The government of Botswana has adopted simple but workable strategies to tackle the entire problem of informal settlements that have arisen in the urban areas due to fast urbanization. Through a two‐pronged strategy of self help squatter upgrading and site and services program, low income persons have been provided with serviced land, security of tenure, and help to build their own shelter. Also provided is social, economic and line infrastructure. Today self help urban housing accommodates more than 60% of Botswana's urban population. To enable replicability and sutainability of this program, the principles of cost recovery, cross subsidy and affordability have been introduce