A reflection on the successes, priorities and problems facing community organisations during the pandemic – with implications for their future funding and even survival.

In hundreds of cities community organisations developed many different ways to address the pandemic in informal settlements, to counter its devastating social, economic and health impacts.

Many are federations of savings groups, affiliates of Slum Dwellers International (SDI). Despite their effectiveness and success at reaching the poorest, most get little or no international support.

Although this blog series focusing on the transition to a predominantly urban world was conceived before COVID-19, it would have been impossible to ignore its devastating effects.