Abstract
This paper describes the formation and development of Slum/Shack Dwellers International (SDI), an international people’s organization which represents member federations of urban poor and homeless groups from 11 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. It also describes the evolution of these national federations and how they grew to challenge conventional development thinking and to develop new, community-directed precedents for poverty reduction. These federations and the NGOs with whom they work formed SDI to support the many ways in which the federations (and their member groups) learn from and help each other, and to ensure that global institutions and events became more useful and relevant to the urban poor. The paper also describes SDI’s experiences with international agencies, including its involvement in the Global Campaign for Secure Tenure and the measures taken to ensure that its work and experience of the global provides benefit to and strengthens the local, adding value to the plans of the urban poor.