The evaluation assessed the performance of the Slum Upgrading Facility (SUF) and its associated projects in the four pilot countries: Ghana, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Tanzania. The evaluation was requested by the donors of the SUF Programme i.e., the Governments of Norway, Sweden/Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and the Department for International Development of the United Kingdom.

It also responded to UN-Habitat Governing Council Resolution 20/11 which requested for an independent evaluation of the SUF pilot phase to inform decision making on how to proceed with the project. The evaluation found that one of the main outcomes of the pilot phase was the establishment of the local finance facilities which represent an important innovation that has the potential for impacting the lives of millions of slum dwellers, not only in the four pilot countries but throughout the developing world.