Shantytown Empowerment Foundation

Shantytown Empowerment Foundation ShHEF works to empower the marginalized/deprived communities on social and economic transformation

Water is life, and securing reliable access to safe and affordable water requires collective action.We were pleased to h...
14/09/2026

Water is life, and securing reliable access to safe and affordable water requires collective action.
We were pleased to host the Launch and Presentation Workshop for the Community Charter of Demand on Water, with the support of the Heinrich Böll Stiftung (HBS), bringing together community representatives from three different communities alongside key local government stakeholders.
The workshop provided an important platform for communities to share their experiences and priorities around water access, quality, affordability, supply, and infrastructure. While these challenges affect many communities, the Charter goes beyond identifying problems. It presents practical, community-led demands and solutions aimed at improving access to safe, reliable, and affordable water.
This initiative is about strengthening the voice of communities and creating meaningful pathways for engagement with government and other relevant stakeholders. Through collective action, constructive dialogue, and stronger partnerships, we can work towards more inclusive and water-resilient communities.
A sincere appreciation to all the community representatives, local government officials, partners, and stakeholders who participated and contributed to the success of the workshop.
We look forward to continued engagement and collaboration towards ensuring that every community has access to safe, affordable, and reliable water.
Water is a right. Communities must have a voice in shaping the solutions. 🚰

Day 3 & Final Wrap-Up: Anglophone West Africa Hub Meeting 🎉We have wrapped up an incredible three days of reflection, co...
03/09/2026

Day 3 & Final Wrap-Up: Anglophone West Africa Hub Meeting 🎉
We have wrapped up an incredible three days of reflection, connection, and vision-building at the Anglophone West Africa Hub Meeting, connecting delegates across Nigeria, Ghana, and Freetown, Sierra Leone! 🇬🇭🇸🇱
Under our theme, “30 years of amplifying collective voice, action and impact: reflecting on the experiences and shaping the future of Anglophone WAH,” Day 3 focused entirely on learning from our past to build a stronger future.
✨ Day 3 Highlights:
* 30 Years of SDI Impact & Scale: A powerful reflection led by Yirah O. Conteh (CODOHSAPA), Janet Adu (GHAFUP), and James Tayler (Secretariat) on how far our collective voice has come.
* Shaping the Future: Looking ahead to the next era of grassroots movement building and impact across the hub.
* Cross-Hub Solidarity: Exploring opportunities to deepen the relationship between the Anglophone and Francophone West Africa Hubs alongside Francis Reffell (CODOHSAPA) and Farouk Braimah (PD).
* Action Strategy: Mapping out the 2026–2027 Anglophone WAH Action Plan presented by Richard Bockarie (CODOHSAPA) and Salifu Abdulmujeeb (PD).
As we bring this gathering to a close, we carry forward 30 years of resilience, shared learning, and a clear roadmap for urban poor movements in West Africa.
Thank you to all speakers, facilitators, and participants who made this hub meeting a success! 🚀✊

🌍 DAY 2 | SDI ANGLOPHONE WEST AFRICA VIRTUAL HUB MEETING 📍 30 Years of Amplifying Collective Voice, Action and ImpactDay...
01/09/2026

🌍 DAY 2 | SDI ANGLOPHONE WEST AFRICA VIRTUAL HUB MEETING 📍 30 Years of Amplifying Collective Voice, Action and Impact
Day 2 was another powerful day of learning, sharing, and reflection as we continued our discussions on the SDI journey and the future of the Anglophone West Africa Hub.
We kicked off with a recap of Day 1 and reflections on our community visits, giving participants space to share what they saw, heard, and learned directly from grassroots leaders.
Key Highlights from Day 2: 🌊 Learning from Kroo Bay: The field visit to Kroo Bay in Freetown, Sierra Leone offered a firsthand look at the realities local communities face, while highlighting the strength of their organization and collective action. 📜 Reflecting on 30 Years: We looked back at 30 years of the SDI movement — the progress made, challenges faced, lessons learned, and the power of communities coming together to demand and create lasting change. 🤝 Shared Learning: Valuable insights from the Liberia and Nigeria Federations reminded us of the diverse experiences across our movement and the importance of cross-learning.
As we celebrate 30 years of SDI, we are reminded that this movement has always been about people, communities, and the unstoppable power of collective action.
The work continues. The challenges remain, but so does our commitment to building stronger communities and amplifying their voices.
✊ 30 years of standing together. 🗣️ 30 years of speaking with one voice. 🔥 30 years of action and impact.

🌍 SDI Global Network 30 Years of Amplifying Collective Voice, Action & ImpactSHEF and the Nigeria Federation, as the SDI...
31/08/2026

🌍 SDI Global Network 30 Years of Amplifying Collective Voice, Action & Impact

SHEF and the Nigeria Federation, as the SDI Nigeria affiliate, are fully participating in the 2026 West African Anglophone Workshop, taking place across regional hubs.

The workshop is guided by the theme:

“30 Years of Amplifying Collective Voice, Action and Impact: Reflecting on the Experiences and Shaping the Future of Anglophone WAH.”

On the first day of the Hub, partners across West Africa are coming together in different locations — Liberia and Sierra Leone in Cape Town, while Nigeria and Ghana converge in Accra.

Across these spaces, we are creating room to learn from one another, share experiences and ideas, brainstorm solutions, reflect on 30 years of collective action, and plan strategically for the year ahead.

For us, this is not just about looking back. It is about drawing lessons from our journey and using them to shape a stronger, more connected and impactful future for Anglophone WAH.

🤝 30 years of collective voice.
30 years of collective action.
30 years of collective impact.
And together, we are shaping what comes next.

