Updates of the Urban Learnathon – Urban Solutions and Best practices received

NULP’s 'अRban Learnathon': Unveiling Urban Solutions Nationwide

National Urban Learning Programme (NULP)

The national level challenge ‘The अRban Learnathon’ launched by the National Urban Learning Platform (NULP) on 13 March 2023 has received an overwhelming response of over 264 urban solutions from 21 states and 4 UTs across India. This 60 day challenge provided state and  city officials an opportunity to create, collaborate and celebrate by showcasing their urban solutions implemented in their respective states and cities. 

The entries were received from 10+ urban domains with top domains being Sewerage and Sanitation, Urban Management and E-Governance, Urban Mobility and Accessibility, Environment and Climate and Social Aspects. In the next phase of the challenge, winners will be selected in various categories through a popular choice approach, where the audience will have the opportunity to vote for the best solutions using the NULP voting feature. 

The best urban solutions will be identified following the NULP principle of ‘You will Create, You will Share, You will Monitor, You will choose’. Additionally, the solutions chosen for the voting phase will be published on the NULP platform. Also, solutions which are selected for the voting phase will be published on the NULP. For further updates, please visit the NULP website.

Launch of Policy Brief on on Gender & Disability Inclusion

BASIIC India Launches Policy Brief Focusing on Gender & Disability Inclusion

Building Accessible, Safe and Inclusive Indian Cities (BASIIC)

The Policy Brief on ‘Gender and Disability Inclusion in Urban Development’ was launched on 25 May 2023 at the UN House in India. The brief has been developed under the joint initiative between NIUA and the UN in India on ‘Mainstreaming Gender and Disability Inclusion in the Implementation of SDGs, particularly SDG 11’ supported by the UN Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 

It outlines the vulnerabilities faced by women, girls, and persons with disabilities in cities, identifies priority intervention areas and advocates for participatory planning approaches. The policy brief also advocates adopting a gender-transformative planning approach, developing age-responsive, disability-centric initiatives, including incorporating universal design criteria in all urban development projects and service delivery, financial and technical support for inclusion initiatives, and preferential procurement policies for women and persons with disabilities that are critical to ensure inclusive urban growth.

It has been prepared after several consultations with organisations of persons with disabilities, rights implementers, domain experts and academia by Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, Karnataka.

Panellists for the discussion on ‘Reimagining Urban Frameworks from the Lens of Gender & Disability Inclusion’

NIUA-UN Women Dialogue 'Reimagining Urban Frameworks from the Lens of Gender & Disability Inclusion’ Organised

Building Accessible, Safe and Inclusive Indian Cities (BASIIC)

BASIIC in collaboration with the UN in India organised the roundtable 'Reimagining Urban Frameworks from the Lens of Gender & Disability Inclusion' on 25 May 2023. This session was held as a part of 'Creating a Women-Led U20 Framework', a two-day multistakeholder NIUA-UN Women Dialogue. 

The roundtable was premised on the Policy Brief - 'Gender and Disability Inclusion’ and aimed to provide a multi-stakeholder perspective with reference to planning fields, infrastructure, housing, public transport and mobility, and participatory design processes that account for the experiences of women, girls, and persons with disabilities with the aim to contribute towards building disability and gender-inclusive Indian cities. 

The intent of the dialogue was to propose recommendations for the U20 Communiqué that would assist policymakers and urban planners across the G20 countries in the creation of equitable cities for all, keeping in line with the theme of ‘Leave No One Behind’ (LNOB) under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

NIUA-UNICEF Partnership for Creating Safe, Inclusive and Climate-Resilient Cities

NIUA-UNICEF Partnership for Creating Safe, Inclusive and Climate-Resilient Cities

Building Accessible, Safe and Inclusive Indian Cities (BASIIC)

UNICEF and NIUA have collaborated for organising U20 side events and working towards creating safe, inclusive and climate-resilient cities through urban planning and policymaking for the inclusion of various vulnerable groups such as children/ youth/ women and persons with disabilities. 

