Preceedings of the CHF International Urban Colloquium

CHF International is extremely proud to have hosted the International Colloquium “Terms of Engagement: Private Sector Initiatives to Unlock the Economic Potential of Urban Slums,” held in Bangalore, India from the 31st of July to the 1st of August, 2008. The purpose of the Colloquium was to enable a select group of distinguished decisionmakers from the private, public and civil society sectors to compare experiences, exchange ideas and take a fresh look at the challenges and opportunities in urban slums. The growth of urban slums has become one of the most challenging issues facing cities and national economies around the world. Unlocking their economic potential will take concerted and collaborative efforts by private sector entrepreneurs, public officials, advocacy organizations and the poor themselves. The task is daunting -- but, by working together to find new and creative solutions, progress is achievable.

The focus of the discussion was on identifying opportunities for greater private sector investment at the “bottom of the pyramid” -- the urban poor who often are consigned to live in squalid, under-serviced and marginalized slum communities -- yet who have tremendous entrepreneurial talent and the same aspirations to improve their economic status and living conditions as do those whose circumstances are much better. To be successful and sustainable, however, these opportunities must make good business sense for private entrepreneurs as well as being good social policy.