How can communities in informal urban settlements be part of the solution?

The World Health Organization estimates that of the total global population, approximately 1 billion people live in informal urban settlements. These areas have developed as a consequence of the rapid urban growth experienced in many developing countries, and often suffer from lack of public services, leading to higher crime rates, poor sanitation and water infrastructure, and higher exposure to health risks. Informal settlements are prevalent in Pakistan for example, where over 48 percent of the urban population lives in slums, and are exemplified by the favelas in Brazil. Despite these challenges, unlocking the economic and human capacity of these communities can have powerful and positive effects globally. Brazil's favelas have an economy valued at $25.8 billion—with Rio de Janeiro's alone being valued at $6 billion—and contain a rapidly growing middle class with significant purchasing power. Efforts being made to harness this potential in Brazil, Pakistan, and Venezuela can be scaled and replicated in other major cities across the world.