Translating Insights into
Actionable Knowledge to Improve Home based Work Environments
Translating Insights into
Actionable Knowledge to Improve Home based Work Environments
Translating Insights into Actionable Knowledge to Improve Home based Work Environments
WIEGO AND MAHILA HOUSING TRUST
WIEGO AND MAHILA HOUSING TRUST
WIEGO AND MAHILA HOUSING TRUST
SERVICES:
Knowledge
Synthesis
Creative
Production
DELIVERABLES:
Set of 10 Issue and Case Study Briefs | Illustrations | Summary Slide-Decks
Set of 10 Issue and Case Study Briefs | Illustrations | Summary Slide-Decks
Set of 10 Issue and Case Study Briefs | Illustrations | Summary Slide-Decks
PROJECT LINKS:
Women in home-based work make up a major part of employment in urban India but their needs are often overlooked in design and policy.
Women in home-based work make up a major part of employment in urban India but their needs are often overlooked in design and policy.
Women in home-based work make up a major part of employment in urban India but their needs are often overlooked in design and policy.
CONTEXT
CONTEXT
CONTEXT
In India, around 18 million women use their homes as workplaces for tasks like agarbatti rolling, kite-making, packing, tailoring, and cooking. Homes also serve as work or storage spaces for street vendors and waste pickers. Often located in informal settlements or low-income neighborhoods, these homes are typically small, crowded, poorly constructed, and lack essential amenities like natural light, ventilation, water, and sanitation.
WIEGO has been key to bringing attention to issues of home-based workers globally by expanding knowledge on the informal economy, building networks among informal worker organizations, and, influencing local, national, and international policies. In 2020, WIEGO commissioned documentation of the work of one of its member organizations, the Mahila Housing SEWA Trust (MHT) through a home-workplace lens.
The Mahila Housing SEWA Trust (MHT) has been working for more than twenty-five years to improve the quality of habitats in low-income informal settlements in South Asian cities. Through their work, they have positively influenced the lives of over two million people.
In India, around 18 million women use their homes as workplaces for tasks like agarbatti rolling, kite-making, packing, tailoring, and cooking. Additionally, homes also serve as work or storage spaces for street vendors and waste pickers. These homes, often located in informal settlements or low-income neighborhoods, are typically small, crowded, poorly constructed, and lack essential amenities like natural light, ventilation, water, and sanitation.
WIEGO has been a key to bringing attention to issues of home based workers globally by expanding knowledge on the informal economy, building networks among informal worker organizations and, influencing local, national and international policies. In 2020, WIEGO commissioned a documentation of the work of one of its member organizations, the Mahila Housing SEWA Trust (MHT) through a home-workplace lens.
THE ASK
THE ASK
THE ASK
Develop accessible knowledge to facilitate engagement among networks and organizations of home-based workers, designers, planners, and policymakers in improving home-based work environments.
OUR APPROACH
OUR APPROACH
OUR APPROACH
To share knowledge effectively, having a solid framework for documentation and representation is key. Our approach was simple: we researched, listened, synthesized, and then shared our findings through a set of compelling and visually engaging briefs.
To share knowledge effectively, having a solid framework for documentation and representation is key. Our approach was simple: we researched, listened, synthesized, and then shared our findings through a set of compelling and visually engaging briefs.
To share knowledge effectively, having a solid framework for documentation and representation is key. Our approach was simple: we researched, listened, synthesized, and then shared our findings through a set of compelling and visually engaging briefs.
WHAT WE DID
WHAT WE DO
WHAT WE DO
Conducted Background Research, Interviews and Observational Surveys
Conducted Background Research, Interviews and Observational Surveys
Conducted Background Research, Interviews and Observational Surveys
We began with an in-depth review of MHT’s 25 years of work, highlighting their interventions across multiple sectors to gather and synthesize existing knowledge. Collaborating with the MHT team, we identified specific case studies to document through surveys, interviews and drawings.
