Belén Gesto Barroso is a PhD Architect since 2015, graduated in the School of Architecture of Madrid (E.T.S. Architecture) at the Universidad Politécnica of Madrid (UPM). She is an associate professor at the Urbanistic and Spatial Planning Department (DUyOT), ETSAM-UPM. She has coordinated ICHaB (Institute of Cooperation and Basic Habitability) for more than 10 years and she is its Director since 2013. Her doctoral thesis is named “The municipal programs of Guided Occupation: Preferencial instruments of Basic Habitability versus the informal future urbanisation. The case of Trujillo (Perú)”. Her research line is focused on precarious human settlements, emergency, basic habitability and habitat policies in developing contexts.