This research project aims to understand existing obstacles and identify new pathways for the meaningful socio-political and economic participation of marginalized urban youth in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). To do so, it mobilizes participatory and other mixed methods research focused on youth in so-called “garrison” communities in Kingston and Montego Bay, intermediary cities in Jamaica characterized by high levels of inequality, poverty, and violence.
New modes of urban planning, governance, and development that emphasize technology-driven integration are being rolled out in and across these cities. This presents the opportunity to study the efficacy of such initiatives for integrating marginalized youth into the mainstream socio-political and economic life of the modern city. Researching these initiatives would yield valuable insights for similar programmes aimed at integrating marginalized urban youth in countries facing similar urban governance challenges as Jamaica.