contacts

Philosophy

Approach to social / political/ economical / environmental situation (local/global)
INHAF's vision is that of a strong and a vibrant civil society actively engaged in the development of appropriate human settlements, both rural and urban, with special focus on improvement of quality of life, livelihood patterns and poverty reduction. It is to make settlements: socially just, economically productive, culturally vibrant, politically participatory, and environmentally sustainable.

INHAF has been created with an understanding that Influencing change requires collaborative action and collective strength. There is much to learn from and share with others in similar pursuits. To obtain effective change requires understanding diverse facets of an issue and it demands multi partner and multi- level processes.

INHAF believes that when communities, CBOs, NGOs, professionals, researchers, academics, activists, entrepreneurs and even governments act together, share responsibility, and work with unity of purpose they can achieve more.

The platform doesn't want to be centralize because it believes that to be effective at the macro level it has start first to be effective at the micro level.

History/Struggle
The failure of the formal system to deliver;-be that livable cities, adequate services or affordable housing, has been one of the key motivators for the conception of an institution such as INHAF.

The need for a common platform, which could address wider policy issues & provide a forum for collective action, lead to the formulation of INHAF.

The fact that there is no National Platform to address civil society issues in an integrated manner generated the idea for such an institution.

INHAF was initiated by a group of NGOs involved in shelter related activities, with the rural and the urban poor in field projects, doing research, advocacy, ‘alternative' professional practice, training etc. (among those: Inspiration, Gram Vikas, Habitat technology Group). In February 1995, in an informal meet at Ahmedabad. The idea was to set up a forum which would serve as a platform for the active NGOs, settlement activists and concerned professionals to share learning, exchange plan joint action, take up causes, represent concerns, and enhance their own capacities to perform better in the chosen fields of work. The majority of the member belongs to the south of India, where there has been mostly of the consent.

INHAF started with 30-35 members. The actual networking is very different from the original in the composition of the members. This happened mostly because of the long time gap between the deliberation phase and the beginning of the operation. In the first year there have been no operation at all from the secretariat and this had led to a loss of interest in the platform.

However the platform is still in a situation of taking off, in particularly they are facing problems with the North Chapter.

Also Anjali underline us there has been a lot of struggle in coming out with a common understanding among the members and on what was to be done. Still there are a lot of internal conflicts.

Consciousness in its field of intervention / mission
INHAF mission is to Promote and strengthen the civil society's role in shaping and achieving its development vision-in an active partnership with the state, business, common citizens and sympathetic organizations and movements; regional, national and international.

To promote a creative synthesis between the local initiative, knowledge base and systems and the positive elements of the liberalization process for improving the quality of life of people in general and that of the disadvantageous groups in particular.

Bring about a convergence of common sector issues and concerns towards a positive and more sustainable development of human settlements.

Capacity building for intervention at the national, state and local levels with a view to advocating and influencing changes in policies, programmes and projects related to the human settlements development.

Response mechanisms adopted (if any) and in witch field / strategies
INHAF has a three part action agenda: (i) Institutional building, strengthening and expanding membership base, operating in a decentralized manner through its regional chapters.

(ii) The Creation of a resource centre; (iii) the Formulation of a policy advisory group

Tools of INHAF
Advocacy is an important objective of INHAF. Advocacy to change policies, programs, projects, attitude, investment plans, organizations, systems and procedures. To make cities and settlements more humane and liveable; to ensure the poor an adequate living environment and to contribute to sustainability of development.