Through this collaboration, NIUA and UNICEF aim towards converting policies into action and creating frameworks that would strengthen the urban planning and governance systems required to build inclusive cities.

Workshop on Incorporating ITC-Friendly Elements in Park Projects

Handholding Support to City Officials for Developing ITC-Centric Parks

Infant, Toddler and Caregiver friendly Neighbourhood (ITCN) Capacity Building Programme

ITCN Capacity Building Programme, with Bernard van Leer Foundation (BvLF) is providing handholding support to cities for the implementation of ITC-centric park projects. The five partner training delivery agencies have identified park projects in their selected cities and trained city officials to initiate the implementation process. Two workshops were conducted by the Programme, and another one is planned to gather learnings from the processes. 

The first workshop introduced concepts based on the tools and training delivered under the Implementation course of ITCN, while the second one had discussion and insights from Indian cities that have implemented ITC focussed initiatives for public spaces. During the second workshop, city officials from Udaipur and Pune, along with other experts, shared their experiences and provided recommendations for the upcoming projects.

City Planning from the Lens of a Young Child and Caregiver

NIUA authored paper in South Asian Journal of Participative Development

A paper on ‘Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Health and Well-Being of Young Children' Published

Infant, Toddler and Caregiver friendly Neighbourhood (ITCN) Capacity Building Programme

NIUA's ITCN Capacity Building Programme, in collaboration with BvLF, focuses on capacity building of city officials and young professionals, to address the pressing need for creating urban spaces suitable for young children. In light of the severe impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable groups in cities, particularly in early childhood development, Krishna Kant Pandey, the Team Leader of ITCN at NIUA, has authored a paper ’Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on health and well-being of young children’. This paper has been published in the South Asian Journal of Participative Development Volume 22, Issue 2, for July-December 2022.

The objective of the paper is to comprehend the critical challenges faced by young children and their caregivers due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it summarises key recommendations to address these issues. These recommendations encompass improved response strategies and enhanced access to long-term services, specifically tailored for young children, among other suggestions.

C-CUBE team with the key dignitaries - Shri Sanjay Seth – Senior Director, The Energy and Resources Institute, Shri Rahul Kapoor, Joint Secretary Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, Dr Antje Berger, Counselor, Climate & Environment German Embassy.

Participants at the workshop

Interactive session with the participants actively discussing the CLAP now game Climate Action cards

During the conference, various Smart City Representatives presented their city work

Workshop on 'Fostering Participatory Climate Action in Indian Cities using Technology

Climate Centre for Cities (C-Cube)

A two-day workshop on 'Fostering Participatory Climate Action in Indian Cities using Technology' was organised under the action research project titled Transformative Climate Action using Participatory data-driven decision-making platforms (T-CAP), Climate Centre for Cities (C-Cube) at the NIUA in collaboration with the United Nations University Institute of Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) on 9-10 May 2023 at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.

The workshop brought together cities, advocacy groups, institutions, start-ups, and solution providers to explore data analytics, AI, and risk management strategies for smart city development. It emphasised  the need for integrated climate data systems, engagement for climate actions, coordination and data stewardship. The workshop emphasised the city-specific approaches and integration of local knowledge.

Organising partners with the participants

Ashwini Bhide, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Eastern Suburbs), addressing the participants with Shri Hitesh Vaidya, Director NIUA

Presentation on Mumbai Climate Action Plan by BMC team

Workshop participants at the BMC office

Participants at the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST)'s e-BUS Depot

C-Cube Discusses Climate Finance at GCoM Regional Workshop

Climate Centre for Cities (C-Cube)

A regional training workshop on ‘Accelerating Access to Climate Finance to South Asian Cities: Designing Climate Resilient Development Projects’ was conducted on 18-19 May 2023 at Taj Palace, Mumbai by Climate Centre for Cities (C-Cube) at the NIUA, in association with the EU-funded Global Covenant of Mayors (GCoM) Asia.

