SDI is a global network of slum dwellers driving a collective, bottom-up change agenda for inclusive and resilient cities.

What we do

Local voices share stories of resilience and change from slums around the world.

Stories of change

Bringing slum dwellers' rich lived experience and knowledge into research, policy, and development work.

Knowledge hub

Explore our data collected in over 7,000 slums in more than 16 countries across the global south.

Data portal

of making slums matter

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Explore our network stories

Read stories of resilience and change from our network of community voices.

STORIES OF CHANGE

Abuja-Declaration-on-Housing-Solutions_feat

Jul 27 2026

"Plan with us, not for us" – SDI Nigeria federation speaks out on forced evictions

Jun 29 2026

804 Youth. 3 Settlements. 5 Days. What We Learned.

Jun 26 2026

SAMASOL Passive Cooling Infrastructure: Community-led Climate Adaptation in Action

Jun 25 2026

Call to Action: Understanding Meaningful Youth Engagement (MYE) in Urban Poor Communities

Jun 22 2026

Eyes in the Sky, Feet on the Ground: SDI Youth-Led Mapping in Sierra Leone

Jun 19 2026

Ziguinchor: When young people map their own neighbourhood

Jun 18 2026

Funding the Frontline

Jun 10 2026

Zero Waste Begins with Communities: Reflections from the Global Zero Waste Forum Istanbul, Türkiye | 5–7 June 2026

Jun 05 2026

Zero Waste for Better Spaces: From Waste Management to Community Development

May 22 2026

The Active Effects of Passive Cooling in Davao City, Philippines

May 19 2026

Zero Waste Through the Eyes of the Youth in Visayas

May 14 2026

SDI at the 13th World Urban Forum

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Explore our network

Learn about the long and rich history of our social movement in each of the countries in the SDI network.

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Explore our knowledge hub

Explore our growing collection of research and evidence reports that bring decades of slum dweller experience and knowledge into advocacy, policy and development work.

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Know Your City (KYC) TV is a creative collective of youth from the SDI network. Youth make up the overwhelming majority of the 1 billion people living in slums and amplifying their voice is critical to delivering SDI’s strategy. Through our photography, film and stories we mobilise young people to drive and evaluate change at the settlement, city and global level.