Building Strong Partnerships to Support Women’s Livelihoods in India

In the bustling lanes of India’s urban slums, women are often seen juggling multiple roles—caregivers, breadwinners, and community leaders. Yet, despite their resilience, many women in these areas face significant challenges in accessing basic services and securing sustainable livelihoods. For instance, did you know that in India alone, nearly 70% of urban poor women lack access to clean water and proper sanitation facilities? This statistic underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions that address the specific needs of these women, not just in India, but also in neighboring Nepal and Bangladesh. Since 1994, the Mahila Housing Trust (MHT) has been on a mission to empower these women through grassroots development. Central to our success has been the strong partnerships we’ve forged over the years—partnerships that have been instrumental in improving women’s health and supporting women in livelihood across South Asia.

The NGO’s Role in Partnerships for Women’s Empowerment

At MHT, we believe that true women empowerment is a collective effort. Our strategy has always been to engage with a diverse range of partners—local governments, and community organizations—to ensure that the voices of women community leaders are heard and acted upon. One of our most impactful partnerships has been with the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC). Through this collaboration, we were able to implement a city-wide sanitation campaign that not only provided access to clean toilets for thousands of women but also employed many of them as sanitation workers, thereby supporting their livelihoods.

Another significant collaboration was with the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), a women’s trade union that shares our vision of women empowerment through grassroots development. Together, we launched a microfinance initiative that provided women in slums with access to small loans, enabling them to start their own businesses. This partnership not only empowered these women economically but also strengthened their roles as leaders within their communities.

Advancing Access to WASH Services

Access to basic services such as water, sanitation, and hygiene is a fundamental right, yet it remains out of reach for many women in urban poor communities. The lack of these services disproportionately affects women, as they are often the primary caregivers in their families. In collaboration with WaterAid India,


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