Smruti Jukur is an urban development practitioner, trained as an Architect and Urban Planner working with SPARC for over ten years; affiliated to Slum Dwellers International (SDI), she has experience working primarily in India, also in Asia and Sub-Saharan African cities with SPARC-Society for the Promotion of Area Resource Centre which is an affiliate for the transnational Slum Dwellers International (SDI) network, which spans over 30 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

She works to support federations on projects in India and within the network of SDI on challenging urban planning practices, working on redefining norms and standards in areas of housing needs, including post-development induced displaced resettlement housing, water and sanitation, health and access to transport in the informal settlements. Her recent work includes supporting SPARC on the ‘What women want campaign’, which leads on Roof Over Our Heads (ROOH) launched at COP27 and is linked to the UN High Level Champions Race to Resilience and Race to Zero Campaigns: in realizing safe, affordable, accessible housing for the most vulnerable communities of the urban poor. The work operates from the premise that organized communities of the urban poor are central to generating inclusive, resilient and sustainable cities. She actively represents and advocates for the needs of the urban poor at various national and international forums. She engages with Planning and Architecture Universities nationally and internationally to co-create and understand designing and planning practice realities, especially within Informality.

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