SHEF, together with the Nigeria Federation as the SDI Nigeria affiliate, had the privilege of participating as panelists...
16/07/2026

SHEF, together with the Nigeria Federation as the SDI Nigeria affiliate, had the privilege of participating as panelists at the Roundtable Discussion on "Housing Africans in the Informal Sector" during the 20th Anniversary of the Africa International Housing Show (AIHS) in Abuja.
The discussion, themed "Housing Solutions for Low-Income and Informal Workers in Africa," brought together policymakers, housing professionals, development partners, and community representatives to explore practical pathways toward inclusive and affordable housing.
During the session, we emphasized that sustainable housing solutions must be built on meaningful community participation, secure land tenure, access to basic services, and partnerships that recognize the knowledge and contributions of residents of informal settlements.
We appreciate the organizers for creating this important platform and look forward to continued collaboration in advancing housing policies and investments that leave no one behind.

"Unity remains our strength, and our data remains our power."SHEF and the Federation Leaders as SDI Nigeria affiliate he...
24/06/2026

"Unity remains our strength, and our data remains our power."

SHEF and the Federation Leaders as SDI Nigeria affiliate held a meeting with the ACRC CK Director and SDI global Network Director for a productive dialogue on the future of community-led development in Nigeria.

The meeting provided an opportunity to reflect on federation growth, lessons from past experiences, access to community data, climate resilience opportunities, housing and sanitation challenges, and strategies for strengthening collaboration between the federation and supporting organization.

Participants emphasized the need for continued community mobilization, stronger partnerships, knowledge exchange, and collective action to improve the lives of residents in informal settlements.

We remain committed to supporting organized communities to lead change, influence decision-making, and build more inclusive and resilient cities.

Strengthening Community Leadership Through Co-Learning and PartnershipOn 12 June 2026, SHEF and the Federation held a pr...
22/06/2026

Strengthening Community Leadership Through Co-Learning and Partnership

On 12 June 2026, SHEF and the Federation held a productive engagement session with ACRC CEO Diana and Dr. Temilade ACRC city manager to reflect on the progress of community-led development initiatives, savings group strengthening, and future collaboration.
The discussion highlighted the Federation's key strengths, including unity of purpose, knowledge sharing, community mobilization, and capacity building. Members shared experiences from savings activities, community organizing efforts, data collection, and partnerships that continue to support grassroots development across Lagos communities.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to explore ways of strengthening outreach and mobilization, improving community-led data systems, enhancing documentation and accountability, and identifying practical approaches for scaling successful community initiatives.
Participants reaffirmed the importance of collaboration, transparency, and collective action in addressing community priorities and advancing inclusive urban development.
We appreciate ACRC's continued support and commitment to learning alongside communities as we work together to build stronger, more resilient settlements.
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The ACRC Chief Executive Officer in the person of Professor Diana and Irene visited Okerube Community in Lagos as part o...
17/06/2026

The ACRC Chief Executive Officer in the person of Professor Diana and Irene visited Okerube Community in Lagos as part of their engagement with local stakeholders and ongoing action research project.
The visit provided an opportunity to meet with community members, reflect on key learnings emerging from the ongoing action research process, and discuss progress made to date. Community representatives shared insights on community-led organising, women’s participation, engagement with government institutions, and the collective efforts being undertaken to advance locally identified priorities.
The delegation also visited the proposed WASH projects land site and received updates on the progress made towards securing and acquiring the land for the planned WASH infrastructure. Discussions focused on the steps taken so far, stakeholder engagement efforts, and the importance of community ownership in driving sustainable development outcomes.
The visit reinforced the importance of community leadership, collaboration with government institutions, and partnerships that place residents at the centre of urban development. Community members reaffirmed their commitment to working collectively towards improved services and a more resilient future for Okerube.
SHEF remain committed to supporting community-driven approaches that strengthen local leadership, promote inclusive decision-making, and contribute to sustainable urban development.

SHEF and the Nigeria Federation as SDI Nigeria affiliate participated in the ACRC Cross-Project Learning Workshop held i...
12/06/2026

SHEF and the Nigeria Federation as SDI Nigeria affiliate participated in the ACRC Cross-Project Learning Workshop held in Lagos, bringing together project teams, researchers, community knowledge researchers, and uptake officers from across the ACRC network.
The workshop provided an opportunity to reflect on project experiences, share lessons from different cities, and explore practical approaches for strengthening research uptake, community engagement, policy influence, and systems change.
SHEF shared experiences from its community-led work in informal settlements, including the Okerube WASH Action Research Project, highlighting the importance of community governance structures, collaborative partnerships, and sustained engagement with government institutions in improving access to essential services.
The discussions reinforced the value of cross-city learning and collective reflection in advancing inclusive urban development and ensuring that research contributes to meaningful change for residents of informal settlements.
We appreciate ACRC and all participating teams for creating a valuable space for learning, exchange, and collaboration.

Day 3 of the Global Zero Waste Forum in Istanbul, Türkiye! 🇹🇷🌍It has been an intense, inspiring three days for our SDI d...
08/06/2026

Day 3 of the Global Zero Waste Forum in Istanbul, Türkiye! 🇹🇷🌍
It has been an intense, inspiring three days for our SDI delegation representing Benin, Brazil, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Togo, the Philippines, Uganda, and the Secretariat. As the forum concluded, our final sessions drove home a powerful message: zero waste is the ultimate bridge to effective climate action.
💼 **From Dialogue to Action:** Our delegation leaves Istanbul with newly forged partnerships, fresh technical insights into circular economy models, and a unified strategy. We are fully prepared to take these global insights back to our informal settlement communities, transforming high-level policies into grassroots realities.
🌱 As the network looks ahead on the road to COP31 in Antalya, we stand ready to show the world that local, community-led initiatives are the backbone of global urban resilience.
Thank you to everyone who engaged with us over the last three days! 🤝✨
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