In 2000 Dr. Graham Tipple, from the Centre for Architectural Research and Development Overseas (CARDO), produced the draft text for the UN-HABITAT publication Strategies to Combat Homelessness. Following this publication, a successful application was made, by Dr. Tipple, to the UK Government’s Department for International Development (DFID) for funding to undertake an in-depth study of homelessness in nine developing countries. The main aims of this study were to explore the nature and extent of homelessness and interventions to address it in each of the countries.

The study was managed by Dr. Graham Tipple and Suzanne Speak from Newcastle University. A researcher was commissioned in each of the nine countries to undertake detailed research in accordance with carefully developed Terms of Reference. A list of the researchers is provided in the appendix. Each researcher submitted a report and all but 2 of the countries were visited during the project by one of the two Newcastle researchers.