The event ‘Capacity for Change - Forging Sustainable Futures,’ hosted by the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), is scheduled for January 8, 2025. Building on the success of its inaugural edition on October 31, 2023, this event aims to delve into emerging capacity-building initiatives that promote sustainable and inclusive urban development. The event will provide a platform to highlight ongoing efforts and unveil new initiatives, including ‘अrban Learnathon’ 2.0, NULP 4.0, and other pivotal NIUA projects, engaging a broader audience and driving transformative impact across the urban sector. The event aims to bring together Principal Secretaries and Directors of States and Union Territories, NULP nodal officers (NULP Champions), NIUA and NULP partners, NIUA program teams, empanelled e-learning agencies, and representatives from multilateral and bilateral organisations.

In the recent Union Budget 2024, the Government of India announced the establishment of 100 Vending Haats (Bazaars) across the country to provide a structured, safe, and organised space for street vendors. These haats will ensure street vendors are integrated into urban planning, with access to basic amenities like sanitation, electricity, and proper infrastructure. The initiative aims to uplift street vendors, create economic opportunities, and reduce congestion in public spaces. The initiative also aligns with the government's vision of promoting inclusive urban development, supporting the livelihoods of millions of street vendors while enhancing the urban experience for citizens. Pursuant to the budgetary announcement, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), under the PM SVANidhi scheme is mandated to develop the vending haats/hubs across India. Taking insights from multiple deliberations with relevant stakeholders in the past three months, a draft of the guidelines has been prepared, covering the eligibility criteria for the participating cities and outlining the essential components of the proposals expected from cities via States. These guidelines aim to equip the cities with a vision and the required tools to design functional and innovative models of vending markets that are socially, economically and contextually viable. It is in this context that the Centre for Sustainable Urban Livelihoods, hosted within the National Institute of Urban Affairs, is organising an expert workshop titled “Planning and Development of Street Vending Bazaars”, which aims to enhance the technical aspects of the guidelines under preparation. This workshop has been designed to bring together key stakeholders from the field of planning, spatial design and infrastructure development as well as representatives from states to discuss and strategize the successful planning, design and implementation of sustainable and inclusive vending bazaars for Indian Cities

‘National Urban Conclave’ is hosted by the NIUA in commemoration of World Cities Day on October 31, 2023, with the theme of ‘Celebrating Urban India’s Transformation with Data and Capacity’. It brings together the significant initiatives Urban Outcomes Framework (UOF) and National Urban Learning Platform (NULP), both orchestrated by NIUA. The National Urban Conclave is a response to the evolving urban landscape, emphasizing the critical need for data-driven policymaking and capacity building, with cities taking a leading role in driving urbanisation forward. This event will bring together urban practitioners, government gurus, academic stalwarts, tech trailblazers, and passionate civil society members, amongst others to spark conversations, forge partnerships, and inspire solutions via ideas and innovation to transform the current ‘urban’ space into a more sustainable, resilient and inclusive one.

NIUA has entered into a strategic partnership with GIZ for the Sustainable Urban Development -Smart Cities II (SUDSC II) project, which is jointly implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India, and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Under this project, NIUA and GIZ have jointly initiated the “SUDSC-II Webinar Series” to support setting up of Communities of Practice. The webinar series is a set of curated dialogues focusing on urban topics related to the municipal finance, climate resilience, digital innovations for urban governance and shall be conducted on the ‘Connective Cities Network’. The third webinar under this series is titled as "Mobilising Resources for Green Infrastructure Projects: Green Bonds". The webinar intends to initiate discussions on the need for identifying the investment gaps and infrastructure needs; need for shifting from traditional ‘grey’ financing instruments to options of green financing (green bonds in particular); how to seek financing via green bonds; requirement of a policy framework at different levels (central, state, local government level), etc.

NIUA has entered into a strategic partnership with GIZ for the Sustainable Urban Development in Smart Cities - Phase II (SUDSC II) project, which is jointly implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India, and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Under this project, NIUA and GIZ have jointly initiated the “SUDSC-II Webinar Series” to support setting up of Communities of Practice. The webinar series is a set of curated dialogues focusing on urban topics related to municipal finance, climate resilience, digital innovations for urban governance and shall be conducted on the ‘Connective Cities Network’. In the webinar series, the second webinar is on 'Improving Urban Finance through Value Capture Financing'. The webinar will bring together experts from the field of VCF and agencies/ departments that have utilised VCF as an innovative tool for financing. The focus will be on understanding the process for adopting a VCF tool for undertaking urban development projects (including decision w.r.t choice of VCF tool, required legal framework, implementation mechanism, etc.); how can mega transit projects impact development of land around them and support the 4 key steps of the VCF process [value creation, value realisation, value capture and value recycle]. In addition, representative from Urban Local Body/ Departments will showcase their journey in the implementation of VCF tools to capture value from increased land values resulting from public investments. The focus will be on discussing the challenges and the ways adopted to emerge successful and achieving improved municipal finance.

