Slum/Shack Dwellers International (SDI)

A network of community-based organisations of the urban poor in 32 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America

SDI is a network of community-based organisations of the urban poor in 32 countries and hundreds of cities and towns across Africa, Asia and Latin America. In each country where SDI has a presence, affiliate organisations come together at the community, city and national level to form federations of the urban poor. These federations share specific methodologies, which are enumerated below.

Since 1996, this network has helped to create a global voice of the urban poor, engaging international agencies and operating on the international stage in order to support and advance local struggles. Nevertheless, the principal theatre of practice for SDI’s constituent organisations is the local level: the informal settlements where the urban poor of the developing world struggle to build more inclusive cities, economies, and politics.

Latest news and articles

Call for proposals for innovations across the Global South now open

We are launching an Innovation Challenge call to support bold, locally led solutions that strengthen resilience, protect ecosystems, and create sustainable opportunities for communities.

Protecting shea trees: Securing women’s livelihoods

Learn how protecting shea trees sustains livelihoods, strengthens rights, and empowers women

Advancing women’s rights to strengthen shea enterprises

In northern Ghana, digital mapping and access to finance are helping women shea producers like Adisah Zakaria turn invisible work into recognised assets, unlocking income, efficiency, and opportunity.

Bridging the gap: Scaling climate-resilient agriculture

Bridge funding helps transform RAIN innovations into scalable solutions that drive resilience and sustainable growth

Protecting the shea tree: Securing women’s futures

Empowering women through shea tree mapping for resilient futures