Sierra Leone Urban Research Centre

What Sierra Leone Urban Research Centre does

Sierra Leone Urban Research Centre (SLURC) is a privately-held, non-profit urban research institution founded in 2015 and headquartered at 17a Hill Cot Road, Freetown, Sierra Leone. The organization addresses urban development challenges in Sierra Leone through participatory research, capacity building, and advocacy, with a primary focus on improving conditions and amplifying the voices of residents in Freetown's informal settlements. SLURC operates as a globally connected platform that brings together international academic institutions, local community-based organizations, and informal settlement residents to co-produce knowledge on urban challenges including health, land, housing, mobility, infrastructure, climate resilience, agriculture, youth engagement, and urban safety.

SLURC's core offerings are structured around three pillars: (1) collaborative Learning Alliances connecting academic institutions, practitioners, and communities (including partnerships with UCL DPU, Imperial College London, University of Bristol, Loughborough University, Makerere University, and University of Namibia); (2) multi-country research consortia including ARISE Hub (India, Bangladesh, Kenya, Sierra Leone), FLOURISH Project, OVERDUE Project, CONNECTED CITIES, Urban SHADE, AT 2030, T-SUM, and SSHAP; and (3) open-access knowledge products including the 2025 UCL Press book 'Urban Transformations in Sierra Leone: Knowledge Co-production and Partnerships for a Just City' and a quarterly newsletter published continuously since 2017.

SLURC generates no commercial revenue. Its operations are funded through research grants from international donors and academic institutions, with the European Union and UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) appearing as material funding partners alongside WHO, UNICEF, the Clinton Health Access Initiative, and the Global Disability Innovation Hub. The organization employs 11-50 staff and operates a single headquarters location in Freetown, with no disclosed subsidiaries, parent entities, or commercial product lines. Its distribution model is entirely open access — all publications, research findings, and knowledge products are made freely available to global audiences through UCL Press and direct publication channels.

Name

Sierra Leone Urban Research Centre

Legal name

Sierra Leone Urban Research Centre

Website

https://slurc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sierra Leone Urban Research Centre (SLURC) is a Freetown-based non-profit research institution founded in 2015 that conducts participatory urban development research with informal settlement communities, partnering with global academic institutions and funded through research grants from EU, ESRC, and multilateral bodies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Urban Research & Development

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) (BPAGABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Nutrition & Food Security (Global Health) NGOs (HLAJAKAH)

Keywords

• Urban research
• Informal settlements
• Participatory research
• Urban development
• Knowledge co-production

Headquarters

HQ city

Freetown, Sierra Leone

HQ country

Sierra Leone

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Research Grants and Funding: SLURC operates as a research center funded primarily through grants and partnerships with international universities, development organizations, and government bodies. The organization receives funding for specific research projects addressing urban challenges in Sierra Leone.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

SLURC is a non-profit urban research institution that conducts participatory research on urban development challenges in Sierra Leone, with a focus on informal settlements. Its offerings include peer-reviewed publications (the open-access book "Urban Transformations in Sierra Leone" and a quarterly newsletter since 2017), collaborative Learning Alliances connecting academics and communities, and multi-country research projects spanning health, sanitation, mobility, climate resilience, and housing.