The National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) and the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) in partnership with CEPT University, Ahmedabad are inviting you to the Grand Finale of the third season of the Student Thesis Competition (STC). We are proud to announce that 20 exceptional students from 14 institutes across 10 different states in India have been selected for the final round of the competition. These budding changemakers have not only demonstrated their passion for environmental sustainability but have also showcased innovative and pragmatic solutions for urban river management. The Grand Finale promises to be an event of knowledge sharing, inspiration, and camaraderie, as these bright minds present their research and proposals to esteemed judges and an enthusiastic audience.

The Urban Youth Unit at NIUA is celebrating its first edition of ‘’NIUA’s Youth Week’’, with an aim to gradually induce active participation of Youth in decision making process.

https://niua.in/regional-workshop-standards-guidelines-and-specifications

National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), under the grant ‘Strategic Partnership for Mainstreaming Risk-Informed, Integrated, Resilient, and Sustainable Urban Development in Cities’ of the GIZ- implemented project ‘Sustainable Urban Development - Smart Cities II’ (SUDSC II), has initiated a webinar series for supporting in setting up the Communities of Practice (CoP) under this project. The webinar series shall be conducted on the ‘Connective Cities’ platform, and moderated by the SUDSC team and NIUA. The first of the webinar series, titled ‘Enhancing Service Delivery through Integrated Digital Systems’, will be organised with two expert presentations followed by a case study discussion. This webinar aims to explore the merits of digitally transforming city functions and service delivery while also understanding the challenges (namely, capacity of the organisation, resource constraints, digital divide, data security, and privacy, interoperability and integration, and organisational change management, etc.) that arise during the process and the means to overcome the same. By leveraging integrated digital systems, cities can enhance their efficiency, effectiveness, and overall quality of service delivery to meet the evolving needs of their residents and stakeholders.

National Institute of Urban Affairs is organising a 'Dialogue on Clean and Sustainable Hill States' at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi on 19th June 2023!

This event is a crucial step towards addressing the challenges faced by the Himalayas, the world's youngest mountain ranges. Rapid urbanisation has negatively impacted their hydrological systems, leading to reduced water availability and increased vulnerability for mountain inhabitants. Deforestation, biodiversity loss, and heightened natural hazards further worsen the situation. The hill states in this region, which includes India's fastest-growing cities, face significant obstacles due to their complex geography and the effects of the climate crisis.

To tackle these issues, NIUA and BORDA- South Asia have structured a forum called Parvat-Manthan on "Clean and Sustainable Hill States''. This initiative aligns with the UN-SDG's 'Decade for Action' and PM Narendra Modi's vision for India's G20 presidency. It also relates to the Urban 20 (#U20) agenda, prioritising water security and climate finance.

The dialogue aims to foster collaboration and innovation for a greener future in the Himalayan region. The delegates from various ministries and Urban Development Departments from 12 Himalayan States & UTs will be participating, including Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and the North East Seven Sisters. The discussion will revolve around key challenges and solutions related to WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) to ensure sustainable development in these breath-taking states.This dialogue will provide a unique opportunity for experts, think tanks, and stakeholders to exchange ideas, experiences, and best practices.

The event will be live-streamed at - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=up1vRwTJyYc

We encourage you to join this dialogue in shaping a prosperous future that preserves the beauty and integrity of our hill states!

List of Speakers

• Shri. G. Asok Kumar, IAS, Director General, National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)
• Smt. Roopa Mishra, IAS, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA)
• Shri. Keshav Varma, Former IAS, Chairperson - High Level Committee, MoHUA
• Shri. Deepak Sanan, Former IAS
• Dr. Pema Gyamtsho, Director General, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)
• Shri. Sushil Ramola, Immediate Past President, Integrated Mountain Initiative (IMI)
• Shri. M.T. Sherpa (IAS), Secretary, Urban Development Department, Sikkim
• Shri. Sanjeev Khirwar, IAS, Principal Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department, UT Ladakh
• Shri. Ramesh Negi, Former IAS, Councillor, Integrated Mountain Initiative (IMI)
• Shri. Rohit Kakkar, Dy Adviser (PHE), CPHEEO
• Smt. Sakshi Gudwani, Senior Program Officer, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF)
• Smt. Divya Sharma, Deputy Head of Cooperation, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
• Smt. Kezochole, Joint Director and Nodal Officer SBM U 2.0, Urban Development Department, Nagaland
• Smt. Vanthangpuii, Deputy Director, Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation Department, Mizoram
• Shri. Manu Bhatnagar, Principal Director, Natural Heritage, Division of INTACH
• Shri. Tikender Panwar, Ex-Deputy Mayor, Shimla
• Shri. Sameer Rai, Joint Chief Architect, Urban Development Department, Sikkim
• Smt. Yeshika Malik, Climate Change Specialist, World Bank
• Prof. Saswat Bandyopadhyay, Project Director, Centre of Urban Planning and Policy (CUPP), CEPT University
• Prof. Gaurav Raheja, Professor & Head (Architecture & Planning), IIT Roorkee
• Dr. Umamaheshwaran Rajasekar, Director, Technical Assistance and Capacity Development, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)
• Dr. Victor Shinde, Head, Climate Centre for Cities (C-Cube), NIUA

