In 2008, the world’s urban population surpassed its rural population for the first time in history. Over a billion people—one out of every three city dwellers—lives in a slum. In Mumbai alone, around 7 million people live in slums—close to half the city’s population. As urban populations continue to grow, the issues of urban housing and infrastructure will become increasingly critical.

The Society for the Promotion of Area Resource Centres (SPARC) is one of the largest Indian NGOs working on these issues. SPARC supports two people's movements, the National Slum Dwellers Federation and Mahila Milan, in organizing the urban poor to come together, articulate their concerns and collectively produce solutions to the problems they face. Together, these organizations—known as the Alliance—are active in over seventy cities across India and in global networks spanning over twenty countries, working to improve the lives of slum dwellers in India and around the world.