Building Resilience in Informal Settlements

Many residents in slums live in overcrowded homes without access to on-site water or sanitation and face the constant threat of forced eviction. Preventative measures against Covid-19, such as hand washing, disinfecting, physical distancing, and quarantine, were often impossible for the urban poor.

• In Ghana, the federation identified and mapped Covid-19 hotspots, where community members were trained to manufacture and install hand washing stations. Additionally, the federation installed in-yard water connections to vulnerable households in informal settlements.
• In Zambia, the federation supported provisional WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) interventions in public places. It also set precedents for water provision to slum communities through community-led processes. The Zambia Alliance identified 75 vulnerable women who were at greater risk when collecting water from congested public taps. Additionally, the federation lobbied for pro-poor water subsidies in engagement meetings with water trusts and utility companies.
   

Despite the negative impact of Covid-19, the response to it has also created opportunities. For example, income-generating projects have equipped community members with skills that can be used to earn a living.

• Federation members in Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe were trained in sewing reusable face masks and producing liquid soap and sanitisers.
• In Malawi, federation women and youth with design and tailoring skills produced and distributed 17,300 reusable face masks to vulnerable members of the community and primary school children.
• In Namibia, the Philippines, and Sierra Leone federations’ members were trained in permaculture and supported to establish urban community gardens.
   

SDI affiliates adapted profiling and mapping tools of the Know Your City workstream to gather data on the impacts of Covid-19. 

• In the Philippines, the federation mapped the vulnerability of 22 communities and produced localised Covid-19 hotspot maps. These included the identification of households with vulnerable groups such as seniors, children, persons with disabilities, and pregnant women.
• In Botswana, the federation gathered information from 33 savings groups on the pandemic’s impact on their livelihoods and savings. Many members stopped saving due to unemployment. Most of the small businesses collapsed and informal workers were not able to work due to lockdowns. This left many without jobs and the ability to feed their family.
• In Zimbabwe, youth were trained on data collection tools to gather information about awareness and community preparedness for Covid-19. They also explored the pandemic’s impact on livelihoods, housing, and WASH. 
• The Sierra Leone SDI Alliance, in consultation with Freetown City Council (FCC), developed a mobile app (FISCOVIDATA) and live dashboard to identify hotspots and to link to government service providers in real-time. It relays information to authorities and notifies communities of actions taken. The app has been piloted in 10 slums. Sierra Leone Urban Research Centre (SLURC) and the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (COMAHS) are interested in developing it further, to be used in future health emergencies.

The programme supported communities to highlight their plight and to push for meaningful change in addressing basic services, health needs, and decent shelter. 

• SDI affiliates in Brazil and Malawi improved the tenure security of informal dwellers. In São Paulo, Brazil, they trained federation leaders on issues of land regularisation. A new network will continue dialogue with local governments on the security of tenure. 
• In Malawi, Blantyre and Lilongwe communities improved their tenure security by obtaining title deeds for individual plots. Additionally, the federation has advocated for reducing regularisation charges by more than 50% and allowing plot owners to pay in instalments. 
• In South Africa, the SA SDI Alliance has highlighted the lack of access to basic services. The Alliance is preparing to sign an official MoU with the Madibeng municipality. This will bind the municipality to a partnership with the Federation in terms of addressing informal settlement upgrading, delivering housing, and formalising structures.
   

Activities focused on assessing and improving infrastructure in informal settlements. 

• In Ghana, the affiliate rehabilitated communal toilet facilities in two areas. 
• In India, the affiliate implemented 14 health camps in 3 cities and follow-up letters have been sent to Assistant Municipal Commissioners to resolve certain issues before the monsoon season, such as public toilets, drainage channels, open as well as choked drains, problems of drinking water, roads and street lights, daily garbage collection, provision of waste collection bins, and drainage systems. 
• In Liberia, the affiliate supported the maintenance of 50 public toilets and water facilities, as well as implemented an integrated solid waste management training with the city on proper waste collection and disposal practices. 
• In Malawi, the project has supported 13 private waste operators to progress with their formal registration. 
• In Namibia, 30 meetings were held with authorities and stakeholders to facilitate the production of 33 technical drawings for water/sewage reticulation plans. 
• In Zambia, the affiliate purchased 20 water tanks to be placed in public spaces.

Savings groups are the bedrock of SDI federations, enabling urban poor dwellers to organise, improve livelihoods, and engage city authorities in inclusive development. Training events like workshops, peer-learning exchanges, and educational visits enhanced federation members' capacity and leadership. Topics covered gender mainstreaming, resource management, digital skills, and leadership development. 

