In this episode, we explore how climate change exacerbates living conditions in African slums, turning already fragile environments into increasingly difficult places to live. What was once seen as a distant issue—melting ice caps and rising sea levels—is now a daily reality for millions of people facing heat, flooding, food insecurity, and worsening infrastructure.

Joe Muturi, President of the Slum Dwellers International network, shares his personal journey into community organizing and offers a ground-level perspective on the realities of informal settlements. He explains how these communities are shaped by systemic failures in urban planning, political neglect, and economic exclusion—and why solutions must begin with the people who live there.

Throughout the conversation, Joe highlights the importance of community-led development, the role of data and organization in driving change, and the need for long-term coordination across governments, civil society, and local stakeholders. He also challenges common assumptions about funding, arguing that the real barriers are not financial, but structural and political.

This episode is a powerful look at the intersection of climate, poverty, and urban development—and a call to rethink how we approach one of the fastest-growing challenges in cities around the world.

Key Takeaways:

1. Climate change is amplifying existing vulnerabilities

2. Informal settlements are the result of systemic failure, not choice

3. The biggest barrier is not money—it’s coordination and political will

4. Community-led development is essential to real solutions

5. Progress is slow, but driven by small, meaningful wins

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