Despite Egypt leading the world in per capita housing production, millions here find access to adequate housing that is affordable, safe and has proper utilities, a challenge. In this hands-on workshop, participants will be introduced to Egypt's housing policies vis a vis residents’ responses to them, tracing this dichotomy over the past century. With a focus on understanding the diverse housing ecosystem, participants will examine typologies spanning tenure regimes (formal/informalized), social housing programs, commodification and financialization, and the urban-rural divide. Through legislative and data analysis, mapping, and co-production methodologies, this workshop will equip participants with practical skills and theoretical insights to reimagine how housing polices can be more just and realize the right to adequate housing in Egypt.

This workshop introduces co-production as a transformative approach in urban upgrading, offering an alternative to traditional top-down planning models. By focusing on collaborative partnerships between local communities and various stakeholders, the workshop demonstrates how co-production can foster more equitable, sustainable, and resilient urban spaces. Through a blend of theoretical exploration, practical applications, and hands-on exercises, participants will engage with methodological tools, co-planning practices, and research techniques. The workshop also addresses barriers and challenges in co-production, equipping participants with the skills to contribute to a fairer and more sustainable built environment.