• In Brazil, the affiliate conducted trainings and exchanges for federation leadership and youth on citizenship, climate, and environmental education. 
• In Kenya, the affiliate organised an advocacy forum to mobilise communities to champion the adoption of Mathare as a SPA with a focus on climate adaptation. Attendees developed an advocacy agenda and designed a ward-based community engagement strategy. 
• In Liberia, the affiliate conducted civic engagement workshops in promotion of nonviolent elections through the use of clean speech and avoidance of hate messages. 
• In the Philippines, meetings were held with various local government units through work to promote grassroots research and community-centred services and projects to address a range of urban poor issues.

This entailed establishing and strengthening partnerships with local and national authorities, NGOs, and other stakeholders to support inclusive development initiatives. 

• In Kenya, collaboration with the government for the Mathare and Mukuru Special Planning Areas was expanded. 
• In Malawi, 61 households in Lilongwe were granted ownership titles, as part of ongoing efforts to regularise informal settlements. 
• In Senegal, the affiliate conducted a seminar with the Ministry of Housing to share experiences on housing as a fundamental right in association with the 100,000 housing programme. 
• In Uganda, the affiliates conducted settlement and municipal forums while MOUs were pursued with urban authorities in all 11 regions.

Activities focused on conducting surveys, assessments, and research studies to gather data on various aspects affecting informal settlements. 

• In Ghana, a baseline study was conducted in 3 settlements on air pollution and based on that, the affiliate organised education and sensitization of youth on the negative impacts of air pollution. 
• In Kenya, a vulnerability mapping exercise identified groups along the Mathare and Gitathuru rivers, facilitating collaboration among 46 groups working to reclaim the Mathare River. The Kenya affiliate also mapped and numbered all structures in the Mukuru Riparian Reserve and launched the Mukuru Riparian Reserve Plan. 
• In the Philippines, a comprehensive risk profile was undertaken, highlighting Covid-19 and other vulnerabilities of informal dwellers. 
• In Senegal, rapid assessments of the neighbourhood environment (waste management, liquid sanitation, and energy) were conducted, and fact sheets were produced for circulation of data to local and national authorities. 
• In Sierra Leone, climate change impact assessment and risk mapping were conducted in 12 settlements.

Activities focused on waste management, water and sanitation improvements, renewable energy integration and housing upgrades in informal settlements. 

• In Brazil, the affiliate constructed 2 composters and created 2 community gardens. 
• In Ghana, the affiliate trained 40 informal waste workers and 20 street cleaners in maintaining clean and safe public spaces. 
• In Liberia, the project benefited thousands of community members through the distribution of handwashing buckets, disinfectants and sanitizers to public facilities.  
• In Malawi, the affiliate supported families through waste collection, composting and recycling, alongside climate adaptation measures such as clearing stormwater drains. 
• In Namibia, 218 houses were completed across various communities, alongside sewer installations and urban planning studios, which further advanced sustainable development. 
• In Sierra Leone, clean cooking solutions were provided to 60 women-headed households. 2 water tanks were installed, benefitting approximately 500 households and significantly reducing the burden of water collection, particularly for young girls in the communities.
• In Zambia, the affiliate upgraded 3 solar-powered water systems, rehabilitated boreholes and enhanced sanitation facilities, benefitting thousands of people. Skills training in plumbing and bricklaying empowered youth and women, enabling them to actively participate in infrastructure projects. 

Activities focused on mobilising and strengthening savings groups, capacity-building initiatives and innovative livelihoods, with an emphasis on financial literacy, skill development and promoting sustainable income-generating activities. 

• In Brazil, women were instrumental in workshops on recycling, composting and community gardening, focused on sustainable income generation and food security. Women participants, especially those from marginalised communities, utilised these trainings to enhance their livelihoods and address food safety challenges, promoting environmental responsibility and economic self-reliance. 
• In Ghana, the affiliate gave refresher training in liquid soap production to 50 women and trained 100 women in entrepreneurship to enhance income generation. 
• In Malawi, the federation trained 103 entrepreneurs in composting, liquid fertiliser production and biogas generation. Youth received training in carpentry, welding and multimedia. These efforts diversified income sources and promoted sustainable practices. 
• In Namibia, the project trained 150 members in backyard gardening, leading to the creation of 50 new gardens. Peer-to-peer learning extended these skills to an additional 150 community members. 20 new savings groups were established, while small business workshops empowered members to develop sustainable enterprises.   
• In the Philippines, communities received financial literacy training, and leaders were engaged in housing initiatives aimed at strengthening climate resilience through improved savings systems and resource management practices. 
• In Sierra Leone, the project mobilised 18 savings groups, including 8 youth-focused groups. Urban farming supported 300 households to enhance incomes and educational access. Sustainable oyster farming protected mangroves, increased yields and established market linkages, while fish farms supported aquaculture. 
• In Tanzania, the affiliate supported savings groups with entrepreneurship training and start-up kits, benefitting women and youth. Skills development and income-generating activities emphasised fostering resilience, unity and poverty reduction. 
• In Zambia, the project promoted sustainable agricultural practices by establishing Azolla ponds and worm farming to recycle organic waste into fertilisers. Youth were also trained in sack gardening, plumbing and bricklaying, enabling them to generate income and contribute to urban development projects like constructing sanitation facilities. 
• In Zimbabwe, the affiliate mobilised 10 new savings groups and provided financial training to 605 members. Skills training in entrepreneurship, horticulture and trades like soap making and electronics empowered participants to diversify their income sources and foster sustainable development and community resilience. 