The workshop focused on building an understanding of financial mechanisms, enhancing capacity to access and utilise climate finance, providing guidance on developing bankable projects, building networks and partnerships, and fostering knowledge exchange to create a community of practice around climate finance in South Asian cities. 

This workshop brought together over 50+ city representatives (Mayor/ Executive Head), stakeholders in climate finance, and members of partner organisations.

The participants visited the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation office, where Ashwini Bhide, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Eastern Suburbs), addressed the meeting with Hitesh Vaidya, Director NIUA. This was followed by a visit to the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST)'s e-BUS Depot.

Panelists for the #IndiaClimateDialogue on Operationalising Nature-based Solutions in River Cities

#IndiaClimateDialogues: Operationalising Nature-based Solutions in River Cities

City Climate Alliance

The City Climate Alliance hosted a dialogue on 'Operationalising Nature-based Solutions in River Cities'. The dialogue, organised by NIUA focused on better understanding the potential of Nature-based Solutions to address the risks faced by river cities, their implementation, governing systems, collaboration and partnerships through a cross-sectoral lens through case studies. 

The dialogue was led by: Annapurna Vancheswaran, Managing Director, The Nature Conservancy Rajiv Ranjan Mishra, Former Director General NMCG, Chief Technical Advisor, National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) Nitin Bassi, Programme Lead, Water Team, CEEW Moderator: Ambika Vishwanath, Director, Kubernein Initiative.

Panelists discussing the critical entry points for women-led U20 framework

Panelists discussing the critical entry points for women-led U20 framework

Over 60 Thought Leaders Come Together to Create a Women-led U20 Framework

City Climate Alliance

Over sixty thought leaders, mostly women, sat over 16 hours over two days and came up with several disruptive ideas on 'Creating a women-led U-20 framework'. The discussions on 24-25 May at the UN House ranged from overlooking the six U-20 thematic areas from a gender perspective. 

The discussion covered need for –

1. Women at work, in a domestic environment, innovators, disruptors, across age groups and all scales, to come in as facilitators, and consumers, to encourage environmentally responsible behaviours
2. Digital transitions to become more accessible and women-centric. We must envision green jobs from a woman's lens, backed by necessary upskilling
3. Subsidies and empowerment to go hand in hand in most urban contexts
4. Data that is gender-disaggregated

Officials with drivers at the E-Auto Carnival in Amritsar

E-Auto Mela Organised for Auto Drivers in Amritsar

City Investments to Innovate, Integrate and Sustain (CITIIS)

An ‘auto mela’ was organised on 19 May 2023 for drivers in Amritsar to inform them of the features of electric auto-rickshaws and about the RAAHI project (an acronym for ‘Rejuvenation of Auto-Rickshaws in Amritsar through Holistic Interventions’) of the CITIIS program. At the mela, empanelled e-auto OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) showcased their products at the event and provided the drivers with detailed information.

The RAAHI project aims to replace more than 7000 diesel auto-rickshaws in Amritsar through a subsidy model to help create a convenient and sustainable public transport system in the city. It facilitates the formation of a cooperative society of auto drivers, as well as skill development courses for women in their families. Learn more about the project here: https://citiis.niua.in/projects/amritsar.

CITIIS Domestic Experts conducting the tactical urbanism exercise

CITIIS program pilots 'Safe Access to Schools' Study in Chennai

City Investments to Innovate, Integrate and Sustain (CITIIS)

A tactical urbanism exercise was conducted in Chennai on 25 - 26 May to test strategies for increasing road safety for school children was conducted by Pranjali Deshpande, a mobility expert and the Domestic Expert for CITIIS in Dehradun and Amritsar. 

On 25 May, a workshop and consultation meeting was held with officials from the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), the Traffic Police Department, the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority, ITDP and NIUA, to discuss interventions that can ensure safe and convenient access to civic amenities. 

A study was conducted on 26 May at the Bulla Avenue School regarding safety facilities such as zebra crossings and footpaths near the school. A temporary pavement was constructed and tested. 

