Slum Dwellers incorporated in the world urban campaign

By Jeff Kizzilah

UN-Habitat has signed a memorandum of Understanding with the global network of slum and ‘shark dwellers’ an organization well known as Slum International [SDI] to develop a premier policies platform in upgrading slums across Africa.

Presiding over the signing the agreement  during the urbanization conference at UN-Habitat headquarters in Nairobi, UN-Habitat executive Director Joan Claus said, its time for cities around Africa looks forward at current and future challenges, involves multiple actors and the community in a spirit of sharing and learning for the reason that no city can address the challenges of slums without the right policies, and for the project to succeed they need a well designed collaboration with government,.

He said, the importance of  collaboration with Slum Dwellers International, is because they encompass experiences most governments don’t advocate, and have failed unto, he further said that, the SDI have for a longtime represented the voices and interests of the urban poor, in engaging the slum dwellers as ‘city changers’.

Dr.Claus said, according to the World Urban Campaign (WUC) a global network to partner to public, private and social sectors working together to share information and best practices to achieve resilient, sustainable urban communities worldwide, the Slum Dwellers International has got a unique makeup and tireless efforts to create exclusive approach in promoting participatory processes, by bringing the urban poor to the forefront of shaping the global urban agenda.”

Dr.Claus was accompanied by, Slum Dwellers international president Jock Arputhan who expressed their enthusiasm for the UN-Habitat continuing collaboration as a campaign platform, Jock said, “Our main interest is to raise awareness on urban issues, improve integrations with the poor communities and give the voice to the poor living in the slum in a positive manner with solutions to urban challenges.”