Practical mitigation strategies combined with community workshops, training sessions and educational materials played a key role in building understanding of the causes and impacts of climate change. Initiatives such as reforestation, urban gardens and waste recycling provided hands-on-learning opportunities and highlighted how these activities could contribute to climate resilience and sustainable livelihoods.  

• In Brazil, the affiliate organised 6 training sessions on environmental education and climate change, along with leadership workshops across multiple communities. 
• In Botswana, 3 gender mainstreaming workshops and a climate change capacity building session for savings scheme managers supported climate adaptation efforts. 
• In Ghana, the project enabled 3 community campaigns, highlighting the vulnerabilities of informal settlements to climate risks. They promoted awareness fo climate resilience and community-led advocacy efforts. 2 peer-to-peer learning exchanges were conducted among savings groups, providing valuable opportunities to share knowledge on climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction strategies. 
• In Liberia, the affiliate conducted peer-to-peer learning exchanges to share best practices in climate resilience. Waste management workshops focused on sustainability, while peer educators were trained to promote environmental awareness across multiple settlements. 
• In Malawi, the federation introduced cooperative structures to enhance access to funds and housing for climate adaptation. Federation meetings and community exchanges emphasised collective action and savings schemes to build resilience. Collaborâtion between local leaders and authorities fostered climate planning, including implementing flood mitigation infrastructure in informal settlements. 
• In the Philippines, workshops on disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation connected these to urban greening efforts and critical housing challenges in informal settlements. Communities developed disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation advocacy materials, such as hazard maps, which helped secure support from local governments. 
• In Senegal, the affiliate mobilised over 250 participants for cleaning and drainage maintenance, while solar energy training for fish processors and the installation of solar lamps promoted sustainable practices. A climate impact evaluation assessed partnerships between local authorities and community groups to address environmental challenges, such as flooding and land degradation. 
• In Sierra Leone, the Alliance for Climate Change Action was established, leading to 350,000 mangroves being planted across multiple settlements, driven by community efforts and supported by climate adaptation plans. A city forum focused on locally led climate adaptation involving urban planning stakeholders and community leaders. 
• In South Africa, the project enabled partnerships with authorities to address food security and water access as part of climate resilience initiatives. 

Savings groups enable urban poor dwellers to organise, improve livelihoods and engage city authorities in inclusive development. The programme supported the federations through workshops, peer-learning exchanges and educational visits that enhanced their capacity and leadership to implement impactful projects, foster collaboration and ensure long-term sustainability. 

• In Botswana, the affiliate strengthened organisational structures through federation and board meetings, along with salary support for key staff, ensuring sustained capacity and effective management.  
• In India, the programme enabled professional development for accounting and administrative staff, emphasising financial accountability, regulatory compliance and transitioning to digital systems, which improved institutional effectiveness.
• In Kenya, the federation facilitated inter-settlement and inter-county exchanges focused on waste management, ecosystem restoration and land tenure advocacy. The programme also established community committees addressing water, sanitation and youth employment. 
• In Liberia, new savings groups were established and dormant ones reactivated through peer-to-peer exchanges and leadership meetings. 
• In Namibia, the affiliate enabled capacity-building activities such as regional and national meetings, team-building retreats and reporting initiatives, ensuring organisational cohesion and enhanced planning. 
• In Senegal, 45 federation leaders and 25 women, including youth, received training on sustainable development practices. Environmental efforts involved planting trees, reforesting areas and enhancing public spaces. Partnerships with local authorities supported environmental and community initiatives, promoting collaboration for long-term impact. 

Informal settlements are characterised by competition for scarce resources and weak or no governance, creating vulnerable communities, whose fragility and grievances during shocks and crises can turn them into hot spots for social, economic and political tensions or struggles over resources. SDI affiliates work to build social cohesion before conflict happens. 

