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.”
