Women as Community Mobilizers in Meeting Slum Upgrading Goals: Learnings from India

The event will present a case study of the successful public-private partnership slum redevelopment initiative in an Ahmedabad, India slum. The case will be presented from the various stakeholders involved, including the municipality, private sector developers, community leader from the slum, researchers from academic partners and representatives from the organizing NGO, MHT.

Both the New Urban Agenda (NUA) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) call for improving habitats of the world's one-billion slum dwellers (UN_Habitat). The implementation process to achieve these goals, as the NUA says, is 'anchored in participatory urban processes.' Yet most participatory systems continue to marginalize the voices of those most impact by poor quality housing – women members of these communities.

While all residents feel the effects of poor-quality housing – from lack of basic services to increased heat due to climate change to lack of ventilation – women, as the primary users of the home, are disproportionately affected. Despite this, women in these settlements typically have little say in policies and programs that have wide-ranging impacts on their lives. Involving women and grassroots groups in development process means reversing the top-down trend that often marks policymaking and development practices, inhibiting sustainable and meaningful change.

The redevelopment of Abhuji Na Chhapra slum in Ahmedabad showcases a unique and replicable collaboration between a women-led community-based organization (CBO), private developers and Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. As public-private partnerships become an increasing viable way to address overwhelming housing deficits, highly trained CBO leaders can act as leaders, liaisons and policy influencers, to create more sustainable solutions, especially when private-sector developers often have a little to no experience with social factors. Involving CBOs provides a model for how cities around India – and across the Global South – can meet the housing goals set out by the NUA and SDGs, and more strategically ensure the community is represented in the process.