Product overview

Sierra Leone Urban Research Centre (SLURC) is a globally connected urban research institution based in Freetown, Sierra Leone, established in 2015. SLURC operates as a research and knowledge-sharing organization rather than a technology product company. Its offerings include open access publications (the Urban Transformations in Sierra Leone book published 2025, and quarterly newsletters since 2017), collaborative Learning Alliances platforms connecting academic institutions and community organizations, and numerous research projects focused on urban development challenges in informal settlements. Research themes span urban livelihoods, climate resilience, health, land and housing, mobility, infrastructure, agriculture, youth engagement, and urban safety. The center serves as a platform for dialogue among urban stakeholders to negotiate the future of Freetown.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Urban Transformations in Sierra Leone: Knowledge Co-production and Partnerships for a Just City Open access book published by UCL Press documenting SLURC's decade of research on urban development challenges in Freetown and Sierra Leone, focusing on co-producing knowledge and partnerships with informal settlement communities.
• SLURC Newsletter Quarterly newsletter providing updates on SLURC's latest research, events, news and opportunities shaping Sierra Leone's urban future, with volumes published continuously from 2017 through 2026.
• Learning Alliances
• ARISE Hub 5-year research consortium (2019-2024) with 10 partners across India, Bangladesh, Kenya, and Sierra Leone enhancing accountability and improving health and well-being of marginalized populations in urban informal settlements.
• OVERDUE Project 3-year ESRC-funded partnership between SLURC and University College London investigating grid and off-grid sanitation systems in urban Africa to generate evidence for equitable sanitation pathways.
• CONNECTED CITIES: Beyond the Networked City Collaborative research project with University of Bristol, Loughborough University, and Makerere University enhancing delivery of sustainable and resilient water, sanitation, and energy services to marginalized urban communities.
• Urban SHADE Global study across ten informal settlements in India, Kenya, and Sierra Leone addressing urban health and development challenges related to extreme weather events and health service delivery.
• Intersectional Inequalities in Healthcare Utilisation Study Study exploring how intersecting social factors combine to shape household-level inequalities in healthcare utilisation among residents of informal settlements in Freetown.
• ICL Learning Alliance (FLOURISH Project) Partnership with Imperial College London and University of Namibia exploring nature-based solutions for climate resilience in Freetown's informal settlements through participatory fieldwork and scenario planning workshops.
• AT 2030: Life Changing Assistive Technology for All Global partnership programme reaching over 3 million people with disabilities, testing new approaches and improving access to assistive technology such as wheelchairs, prosthetics, hearing aids, and glasses.
• Transition to Sustainable Urban Mobility (T-SUM) Interdisciplinary and cross-sector collaborative project identifying conditions for sustainable and inclusive transport and land use development in growing cities of the Global South.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10-year track record of co-producing knowledge with communities
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• UCL PressmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Publisher of 'Urban Transformations in Sierra Leone: Knowledge Co-production and Partnerships for a Just City', making SLURC's research freely accessible globally.
• UCL DPU ESD Learning AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative platform connecting academic institutions, practitioners, and informal settlement residents to co-produce knowledge that advances inclusive, resilient, and sustainable urban development. Part of SLURC's Learning Alliances network.
• Imperial College LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImperial College London/SLURC Learning Alliance exploring how nature-based solutions can strengthen climate resilience in Freetown's informal settlements. Engages in participatory fieldwork including transect walks, mapping, household surveys, and workshops with community members. Part of the FLOURISH Project.
• University of NamibiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating with Imperial College London and SLURC on the FLOURISH Project, exploring nature-based solutions for climate resilience in Freetown's informal settlements.
• FEDURP/CODOHSAPAcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCommunity-based organization partner engaged in participatory research activities, including transect walks, mapping, and household surveys in informal settlements.
• African Academy of SciencesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting the FLOURISH Project and climate resilience research initiatives.
• African UnionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting climate resilience and urban development research initiatives.
• University College LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead partner in the OVERDUE project, a 3-year ESRC-funded partnership tackling the sanitation taboo in urban Africa. Investigates grid and off-grid sanitation systems to generate evidence for equitable sanitation pathways.
• University of BristolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead Principal Investigator for the CONNECTED CITIES: Beyond the Networked City project, enhancing delivery of sustainable and resilient water, sanitation, and energy services to marginalized communities.
• Loughborough UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the CONNECTED CITIES project, working with SLURC to enhance water, sanitation, and energy services in informal settlements.
• Makerere UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the CONNECTED CITIES project, jointly implementing research with SLURC on sustainable urban services for marginalized communities.
• ARISE Hub ConsortiummajorStrategic or Co-development Partner5-year research consortium with 10 partners across India, Bangladesh, Kenya, and Sierra Leone, focused on enhancing accountability and improving health and well-being of marginalized populations in urban informal settlements. Engaged residents of Cockle Bay, Dworzark, and Moyiba informal settlements.
• Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint lead of the Urban SHADE research project, a global study conducted across ten informal settlements in India, Kenya, and Sierra Leone, addressing critical urban health and development challenges.
• The George Institute for Global Health, IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint lead of the Urban SHADE research project addressing urban health and development challenges in informal settlements across multiple countries.
• WHOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal partnership including WHO, Clinton Health Access Initiative, UNICEF, and disability organizations for the AT 2030 programme focusing on life-changing assistive technology for all.
• Clinton Health Access InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal partnership for the AT 2030 programme reaching over 3 million people with assistive technology.
• UNICEFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal partnership for the AT 2030 programme focusing on assistive technology for people with disabilities.
• Social Science in Humanitarian Action Platform (SSHAP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform integrating social science to improve preparedness and response for vulnerable populations during crises. SLURC collaborated to create a West African hub for context-specific humanitarian and health interventions.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED): Policy research organisation working on sustainable development, urban equity, and informal settlements in the Global South. Comparable to SLURC as a research-driven, grant-funded organization producing evidence-based outputs for development practice and policy.
• Shack/Slum Dwellers International (SDI): Global federation of community-led organizations working on informal settlement upgrading and secure tenure. Comparable to SLURC in its community-led, participatory engagement with informal settlement residents and emphasis on amplifying community voice in urban policy.
• African Centre for Cities (ACC): University of Cape Town-based research centre studying urban dynamics in African cities. Directly comparable to SLURC as an academic-anchored research centre producing evidence on informal settlements, urban governance, and participatory methodologies in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS): India-based research and education institution focused on urban practice and informal settlement transformation. Comparable to SLURC in its applied, co-produced research model and focus on inclusive urban development in the Global South.
• Centre for Urban Research and Planning, Makerere University: Makerere University's urban research unit — already a CONNECTED CITIES co-partner with SLURC. Comparable as an African university-based urban research centre generating evidence on informal settlements in low-income contexts.

Broad incumbents

• Institute of Development Studies (IDS): Global research and learning organisation for international development. Comparable to SLURC as a grant-funded research institution generating evidence-based outputs on development themes including urbanization and poverty.
• World Resources Institute (WRI) Ross Center for Sustainable Cities: Global research organization with a dedicated urban sustainability program addressing inclusive, low-carbon cities. Comparable to SLURC as a major incumbent working on equitable urban transformation in the Global South.
• Cities Alliance: Multi-stakeholder global partnership hosted by UN-Habitat supporting inclusive urban development and city partnerships. Comparable to SLURC in its convening role across government, civil society, and research to address urban poverty.
• UN-Habitat: United Nations agency for sustainable urbanization. Comparable as the global incumbent shaping urban policy in developing countries and a major channel for research influence on city governments, including in Sierra Leone.
• UCL Development Planning Unit (DPU): UCL's planning and development research unit and one of SLURC's core academic partners (UCL DPU ESD Learning Alliance, OVERDUE). Comparable as a much larger, established urban development research centre operating globally with a portfolio that includes SLURC.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SLURC_FT
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@sierraleoneurbanresearchce437
• Facebookfacebook.com/SLURC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sierra-leone-urban-research-centre
• Instagraminstagram.com/slurc_ft

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Sierra Leone Urban Research Centre