Based on the ‘Safe Access to Schools’ study, GCC will formulate and implement safety measures for students commuting between school and home, prioritising schools under the CITIIS program. Learn more about how CITIIS is improving learning environments for school students in Chennai here.

Mumbarakpur Dabas Community Members with the Water & Environment Vertical Team

Community Water Forum (CWF) Meeting Held to Improve Water Security in Mubarakpur Dabas, Delhi

Water & Environment (W&E)

A Community Water Forum Meeting (CWF) was organised at Mubarakpur Dabas in Delhi on 27 April 2023 by NIUA, World Resources Institute (WRI), and Mahila Housing Trust (MHT). This was part of a series of meetings conducted under the Australia-India Water Security Initiative Community Demonstration Project (AIWASI CDP) that aims to improve water security and liveability conditions for two disadvantaged communities in Delhi. 

The CWF meeting focused at sensitising the community members of Mubarakpur Dabas on the proposed interventions of the Community Demonstration Projects designed by McGregor Coxall (McGC). The meeting helped community members understand the interventions in simpler terms and assisted government agencies in understanding synergies between ongoing projects and proposed interventions, and discuss the challenges faced by the community and its solutions.

Students participate in the Inception Workshop on ‘Water and River Sensitive Urban Development’

Workshop on ‘Water and River Sensitive Urban Development’ Held for Architecture and Planning Students

Water & Environment (W&E)

An inception workshop on ‘Water and River Sensitive Urban Development’ was conducted at the Amity School of Architecture and Planning, Amity University, Noida with students of B.Plan, B.Arch, and M.Arch, on 2 May 2023, by the Water and Environment Vertical at NIUA.

The workshop aimed at helping students understand the value of rivers in mainstreaming river-centric thinking into a city’s long-term vision. The session helped the students orient themselves to the different projects being undertaken by NIUA for holistic management of urban rivers.

Network session during the 'River Cities Alliance' Global Seminar

Glimpses from the 'River Cities Alliance' Global Seminar

Participants at the 'River Cities Alliance' Global Seminar

Presentation at the 'River Cities Alliance' Global Seminar

Discussion during the 'River Cities Alliance' Global Seminar

NIUA-NMCG Organise ‘River Cities Alliance Global Seminar’

Water & Environment (W&E)

To expand the scope of the River Cities Alliance (RCA) outside India, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) in association with the NIUA organised the ‘River-Cities Alliance Global Seminar: Partnership for Building International River-Sensitive Cities’ on 4 May 2023 in New Delhi. 

The seminar witnessed participation from Embassies/High Commissions of select countries and their respective river cities in order to highlight objectives, achievements, and potential collaborative outcomes of RCA. State Missions for Clean Ganga (SMCGs) and funding agencies like World Bank, ADB, JICA & KfW also took part in the discussions.

NIUA's Water & Environment Vertical and NMCG participate in a brainstorming session with HODs

Online brainstorming session on Mainstreaming ‘River-Centric Thinking’

Brainstorming Meeting for Mainstreaming ‘River-Centric Thinking’ into Academia

Water & Environment (W&E)

NIUA and the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) organised a brainstorming session with the Heads of 18 diverse educational institutes across India on 22 May 2023. 

Some of the key suggestions that the Professors made for strengthening river thinking in academia included;

1. Strengthening river thinking in academia
2. Engaging students to document river systems and existing indigenous practices for river management
3. Organising studio-level exercises on real-life river projects
4. Creating a network of academic institutions to discuss and co-learn good practices for managing urban rivers
5. Organising summer schools for river-sensitive learning and creating an enabling environment in universities to encourage start-ups and entrepreneurs for innovative river solutions.

