Creating Islands Of Hope, One Community At A Time.
The AHK Urban Impact Lab (UIL), located in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, draws inspiration from the development approach of renowned social scientist Akhter Hameed Khan (1914-1999) and his transformative Orangi Pilot Project (OPP) founded in 1980 in Karachi’s Orangi town, one of the world’s largest urban slums. The OPP’s success story in water-sanitation, achieved through collective organisation, self-help, micro-credit, and technical facilitation, serves as our guiding light.
With a focus on research (listening to community needs) and extension (piloting interventions and scaling up), UIL operates in Rawalpindi’s Dhok Hassu – Mangtal area, addressing economic, health, and social development challenges. Our mission at AHK-F, UIL is to unravel urban poverty’s complex web, including social, health, and economic barriers, and promote behavioral change that empowers individuals and communities to realize their full potential.
Mission
To empower women and their families by enabling access to information, skills, resources and opportunities for improving their lives.
Vision
Poor urban households in Pakistan are transformed into healthy, prosperous and thriving communities.
Our Journey
Guiding Principles
Our work is inspired by the renowned Pakistani social scientist, Dr Akther Hameed Khan (1914-1999) and his principles. We have learned that development is a work in progress and follows its own time trajectory and incremental change. Our principles continue to evolve over time and are shaped by the context that we work in. Some fundamental premises are:
Community Needs Driven
Community issues, community solutions and community self sufficiencyAffordable For The People
Affordability is the first step to sustainability. We strive to provide affordable local technology, human resources and models.
Create An Informed Public
We actively share our work findings through the Urban Impact Lab work with non-community stakeholders such as we work with students, civil society, media, development practitioner for information sharing and learning.
Nurture Linkages With Policy And
Decision Makers
Improving the quality of life of poor urban communities cannot be done alone. we partner with government and private sector stakeholders and work together for a better tomorrow.
Research Expansion, Learn And Correct Cycle
We learn from our community as much as they learn from us. Our team continues to seek ways to improve and meet the needs of the Urban Impact Lab.
Contribute Regularly to the Global and National Debate
Our work encompasses not only at the local level, but seeks to contribute knowledge at the national and global level. We routinely share our research in journals, conferences and seminars.
Maintain Financial Transparency
We are fully committed to our programs
Urban Impact Lab and Sentinel Surveillance