We began with an in-depth review of MHT’s 25 years of work, highlighting their interventions across multiple sectors to gather and synthesize existing knowledge. Collaborating with the MHT team, we identified specific case studies to document through surveys, interviews and drawings.
We began with an in-depth review of MHT’s 25 years of work, highlighting their interventions across multiple sectors to gather and synthesize existing knowledge. Collaborating with the MHT team, we identified specific case studies to document through surveys, interviews and drawings.
Formulating a Documentation Framework
Formulating a Documentation Framework
Formulating a Documentation Framework
MHT’s extensive and diverse work with home-based workers spans various interventions, issues, geographies, and scales. Our challenge was to distill this broad scope into a clear and understandable structure. We organized our findings into a cohesive framework with three intersecting themes: 1. Enhancing the physical environment, 2. Promoting energy efficiency and climate resilience, and 3. Integrating the needs of home-based workers into city plans and policies, along with relevant subthemes.
MHT’s extensive and diverse work with home-based workers spans various interventions, issues, geographies, and scales. Our challenge was to distill this broad scope into a clear and understandable structure. We organized our findings into a cohesive framework with three intersecting themes: 1. Enhancing the physical environment, 2. Promoting energy efficiency and climate resilience, and 3. Integrating the needs of home-based workers into city plans and policies, along with relevant subthemes.
MHT’s extensive and diverse work with home-based workers spans various interventions, issues, geographies, and scales. Our challenge was to distill this broad scope into a clear and understandable structure. We organized our findings into a cohesive framework with three intersecting themes: 1. Enhancing the physical environment, 2. Promoting energy efficiency and climate resilience, and 3. Integrating the needs of home-based workers into city plans and policies, along with relevant subthemes.
Using spatial diagrams and illustrations to understand, interpret, and represent
Using spatial diagrams and illustrations to understand, interpret, and represent
Using spatial diagrams and illustrations to understand, interpret, and represent
Documenting this during the COVID-19 pandemic, we encountered restrictions on in-person interactions and field visits. We relied on telephonic interviews and used drawings and illustrations as primary tools to capture and highlight spatial challenges and interventions.
Documenting this during the COVID-19 pandemic, we encountered restrictions on in-person interactions and field visits. We relied on telephonic interviews and used drawings and illustrations as primary tools to capture and highlight spatial challenges and interventions.
Documenting this during the COVID-19 pandemic, we encountered restrictions on in-person interactions and field visits. We relied on telephonic interviews and used drawings and illustrations as primary tools to capture and highlight spatial challenges and interventions.
Synthesizing learning into a set of issue and case study briefs
Synthesizing learning into a set of issue and case study briefs
Synthesizing learning into a set of issue and case study briefs
We recognized that the stakeholders targeted by this documentation have distinct interests and agendas, and that combining all findings into a single report might limit engagement. Instead, we developed a format of concise briefs that work both independently and together as a cohesive set. This approach ensures that each brief addresses specific concerns while contributing to an integrated overall narrative.
We recognized that the stakeholders targeted by this documentation have distinct interests and agendas, and that combining all findings into a single report might limit engagement. Instead, we developed a format of concise briefs that work both independently and together as a cohesive set. This approach ensures that each brief addresses specific concerns while contributing to an integrated overall narrative.
We recognized that the stakeholders targeted by this documentation have distinct interests and agendas, and that combining all findings into a single report might limit engagement. Instead, we developed a format of concise briefs that work both independently and together as a cohesive set. This approach ensures that each brief addresses specific concerns while contributing to an integrated overall narrative.
RESULTS
RESULTS
RESULTS
TEAM
TEAM
TEAM
Anagha Devanarayanan
Anagha Devanarayanan
Anagha Devanarayanan
Tulsi Lashkari
Tulsi Lashkari
Tulsi Lashkari
Nivea Sethi
Nivea Sethi
Nivea Sethi
Vanishree Herlekar
Vanishree Herlekar
Vanishree Herlekar
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