Shantytown Empowerment Foundation

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.

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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06/06/2026

Day 2 at the Global Zero Waste Forum in Istanbul, Türkiye! 🌍
The SDI delegation—with representatives from Benin, Brazil, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Togo, the Philippines, Uganda, and the Secretariat—has been fully immersed in the forum's high-level panels and technical sessions. Our focus remains sharp: championing Zero Waste as Climate Action and exploring new partnerships to scale up initiatives across our network.
From the Forum to the Grassroots: We commenced the day with an early morning intensive delegation debrief right here at the venue. Representatives from all 9 countries came together to unpack the day’s policy discussions, mapping global climate rhetoric directly onto the practical realities faced by our urban poor federations back home.
We are turning these global insights into a unified, actionable roadmap for the network!

05/06/2026

🌍 *Global Zero Waste Forum* _Istanbul, Türkiye | 5–7 June 2026_

The SDI delegation meeting on the sidelines of the *Global Zero Waste Forum* in Istanbul, Türkiye. 🇹🇷

🗑️We are championing the theme _Zero Waste as Climate Action_

💡 The next three days promises to be an opportunity for learning exchanges and to build new partnerships as we explore opportunities to scale up waste management initiatives across the network.

The SDI delegation includes representation from *Benin, Brazil, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Togo, the Philippines, Uganda and the SDI Secretariat.*

05/06/2026

🌍 *Global Zero Waste Forum* _Istanbul, Türkiye | 5–7 June 2026_

The SDI delegation meeting on the sidelines of the *Global Zero Waste Forum* in Istanbul, Türkiye. 🇹🇷

🗑️We are championing the theme _Zero Waste as Climate Action_

💡 The next three days promises to be an opportunity for learning exchanges and to build new partnerships as we explore opportunities to scale up waste management initiatives across the network.

The SDI delegation includes representation from *Benin, Brazil, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Togo, the Philippines, Uganda and the SDI Secretariat.*

05/06/2026

🌍 From Nigeria to Istanbul: Building a Zero-Waste Future! 🇳🇬🇹🇷
We are thrilled to share that the Director of the Shantytown Empowerment Foundation, alongside the Nigeria Slum/Informal Settlement Federation (as an SDI Nigeria affiliate), are currently in Istanbul, Türkiye!
They have joined forces with other Slum Dwellers International (SDI) affiliates from around the globe to attend the prestigious Global Zero Waste Forum. 🔄✨
Our mission here is clear:
🤝 Engage & Collaborate: Building strong, international partnerships.
💡 Share & Learn: Exchanging firsthand experiences and bringing back innovative strategies to protect and uplift our local environments.
A better, cleaner, and more sustainable future for our communities starts with global solidarity. Stay tuned for updates from our journey!

