The Mahila Housing Trust (MHT) is improving urban built environments in poor communities through collective action. Since its establishment in 1994, they have mobilized women to exercise their civic rights and empowered them to take charge of their habitat improvement process. By forging unique relationships with underserved communities and local governments, they have advanced access to basic services, promoted climate resilience, and deepened participatory governance.
Today, Mahila Housing Trust works in cities as well as rural areas across nine states in India, bringing services to low-income areas and making their voices heard in city level planning and governance processes. MHT’s work has been recognized nationally and internationally and has received numerous awards such as the Ashden Award for Cooling in Informal Settlements, United Nations Global Climate Action Award for Women’s Action Towards Climate Resilience for Urban Poor in South Asia, and United Nations Sasakawa Award for Disaster Risk Reduction, among many others.
Research Reports
India