Discussion among the panelists

Consultation Meet in progress

NIUA Participates at the Consultation Meet on ‘Developing Community-centric Pathway for Building Disaster Preparedness and Climate-Resilient WASH’

Sanitation and Capacity Building Programme (SCBP)

On May 2, 2023, the SCBP team at NIUA attended a consultation meeting in Bhubaneswar, on ‘Developing Community-centric Pathway for Building Disaster Preparedness and Climate-Resilient WASH’. The meeting focussed on community preparedness efforts and empower communities to address the challenges associated with establishing safe and inclusive WASH systems in the face of climate change. 

During the consultation, the SCBP team shared their insights and experiences from their work on sustainable sanitation in Uttarakhand. 

As such, the team highlighted the importance of inclusion of local NGOs, marginalised communities, and the implementation of climate adaptation and mitigation measures. They also discussed their ongoing initiative to establish a forum dedicated to promoting cleanliness and sustainability in hill states. 

iGOT Team presenting the framework

Participants engaging about iGOT Portal

Queries of the stakeholders being addressed

Demonstration and Orientation of iGOT Portal

Sanitation and Capacity Building Programme (SCBP)

NIUA with MoHUA launched three online courses under the theme ‘Sustainable Sanitation’ to strengthen capacity building of Urban Local Bodies across the country. These courses- (namely FSSM Orientation, FSSM Planning, and Co-treatment of Septage in STP) have been uploaded on the iGOT platform, under the Mission Karmayogi Bharat.

To showcase the process of creating the first of its kind teaching-learning content and it’s development procedure, along with the functioning of iGOT, NIUA in collaboration with Mission Karmayogi Bharat organised an interactive online session ‘iGOT Portal Demonstration and Orientation’ on 30 May 2023. This session provided various stakeholders, including NIUA’s partner organisations in the sanitation sector, with a comprehensive understanding of the iGOT platform, discussing about the competency framework (FRAC), E-HRMS etc.

During the session, the course review framework and content creation guidelines developed by NIUA were also discussed. The session included a walkthrough of the mission and iGOT, serving as a valuable online learning experience for 30+ sector organisations.

Participants at the Climate Action Plan training

Climate Action Plan training in progress

Gardners during the training

Gardners training

Plantation drive in progress

Plantation drive

CapaCITIES Project Celebrates Climate Week and World Environment Day Celebration

Capacity‌ ‌Building‌ ‌for‌ ‌Low-carbon‌ ‌and‌ ‌Climate‌ ‌Resilient‌ City‌ ‌Development‌ (CapaCITIES)

CapaCITIES project supported the Udaipur Municipal Corporation (UMC) to celebrate ‘World Environment Day’ and organised ‘Climate Week from 30 May to 5 June 2023,’ coinciding with this year’s ‘World Environment Day (WED)’ . The major objectives was to create awareness on climate change and promote the Government of India’s mission LiFE – Lifestyle for Environment. Several events including training workshops and practical demonstrations on environmental sustainability were organised.

1. Training on Climate Action Planning & Awareness Generation on Climate Adaptation Life Style for Environment - A training workshop on climate action planning & awareness generation was held on 31 May  2023 at the Municipal Board Meeting Room. During the event, expert from CapaCITIES project provided training to government officials on Climate Action Planning and about 75 recommended actions under the Mission LiFE. Around 35 municipal officials from various departments participated in the event, including; Planning, Civil & Construction, Electrical, Accounts and Revenue, Solid & Liquid waste management.. 
2. Training on Urban Forest Development (Miyawaki Technique) and Awareness Generation - A training session was held for municipal gardeners, using Miyawaki technique and promote the use of native plants, agriculture residue, and organic materials in gardening on 1 June  2023 at the Municipal Board Meeting Room, on Urban Forest Development. Around 32 gardeners participated, and learned about Miyawaki technique of urban forest management and sustainable gardening practices. Practical demonstration of these techniques were organised in ‘Mota Park’, Udaipur. Such trainings enable UMC to establish small-scale urban forests and enhance green coverage across the city. 
3. Plantation Drive Organised for Green Campus - A plantation drive for a Green Campus was held on 5 June at the Municipal Corporation Premise. The UMC encouraged to adopt sustainable practice; use of old tree guard, in line with the Government of India’s Mission LiFE. During the event, participants planted about 40 native species, contributing to the overall aesthetic beauty and environmental benefits to its citizens.

