Prosperity for All: Enhancing the Informal Economy Through Participatory Slum Upgrading

Abstract

Estimates suggest that a billion people live in slums and informal settlements today, representing about 30 per cent of the world’s urban population. In parallel, in many cities of Africa, Asia and Latin America the informal economy is a key source of employment, engaging half to three-quarters of the (non-agricultural) urban workforce. This report looks at the intersection of slums and informal settlements and the informal economy, to raise awareness amongst communities, local authorities, NGOs and other urban actors of the potential of the local economy in informal settlements – much of which is also informal – as a key component of participatory slum upgrading, to contribute to economic development and poverty reduction. It accompanies the earlier report published by UN-Habitat on Enhancing Productivity in the Urban Informal Economy (UN-Habitat, 2017).