Shack/Slum Dwellers International: One experience of the contribution of membership organizations to pro-poor urban development

Document begins: Shack/Slum Dwellers International: One experience of the contribution of membership organizations to pro-poor urban development Celine d'Cruz1 (SPARC and SDI) and Diana Mitlin2 (IIED and IDPM, University of Manchester) I. Introduction This paper considers the experience of the membership organizations that make up the international network of Shack or Slum Dwellers International (SDI),3 an international network of national urban poor Federations and their support NGOs. Each federation is made up of local community organizations that are savings schemes (in which women are a majority of participants). These Federations often have a city, regional and national identity. Since its inception in 1996, the international network has grown to be active in ten countries (Asia: Cambodia, India, Nepal, the Philippines, Sri Lanka; Africa: Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe). SDI also supports emerging federations in Brazil, Ghana, Indonesia, Malawi, Swaziland and Zambia. Through an analysis of the experiences of the SDI members, we will identify some successful strategies with regard to the contribution of membership organizations to poverty reduction in urban areas. Prior to commencing this discussion it is important to elaborate on the meaning of membership organizations in the context of SDI.4 These groups of the urban poor who join ...