It is widely acknowledged that significant proportion of the urban population of Afghanistan is currently residing in property which has not been formally registered or that falls outside the formally planned parts of urban areas. At a time of unprecedented urban growth, this poses a significant challenge to the authorities mandated to guide and manage urban development. As things stand, these authorities do not formally recognize informal settlements as part of the urban fabric which has resulted in a significant disconnect between the ‘formal city’ and the reality on the ground. As a consequence, despite the fact that they are home to a significant (and growing) proportion of urban inhabitants, informal settlements do not receive adequate development attention whether in the form of orderly upgrading or the provision of meaningful interventions aimed at improving living conditions.