Participatory upgrading of slums and informal settlements through partnerships between government and grassroots organisations

African Ministers, Mayors, Heads of delegation, and officials from national, sub-national and local government and the grassroots organisations working with them are invited to this Networking Event. The event will examine ways in which government effort on making suitable land available, improving service provision, and creating affordable housing can work in concert with the community savings schemes, community driven data collection, self-build initiatives, and other initiatives undertaken by organized communities for participatory upgrading. These types of partnership not only advance the implementation of the New Urban Agenda, but also the Sustainable Development Goal 11 target of upgrading informal settlements, and Sustainable Development Goal 1 on ending poverty.

The New Urban Agenda provides ample guidance for innovative collaborative solutions where grassroots organisations and governments at the national, sub-national and local level can work together in partnership to improve the lives of people living in slums and informal settlements. Across Africa, governments have entered into such partnerships with some success. No one can work in a silo and hope that the New Urban Agenda will be successfully implemented. We need to work together. Healthy discussion, negotiation, trust-building and cooperation are key aspects that underpin success. While every community has its own unique constraints and opportunities, participation has proven to be the main building block for building thriving neighbourhoods. This Networking Event will examine some of these successful cases and celebrate them. Learning from these successful experiences, the event will discuss the key elements of a successful partnership and work towards a greater commitment to establishing and implementing them.