Social sustainability in Yogyakarta’s slum areas: a scoping review

Posted in Volume 20, Issue 1, 2026 Tagged with , , , ,

Abstract: Compared to the environmental and economic pillars of sustainable development, social sustainability has received less attention. In urban contexts, particularly in slum areas, it plays a vital role in ensuring equitable access and community resilience. Yogyakarta’s slums, mostly located along riverbanks, face complex social challenges. Despite various upgrading programmes, a limited focus on social aspects has led to unsustainable outcomes. This scoping review identifies social sustainability in Yogyakarta’s slums through the lens of access, equity, and community sustainability. Articles were retrieved from SCOPUS, Web of Science, and GARUDA databases, yielding eight studies published between 2017 and 2024, covering 14 of 36 slum locations. These studies address five out of eight social sustainability components: social interaction, participation in community activities, residential stability, sense of place, and access to urban infrastructure. However, components such as security, access to social services, and recreational services remain unaddressed. Further research is needed to bridge these gaps.

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Permalink (doi) http://dx.doi.org/10.5719/hgeo.2026.201.3

Authors: Calya Sahwahita (1), Dodi Widiyanto (2), Rini Rachmawati* (2)
1) Graduate Program on Regional Development, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
2) Department of Development Geography, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
* Corresponding author
Email: rinirachma@ugm.ac.id

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