IFHP is an independent, non-profit, membership-driven international network responding to global urbanisation, displacement, and climate pressures beyond short-term political cycles. We connect practitioners, professionals, policymakers, and researchers working across housing and spatial planning, two fields that remain surprisingly separated in practice, yet whose integration is essential to addressing today's urban challenges.
“In just 10 years, the global urban population will have increased by 1 billion people”
Only together can we co-create cities that are sustainable, affordable, and inclusive for all. Share your insights, tools, and solutions on IFHP.org
Urban population is projected to grow from 3 billion to 7.5 billion this century — 45 million new residents per year. At the same time, housing is increasingly treated as a financial asset rather than a social service, planning is being progressively marginalised in political systems, and climate impacts are reshaping where and how people can live. These are not isolated trends. They are interconnected, and they demand a coordinated response from housing and planning professionals.
Our Mission
IFHP contributes to liveable societies by connecting bottom-up and top-down approaches to housing and planning. We work across three domains: planning concepts, housing development, and the societal dimensions of housing. We share knowledge through concrete examples and facilitate exchange across territories, governance levels, and professional cultures.
As a knowledge-based and politically non-aligned organisation, we provide a trusted platform for international cooperation and learning. We engage critically with emerging EU and UN policy frameworks, contributing expertise rather than representing political positions.
Our Vision
IFHP stands for positive change. Our unique emphasis lies in integrating housing and planning disciplines to enable processes that create healthy, sustainable, and resilient living environments. IFHP takes a long-term view.
With over a century of engagement with social justice and affordable housing, we work beyond short political cycles, connecting housing and planning to broader societal goals. The outcome we work toward: good quality, resilient living environments in cities, towns, and villages across the world.
Our flagship projects:
Social Cities
Turn soft data into action
Social Cities is a new IFHP programme to strengthen livability and social cohesion in our cities. The programme develops a method to measure, design and implement socially sustainable solutions in collaboration with citizens, politicians and corporations.
Affordable housing for all
Every human has the right to decent housing
With the project Affordable Housing for All, IFHP has decided to dedicate its efforts to the cause of affordable housing. A project that contributes to IFHP’s overall mission to increase the liveability of cities for the people.
Healthy by Design
Turn soft data into action
With the ever-increasing population and density in cities worldwide, IFHP finds it of uttermost importance that the design of our cities is focused on how to create a healthy liveable life.
Based in Rotterdam
We’re just around the block…
IFHP is international at heart
IFHP is anchored in Rotterdam
PHONE: +3110 737 0340
EMAIL: info@ifhp.org
ADDRESS: New Institute, Museumpark 25, 5th floor, 3015 CB Rotterdam, The Netherlands
KVK: 99151243
Join us in our work for better cities
The International Federation for Housing and Planning’s vision is to co-create liveable cities for all. We do this by connecting urban professionals, sharing tools and knowledge, and inspiring more action through the communication of new solutions,
Individual Memberships
Institutional Memberships
Corporate Memberships
