FfD4: Localising Finance Solutions for the Transformation of Informal Settlements

Organised by Cities Alliance and IIED on behalf of the Informality Task Force, this side event at the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) will bring together governments, philanthropic actors, and civil society to address the urgent need to invest in transforming informal settlements by supporting locally driven financial infrastructures. 

Through dialogue between local, national, and international stakeholders, the session will explore how to scale sustainable and equitable solutions that improve housing, services, and climate resilience for the urban poor.

More than 1.1 billion people live in slums and informal settlements, facing inadequate services, insecure tenure, and high exposure to climate risks. 

Without action, this number could rise to two billion by 2050. 

Existing financial mechanisms remain largely inaccessible to local actors, limiting the potential of community-managed funds and municipal initiatives that have already demonstrated cost-effective, people-centred results.

The session will raise the visibility of existing global commitments, share experiences from localised finance mechanisms, and identify collaborative strategies to unlock sustainable investments. It will build on examples from urban poor funds and community-led initiatives, contributing to the agenda set by the Global Action Plan to Transform Informal Settlements and Slums by 2030, as well as the work of the Informality Task Force. The discussion also connects with wider global processes including the G20, COP30, and the World Social Summit, with a focus on South–South cooperation.

Speakers

• Patience Mudimu, Project Coordinator, Dialogue on Shelter, Slum Dwellers International

• Carolina Grottera, Programme Director, Ministry of Finance, Brazil

• Ghana Shyam Giri, Mayor, Chandragiri Municipality, Nepal

• Paula Sevilla Núñez, Researcher, IIED

• Lennart Fleck, Officer, UN-Habitat

• Beth Chitekwe-Biti, Acting Managing Director, Slum Dwellers International 

• Stefan Atchie, Manager, Urban Development Division, African Development Bank

• Gustavo Bernardino, Programme Manager, GIFE

• Fundiswa Mjamekwana, Treasury Manager, National Housing Finance Corporation, South Africa

• Greg Munro, Director, Cities Alliance

Moderator: Alexandre Apsan Frediani – Principal Researcher, IIED

FfD4 brings together global leaders to reform the international financial system and mobilise more accessible, inclusive, and sustainable financing for development. Cities Alliance is actively participating in FfD4 across several sessions. View our full programme here.