Alongside population growth and the expansion of cities, the world has seen a rise in slums and shanty towns, where hundreds of millions people live.

Sheela Patel, founder and director of the Society for the Promotion of Area Resource Centres (SPARC) India, offers Devex Editor-in-Chief Raj Kumar her thoughts on whether development leaders are really paying attention to informal settlements. She also reflects on the interrelated issues of climate change, instability and the food crisis.

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