This Note promotes participatory slum upgrading by guiding World Bank teams in supporting government-led initiatives to effectively integrate community participation throughout project design and implementation. Aimed at Bank-financed operations, it outlines how to create space for meaningful engagement within formal policies, programs, and projects. The Note first presents the typical slum upgrading process and defines community participation, then identifies key opportunities, tools, and activities to strengthen participation across different project stages. It concludes by highlighting the enabling conditions required at the city level to ensure that participation is inclusive, sustained, and impactful.