Manpreet Singh participated in a roundtable in Governance Summit

Governance Summit Reveals Challenges in the Data Ecosystem of India

National Urban Digital Mission (NUDM)

In the Governance Summit held at Mohali, Punjab on 12 May 2023, Manpreet Singh, Chief Programme Officer, NUDM - NIUA, participated in a roundtable on Open Data-Based Governance Platform. 

The experts highlighted challenges in data sharing and non-standardisation of data, which hinder the open-source ecosystem in India. Key takeaways include the need for more open data platforms, integration of different data for feedback-based knowledge, and access to digital public goods for welfare maximisation. 

NIUA signed MoU with Wadhwani AI

NIUA and Wadhwani AI Collaborate to Enhance Citizen-Centric Services in Urban Governance

National Urban Digital Mission (NUDM)

NIUA and Wadhwani AI have signed an MoU under the NUDM to drive stakeholder interactions and support citizen-centric services in areas of urban governance. Wadhwani AI will provide expertise in data analysis to generate predictions and enable planning capabilities for public services such as property tax management and grievance redressal. 

National Workshop on U20 Agenda for Municipal Governance

National Workshop on U20 Agenda for Municipal Governance

National Urban Digital Mission (NUDM)

At the National Workshop on U-20 Agenda for Municipal Governance, hosted by IIPA, Manpreet Singh, CPO-NUDM -NIUA, led a session on e-Governance perspective under NUDM and emphasised on the need to adopt a Digital First Approach for India's urban governance. The session focussed on the digital delivery of citizen services, aiming to enhance the Ease of Living and Ease of Doing Business for ULBs.

Empowering Urban Chhattisgarh digitally through the OBPAS module of UPYOG

Empowering Urban Chhattisgarh Digitally through the OBPAS module of UPYOG

National Urban Digital Mission (NUDM)

Chhattisgarh launched the OBPAS module of UPYOG as NiwasPass on 28 April 2023. This digital public infrastructure aims to provide urban e-governance services to urban citizens of Chhattisgarh. The launch aligns with the NUDM's objective of digitally empowering urban India. 

State Engagement Leads for NUDM attended Rajasthan Workshop

Workshop in Rajasthan to Strategise and Implement NUDM

National Urban Digital Mission (NUDM)

The State Engagement Leads for NUDM participated in a crucial two-day workshop in Rajasthan to discuss and strategize the implementation of the NUDM in the state. 

NUDM team held meeting with Sharmila Mary Joseph, IAS, PS, LSGD, Kerala

Kerala to adopt and implement NUDM Initiatives

National Urban Digital Mission (NUDM)

Sharmila Mary Joseph, IAS, PS, LSGD, Kerala, held a strategic meeting with the NUDM team at NIUA Headquarters, paving the way for seamless adoption and implementation of NUDM initiatives in Kerala. 

NUDM participated in the U20 Indore Event on Reinventing Urban Governance for Indian Cities

Panel Discussion at U20 Event in Indore Explores Digital Urban Futures for Indian Cities

National Urban Digital Mission (NUDM)

In the U20 Event on 'Reinventing Urban Governance for Indian Cities', hosted by the Indore Municipal Corporation on 18 May 2023, Manpreet Singh, CPO-NUDM at NIUA, and Pankaj Sharma, Regional Lead at NIUA, actively participated in a panel discussion titled ‘Catalyzing Digital Urban Futures’. The discussion focussed on the significance of data and the transformative role of emerging digital technologies. This event served as a platform to explore innovative solutions and pave the way for a digitally driven future in India's urban development.

Technical Workshop on SWM & ICCC Usage in Kochi

Technical Workshop on SWM & ICCC Usage in Kochi

National Urban Digital Mission (NUDM)

Pankaj Sharma, along with NUDM team participated in a technical workshop organised by India-EU Urban Partnership in Kochi. The workshop focused on establishing solid waste management systems and optimising integrated command and control center (ICCC) usage. Collaborating with EUD and NIUA, Kochi aims to develop robust waste management modules for a sustainable future. 