Location: Silver Oak, India Habitat Centre

Event Webpagehttps://scbp.niua.org/?q=content/forum-inclusive-and-resilient-sanitation-hill-cities

NIUA is bringing the first-ever Urban Climate Film Festival to New Town, Kolkata on 3rd to 5th June 2023. Launched in New Delhi in March 2023, the film festival is being organised through the CITIIS program under the engagement events of U20. With 16 films from 12 countries and panel discussions with experts and filmmakers, the festival in Kolkata aims to enlighten audiences about the the environmental, social and economic impacts of climate change on cities and encourage them to adopt environmentally responsible behaviours and lifestyles. The festival will also celebrate World Environment Day on 5th June with a special closing ceremony, which will be graced by Mr Didier Talpain, (Consul General of France in Kolkata) and Mr Debashis Sen (Managing Director, West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation). The festival is supported by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the French Development Agency (AFD), the European Union and the New Town Kolkata Green Smart City Corporation Limited.

The Urban Climate Film Festival was launched in New Delhi on 24 th March 2023. The inaugural session was chaired by G20 Sherpa Shri Amitabh Kant. The keynote address was delivered by Ms Richa Sharma, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. The festival aims to create larger awareness about the environmental, social and economic impacts of climate change on cities, and inspire action to make urban settlements more climate-resilient. The festival is also providing a platform for filmmakers, urban practitioners, environmentalists, and other individuals and organisations working to highlight pressing concerns related to climate. The global call for entries for the festival received 150 submissions from over 20 countries. 27 films nominated by the jury, along with a curated selection of other well-known films, are being screened in instalments of the festival in New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Ahmedabad.

NULP is taking a leap with the launch of one of India’s biggest urban learning challenges, “The अRban Learnathon” which aims “To collect, share and consume best practices/ urban solutions created by our city champions- people working day in and day out to make cities function better.” The tagline for the Urban Learnathon is simple, which defines the essence of NULP Create - Create user-generated content Collaborate - Solve urban challenges together Celebrate - Get recognized as NULP Champions

Together with the Smart Cities Mission at the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, NIUA is proud to organise a grand event to bring together the country’s youth, showcase their work and potential and help them in becoming able leaders of tomorrow. A 2-day event is organised on the 13th and 14th of March 2023, which we believe will be a trailblazing event in the year of India’s G-20 presidency, for encouraging India’s young population to participate in building the country’s future.

Here’s our lineup of panellists who will be sharing insightful presentations and talks on a session on ‘Innovative indigenous case studies for river management’

The core objective of RCA is to provide the member cities with a platform to discuss and exchange information on aspects that are vital for sustainable management of urban rivers.

The supplementary objective of RCA is for NMCG, NIUA and partners to provide dedicated technical and handholding support to the member cities as they implement interventions for river-sensitive development.

The U20 Sherpa meeting for the 2023 Cycle, chaired by the city of Ahmedabad, will be held on the 9th and 10th of February. The event will have Mayors from the G20 countries come together to draft a roadmap for global change driven by cities.

A City Climate Alliance partners meeting ‘Alliance@U20’, will see a discussion session on the involvement of alliance partners in the U20 initiatives. This will be followed by the launch of the handbook ‘Good Practices in Climate Action - A City Climate Alliance Partners’ Initiative’ on Monday, January 16, 2023, at 11 am, at the Juniper Hall at the India Habitat Centre (IHC).

We will also be launching ‘CLAP NOW’, an interactive card game created by the Climate Centre for Cities (C-CUBE) for city officials and other stakeholders to interact, collaborate and together develop a holistic Climate Action Plan. 

The launches will be followed by lunch.

The workshop is designed to stimulate a healthy dialogue on the relevance of the approach for mainstreaming climate actions to ensure qualitative improvement of the education process & academic workflow support among universities & stakeholders across the partner countries

The 2-day event will see the young researchers from India and Brazil come together to present their research findings and outputs to a wide range of stakeholders, including national Governments, academicians, civil society organisations and multilateral organisations. The event is planned with the objective to gain a holistic understanding of the inclusion of the young population while realising the aim of building inclusive cities. It shall also encourage discourses on youth engagement models, and on equitable and easy access for youth to livelihood opportunities in urban contexts.

The programme has launched the “National Photography Competition” to raise awareness and sensitize people on the challenges faced by young children and their caregivers in urban setting. Theme: Through my eyes- Do our cities accommodate happy spaces for young children and their caregivers? With this thought, we request all of you to capture how friendly or unfriendly your city is for young children and their caregivers. This may be depicted through capturing challenges, good practices, curious observations or anything that arises the concern or makes you appreciate the effort towards young children (0-6 year) and caregivers.