• In Brazil, youth were engaged in climate change advocacy, using art, theatre and documentaries - including a mini-documentary on extreme weather events - to highlight youth-driven storytelling. 
• In Ghana, the affiliate engaged youth in campaigns on public health, air pollution and forced evictions, with media production training equipping them to amplify community issues effectively. 
• In Kenya, the programme mobilised youth in savings schemes and advocacy forums. Youth-led committees presented community manifestos, influencing key priorities, such as access to water and education. 
• In Liberia, young people took part in clean-up campaigns and awareness activities, promoting hygienic practices, climate adaptation and community safety. 
• In Namibia, mentorship and participation in policy and strategic dialogue strengthened youth leadership capacity, enabling active contributions to community and federation activities. 
• In Sierra Leone, young people produced advocacy content on urban farming, dignified housing and climate change through videos and music, while leveraging tech platforms to document and address social challenges. 
• In South Africa, the affiliate strengthened social cohesion through dialogues on waste management, helping resident understand municipal constraints and shift from conflict to partnership-driven solutions. Youth were trained in video editing, enhancing their technical expertise and enabling them to document and share the federation's work. 
• In Tanzania, youth leaders contributed to risk assessments and participated in climate-focused community initiatives, fostering leadership through environmental action and advocacy. 

Activities involved establishing and strengthening partnerships with local and national authorities, NGOs and other stakeholders to support inclusive development initiatives. 

• In Kenya, the affiliate organised 2 consortium meetings to address complex land tenure issues, bring together community members, government officials and stakeholders to collaborate on resolving legal conflicts. Settlement-wide dialogues also prioritised key community projects, strengthening advocacy efforts and promoting unity in the face of climate challenges. 
• In Liberia, municipalities collaborated with communities to formalise waste disposal systems, enhance communication with waste management services and mitigate environmental health risks. 
• In Malawi, collaboration between community leaders and city authorities was strengthened through the review of city resilience plans. Town hall meetings provided community members with education on waste management, sanitation and environmental protection bylaws. The development of flood-mitigation infrastructure improved living conditions, supported local employment and enhanced resilience against flooding. Malawi also developed a draft Climate Resilient Slum Upgrading and Prevention Strategy tailored to informal settlements. Awareness campaigns enhanced engagement on climate change and water and sanitation issues, promoting sustainable urban development. 
• In Namibia, informal settlement planning studios brought together communities, local government and academic institutions to address environmental risks such as deforestation and flooding, resulting in climate-resilient spatial layouts. 
• In the Philippines, local disaster risk reduction offices worked closely with communities to implement effective disaster mitigation strategies, particularly during the typhoon season, to enhance preparedness and resilience. 
• In Senegal, reforestation efforts were carried out through partnerships between local groups and authorities, enhancing urban greenery and strengthening resilience. 
• In Sierra Leone, the affiliate organised a campaign, engaging communities in planting one million trees to safeguard mangroves and coastal areas. 
• In Uganda, the federation successfully signed Memorandums of Understanding with urban authorities in 4 cities, strengthening collaboration in urban development, reinforcing partnerships and paving the way for impactful urban initiatives. 
• In Zambia, local governments promoted the establishment of sack gardens and solid waste recycling initiatives to improve access to clean water and reduce environmental pollution. 
• In Zimbabwe, the installation of solar-powered boreholes to enhance water access in drought-affected areas and reduce greenhouse gas emissions was supported by the government. 

Activities focused on date collection and management, such as settlement profiling and mapping, household enumerations and access to basic services. The data and information form the basis of advocacy and developing constructive relationships with government authorities. 

• In India, the affiliate conducted slum profiling in 10 cities, covering 93 settlements and resulting in actionable city-level plans. Comprehensive slum registers were completed in 2 cities. 
• In Kenya, the federation conducted enumerations to advocate for housing and relief assistance. They also documented displaced families and redirected resources to provide immediate support during heavy rains and flooding. A solid waste management survey provided key baseline data to develop circular waste management systems. Kenya also developed a climate action database. 
• In Malawi, eviction threats were resolved and the impacts of road expansion mitigated. Collaboration between local communities and the City Council led to a review of urban profiles across 27 wards. Meetings with city authorities emphasised nature-based solutions, empowering communities to co-develop climate change adaptation strategies through sustainable practices and partnerships. 
• In Namibia, the affiliate conducted profiling and enumeration in informal settlements. These enhanced data-driven climate resilience efforts through community engagement. Data was compiled into a database to support future adaptation measures and collaborative planning. 
• In Sierra Leone, climate risk mapping and settlement profiling were conducted with city authorities, generating critical data to guide disaster response and urban planning efforts. 
• In Uganda, the federation validated and updated settlement profiles and mapped climate risks, resulting in 11 profiles, corresponding maps and actionable insights for planning. 
• In Zambia, the affiliate undertook settlement enumerations and outlined strategies to transform informal settlements into resilient communities. 
• In Zimbabwe, climate vulnerability assessments engaged 140 participants, helping to co-produce data essential for locally led climate action plans, raising awareness of resilience strategies in these communities.