Participants at the UPYOG consultation workshop

Integrating GIS with UPYOG: Consultation workshop held

National Urban Digital Mission (NUDM)

An Industry Consultation on 'Integrating GIS Capabilities with UPYOG'  under NUDM took place on 17 May 2023. Over 50 professionals from industry, public sector, and academia participated, sharing insights, showcasing the best practices, and discussing challenges and opportunities. The consultation aimed to strengthen the platform and shape the approach for integrating GIS technology with UPYOG.

NULP team with the Joint Director, Directorate of Municipal Administration, Tamil Nadu

Expanding Horizons: NULP Collaborate with DMA, Tamil Nadu for Enhanced Urban Capacity Building

National Urban Learning Programme (NULP)

In an effort to promote capacity building through digital means and cultivate a sustainable culture of collaborative learning among urban practitioners, NIUA is actively facilitating the implementation of NULP across cities and states in India. To further expand the reach and impact of NULP, a meeting was recently conducted with S. Parijatham – Joint Director (JD), Corporations on 23 May 2023 in Tamil Nadu. 

The focus of the discussion revolved around exploring opportunities to integrate NULP with the state's existing mandate for technical and refresher training programmes. This collaboration aims to leverage the platform's capabilities and resources to enhance the state's training initiatives and ensure a comprehensive approach to skill development for urban practitioners. Through these efforts, NULP is dedicated to creating a dynamic and inclusive learning environment, empowering urban professionals with the necessary knowledge and skills to address the complex challenges of urbanisation effectively.

Debjani Ghosh presenting the Sustainable Neighbourhood site details to MGI Partners

MGSCI Global Team

Kochi City Lab team working on project evaluation tables at the Annual Conference

NIUA represented at the Annual Conference under MGSCI held at Stuttgart

Morgenstadt Global Smart Cities Initiative (MGSCI)

The Annual Conference under MGSCI was held from 9-10 May 2023 in Stuttgart, Germany. The event was an occasion for project partners, sustainability experts, and team members to come together and share lessons learned from the past four years of bringing forward transformational change and Climate Action in the MGI pilot cities of Piura, Saltillo and Kochi. Debjani Ghosh and Anna Brittas represented NIUA and the Kochi City Lab team in the conference, highlighting the impacts of the Sustainable Neighbourhood pilot project in Kochi.

Representatives from partner cities and organisations at the workshop

Sarika Chakravarty, Team Lead UrbanShift Country Project presenting an overview of the project contours at the launch event

Kunal Kumar, (Joint Secretary, MoHUA) addressing the participants

Launch of UrbanShift Country Project

UrbanShift

UrbanShift Country Project, funded by Global Environment Facility 7 (GEF 7) - was launched at the Inception Workshop, jointly organised by NIUA and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), on 3 May 2023, at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. The inaugural session was graced by Kunal Kumar, (JS- MoHUA), Atul Bagai (Head, UN Environment Programme India office), Aloke Barnwal, (Senior Climate Change Specialist, GEF), Hitesh Vaidya, (Director, NIUA) and Emani Kumar, (Executive Director, ICLEI South Asia). Sarika Chakravarty, Team Lead, UrbanShift Country Project presented the contours of the project, that aims to support sustainable cities through knowledge exchange and capacity development to inform implementation of compact, nature-positive, climate-resilient, inclusive, and gender-sensitive approaches across 4 cities in India, namely, Pune, Surat, Agra and Puducherry. 

Representatives from Pune Municipal Corporation elaborated on Pune Transit-oriented Development regulations and efforts being undertaken towards establishing Non-motorised Transport infrastructure. O.P. Agarwal, Member, Governing Council, - NIUA, Ex-CEO WRI provided insights about making TOD implementable in Indian cities, citing global examples and his professional experiences. 

