts between landlords and tenants
- Local job creation and community ownership
- Increased dignity and pride in informal settlements
Why This Matters
South Africa’s urban housing challenges will not be solved by government alone. The future of our cities lies in scalable, low-cost, community-powered solutions that meet people where they are. Neftaly’s approach respects the lived realities of informal settlements while opening doors to progress and prosperity.
Get Involved
Whether you’re a municipality, donor, private sector partner, or community leader, Neftaly invites you to be part of a new way forward. Together, we can turn backyards into building blocks for inclusive cities.
???? Learn more or partner with us at: www.saypro.online