The Trafigura Foundation is supporting Slum Dwellers International (SDI) to strengthen the climate resilience of informal settlements in South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe, addressing urgent challenges in rapidly urbanising African cities.
Across Sub-Saharan Africa, most urban residents live in informal settlements that are highly exposed to climate risks such as flooding, landslides and extreme heat, while often lacking basic services and a voice in urban planning. Climate adaptation funding and decision-making rarely reach these communities.
SDI is a global movement with more than 30 years of experience in community-led, data-driven urban planning. The SDI Secretariat is based in South Africa while the SDI Network works with national affiliates across Africa, Asia and Latin America to ensure residents play a central role in shaping more inclusive and resilient cities.
With support from the Trafigura Foundation and other funders, SDI will deliver climate resilient slum upgrading in eight cities across the three countries. The initiative will strengthen community leadership, promote nature-based solutions, and improve access to essential services such as housing, sanitation and waste management. It aims to train more than 2,000 community members, support hundreds of locally led upgrading initiatives, and improve climate resilience for around 50,000 people living in informal settlements.
This partnership reflects our commitment to inclusive, community-driven solutions that enable vulnerable urban communities to adapt to climate change and build long-term resilience.