05/05/2026

19/03/2026

SHEF ED participated in the recently concluded African Cities Research Consortium strategic workshop held in Manchester, which brought together AR projects and researchers to share experiences, reflect on progress, and strengthen collaboration across cities.
The second day of the workshop commenced with a welcome exercise and a presentation of key themes identified from the previous day. Participants engaged in detailed discussions to further refine these themes and shape the direction of subsequent sessions. This was followed by the formation of thematic groups, where each group selected a coordinator and a scribe. Deliberations focused on how individual projects align with the identified themes, their stages of implementation, key lessons learned, and the relevance of these themes to academic literature and prospective research outputs.
Participants later transitioned into new groups to deepen the discussions. The day concluded with plenary presentations, where groups shared their key findings, followed by an open exchange on how these insights could inform future academic papers. Writing groups were subsequently constituted to take this work forward.
Earlier sessions during the workshop provided an opportunity for participants to introduce themselves and present their projects. Domain and cross-cutting leads facilitated discussions around project goals, progress, achievements, challenges, and lessons learned. Particular attention was given to identifying findings relevant to the Foundation Phase of the programme. These sessions concluded with group presentations and reflections on how emerging lessons can contribute to advancing inclusion and fostering more prosperous African cities.
A central theme across the workshop was the strong linkage between operational practice and academic research. Participants reflected on how field-based experience particularly from work in informal settlements can be systematically documented and translated into rigorous academic outputs that influence policy and practice. Emphasis was placed on ensuring that research remains grounded in implementation realities while contributing meaningfully to broader theoretical and policy debates on urban governance, service delivery, and inclusion.
Discussions also highlighted the critical role of elite commitment in achieving sustainable impact. Drawing from city-level experiences, participants examined how engagement with government actors and decision-makers is essential for enabling policy support, scaling interventions, and sustaining outcomes beyond the lifespan of individual projects. The importance of building and maintaining such commitment across political and institutional cycles was strongly emphasized.
On the third day, participants worked within their writing groups, each led by a coordinator (chair) and supported by a scribe. Discussions focused on the development of potential academic papers, including defining the central arguments, outlining key sections, and agreeing on individual contributions. Groups also considered practical approaches to collaboration, ensuring that the writing process remains structured, inclusive, and productive.
Each group presented a summary of its proposed paper, highlighting its main argument and intended contributions. Participants were encouraged to engage across groups and contribute to additional papers where relevant. The day concluded with a capacity strengthening and knowledge-sharing session, which addressed key aspects of academic publishing, including journal selection, submission processes, peer review, and the evolving role of artificial intelligence in research.
The fourth day featured a study visit to a museum in Manchester, providing participants with the opportunity to explore the city’s historical and cultural heritage. This session also created space for informal interaction and reflection following several days of intensive discussions and collaborative work.
Overall, the workshop provided a valuable platform for shared learning, critical reflection, and the development of ideas that will contribute to ongoing research and practice aimed at promoting inclusive and sustainable urban development.

08/03/2026

28/02/2026

DevReporting, PDM-Network select 8 journalists for urban challenges reporting project in Lagos
DevReporting, in partnership with the Pro-Poor Development Media (PDM) Network, has selected eight journalists for a story project that examines critical urban challenges affecting communities in Lagos State, with support from the African Cities Research Consortium (ACRC).
The selection followed a competitive review of pitches submitted by journalists across print, broadcast, and digital media platforms.
The selected journalists are Melony Ishola, Head of Programmes, PUNCH Videos; Eric Dumo, freelance editor; Juliana Francis, Publisher, SecurityNewsAlert; Samson Ademola, Programme Manager/Associate Editor, DevReporting; Israel Eferobor, Correspondent, News Central TV; Folashade Ogunrinde, Investigative Reporter, Premium Times; Gbenga Salau, Assistant News Editor, Weekend, The Guardian; and Nafiu Atanda, Contributor, Know Your City (KYC) TV.
According to DevReporting’s Team Lead/Editor-in-Chief, Mojeed Alabi, the journalists bring diverse experience across print, broadcast, digital, and investigative journalism, positioning them to deliver impactful and accountability-driven stories.
Reporting focus
Over a one-month reporting period, the selected journalists will produce in-depth, evidence-based stories across key thematic areas, including Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), climate resilience, evictions, housing gaps, and other systemic urban pressures. The stories will centre on lived community experiences while integrating ACRC research, data, and analytical insights.
To support quality delivery, the journalists will participate in a one-day capacity development workshop scheduled for Thursday, 5 March 2026, in Lagos. The workshop will provide research briefings, editorial direction, and practical guidance on translating academic findings into compelling public-interest journalism.
Mr Alabi noted that the initiative is designed to bridge the gap between research production and public engagement.
“Urban challenges in Lagos are complex and deeply rooted. By connecting researchers and journalists more intentionally, we aim to produce stories that inform public understanding and stimulate policy reflection,” he said.
About the initiative
The project is implemented by DevReporting in partnership with the Pro-Poor Development Media Network (PDM-Network), with support from ACRC. It seeks to strengthen evidence-driven reporting on structural urban issues affecting vulnerable populations in Lagos.
DevReporting is a niche media and cinematic platform focused on development reporting. The PDM-Network promotes pro-poor consciousness in governance and public policy, with a broader commitment to addressing multidimensional poverty in Nigeria.
The African Cities Research Consortium (ACRC), led by the University of Manchester, is a research partnership working to improve living standards in fast-growing African cities through action-oriented and politically informed research.