Representatives from Surat Municipal Corporation presented the design proposal for developing the Dumas Seafront, highlighting the sustainable features of the proposal. Peeyush Sekhsaria, Independent Consultant, Natural Resource Management and Disaster and Risk Management, presented about Nature-based Solutions and their application to increase the resilience of coastal areas.

Representatives from Greater Chennai Corporation presented Chennai’s integrated Urban Flood Risk Management, which focused on the components of improving climate-resilient urban flood protection infrastructure and the restoration of Kadappakka lake. 

Experts in gender and urban development at the dialogue on ‘Creating a women-led U-20 framework’

Kanak Tiwari from NIUA speaking about the Urban20 priorities and lessons from the Delhi Master Plan at HIPA

National workshop on U-20 Agenda for Municipal Governance at IIPA

Reinventing Urban Governance for Indian Cities; hosted by Indore Municipal Corporation

Fifth U20 Manthan on ‘Reinventing Frameworks for Urban Governance and Planning’

Urban 20

U20

1. U20 Manthan on Reinventing Frameworks for Urban Governance and Planning- The U20 team hosted the fifth U20 Manthan on ‘Reinventing Frameworks for Urban Governance and Planning’, featuring panellists from NIUA, WRI, Metropolis and SPA Delhi.
2. U20 Samvaad & U20 India Climate Dialogue Series- Two podcasts ‘Developing a Master Plan’ and ‘Innovations in City Governments’ were released under the U20 Samvaad series, along with the U20 India Climate Dialogue on decoding the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change for cities (IPCC).
3. Reinventing Urban Governance for Indian Cities- The team attended and supported the U2O Event on Reinventing Urban Governance for Indian Cities; hosted by Indore Municipal Corporation and arranged by AIILSG in collaboration with NIUA -Technical secretariat of U20, MoHUA, and Government of Madhya Pradesh on 18 May 2023 at Brilliant Convention Centre, Indore.
4. U20 Converges with the Y20 Consultation Summit- The U20 team attended the Y20 Consultation Summit where Youth 20 and Urban 20 converged to organise 'Twenty Talks' and ‘Urban Chaupal’ based on the tenets of Jan Bhagidari. These collaborative initiatives were launched at the Y20 Consultation Summit at the University of Kashmir, on the theme of Climate Change, Disaster Risk Reduction and Sustainability - A Way of Life. 'Twenty Talks' is a discussion series on the youth’s perspective of urban issues, in association with twenty colleges from all over India. ‘Urban Chaupal’ is an informal community engagement session in selected urban areas aligning to the local aspects of the U20 and Y20 priorities on 10-12 May.
5. Discussion on Urban 20 priority areas held at Haryana Institute of Public Administration (HIPA)-Kanak Tiwari, Programme Director, Urban Strategy Unit & U20 Technical Secretariat, NIUA  had an interaction with the Haryana Civil Service batch 2023 at  the Institutional Training Programme for HCS (Haryana Civil Services) Batch 2023 in the Haryana Institute of Public Administration. There, she spoke about the Urban 20 priorities and lessons from the Delhi Master Plan.  
6. Integration of Gender Considerations Across the Six U20 Thematic Pillars- The U20 team supported in organising a 2-day dialogue on ‘Creating a women-led U-20 framework’ on 24-25 May 2023, which was hosted by NIUA in collaboration with UN Women. The dialogue brought together experts on gender and urban development who contributed to the integration of gender considerations across the six U20 pillars.
7. Municipal Governance Conference at Indian Institute of Public Administration- The U20 team participated in a two-day national workshop on U-20 Agenda for Municipal Governance from 2-3 May 2023 organised by the Centre for Urban Studies (CUS) at IIPA. The workshop covered three focus areas of U-20 (i) championing ‘Local’ identity, (ii) Reinventing framework for urban governance & planning, and (iii) Catalysing Digital Urban Futures. The workshop was organised in partnership with NIUA - the technical secretariat of U-20.