Dr. Vasudevan representing Varanasi at the Global Disability Innovation Summit

Fostering the Vision of Sugamya Kashi: Varanasi Takes Center Stage at the Disability Innovation Summit in London

Building Accessible, Safe and Inclusive Indian Cities (BASIIC)

Dr. D Vasudevan, Chief General Manager of Varanasi Smart City Limited (VSCL), Varanasi, represented BASIIC at the Global Disability Innovation Summit in London, UK. The summit was held on 13-14 of September 2023 as part of the Inclusive Infrastructure sub-programme under the UK Aid-funded AT2030, which has undertaken research on the accessibility of Varanasi, India in partnership with NIUA and VSCL under BASIIC. For the event,  the Inclusive Infrastructure team at  Global Disability Innovation (GDI) Hub brought together partners from the six research cities of Varanasi, Ulaanbaatar, Solo, Nairobi, Freetown, and Medellin, to engage in workshops and support validation of the research findings and outcomes from their respective cities. The study focused on understanding the current approach and mapping the city-level efforts across urban planning, policy, and practices to transform Varanasi City as accessible, safe, and inclusive for all. GDI Hub developed the qualitative aspect of the study and focused on:

1. Capturing the experiences of persons with disabilities to co-design solutions. 
2. Building an understanding of the current awareness, and the application of inclusive planning and design approaches among policy and practice stakeholders. 

The qualitative component of the study was designed and led by the BASIIC program at NIUA. To substantiate the findings from all 6 cities, the summit also got city government representatives like Dr Vasudevan, to take part in these discussions and reflect on government initiatives to improve their cities for persons with disabilities. These interactions greatly benefitted all the partners by allowing each city to learn from each other, share experiences, and collectively agree on actions to support the creation of more inclusive cities in the future."

Draft for feedback

Seeking Feedback/ Comments/ Suggestions on Draft Municipal Governance Standards published by NUDM and BIS

National Urban Digital Mission (NUDM)

One of the key deliverables under NUDM is the creation/ adoption of standards to promote data usage and data-driven governance to securely enable interoperability (both semantic and syntactic) of data & processes in ULBs.

In collaboration with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), NUDM has prepared 5 draft knowledge standards (taxonomy) on Building Plan Approval, Trade Licenses, Municipal Grievance Redressal, Fire NOC, and Water and Sewerage, all of which are now accessible on the BIS website.

We request feedback on these draft documents to help deliver balanced, neutral, collaborative and consensus-driven standards. The last date to submit feedback is 20 October 2023.

Link: https://www.services.bis.gov.in/php/BIS_2.0/dgdashboard/draft/darftdetail/66/3/LITD

Announcement of the National Urban Conclave

NULP national event ‘National Urban Conclave’ coming soon

National Urban Learning Platform (NULP)

NULP is geared up to host the prestigious ‘National Urban Conclave’, a collaborative effort between UDSL (Urban Data Science Lab) and NULP to serve as the culmination of the Urban Data Conclave and The Urban Learnathon.

UDC was launched to drive discussions on the potential of data analytics and AI in enhancing urban living through three engaging challenges: Mapathon, Datathon, and AI Art while 'The Urban Learnathon' provided a platform to 'Create, Collaborate and Celebrate’ the best practices implemented by the states/cities. The tentative date for this remarkable event is set for 31 October 2023, coinciding with the World Cities Day!

Saral’s seven step approach by NIUA to be deployed in Odisha, for participation of persons with disabilities to create evidence and action on the ground

Forging an Inclusive Roadmap for Odisha - NIUA Initiates Dialogue to create Inclusive Disaster Response Strategies and Universally Accessible Cities

Building Accessible, Safe and Inclusive Indian Cities (BASIIC)

NIUA, through the Inclusive Cities Center, has initiated dialogues with the Odisha Housing and Urban Development Department (H&UD) to collaborate in mainstreaming universal accessibility and inclusion in urban development initiatives. The focus is on creating a "Universal Accessibility fund" for the state agencies to systematically audit and operationalise retrofitting existing infrastructure to be more compliant with universal accessibility standards set forth under the Harmonised Guidelines 2021.

To make effective use of this fund, a task force shall be created under the H&UD and operationalised by Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA), which would specifically aim to conduct an accessibility audit of public infrastructure, including water dispensing points, schools, colleges, parks, libraries, religious buildings etc. to identify required interventions and align proposed modifications with national and state guidelines. NIUA will support the state to enhance the execution capacity of the engineers and hold the officials to strict compliance.

NIUA will also be working Odisha State Disaster Management Authority to mainstream disability inclusion into Disaster Risk Reduction. With support from the  Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), NIUA aims to pilot action research in Ganjam district of Odisha. The initiative - Strategic Actions to Build Resilience for All (Saral) will aim to conduct grounded research on the impact of disaster on persons with disabilities and work to develop sustainable community engagement models. NIUA, through the study, will pilot test a seven-step approach developed on inclusive principles to disaster risk reduction. It would apply a holistic and comprehensive approach to include persons with disabilities in the disaster risk reduction and management cycle through evidence collection. Both engagements are set to commence in October 2023.

Consultation with TCPO and Programme Partners

Consultation with TCPO and Programme Partners to Incorporate ITCN Framework in Local Area Planning

Infant, Toddler, Caregiver-Friendly Neighbourhood (ITCN)

Local Area Planning such as Local Area Plans and Town Planning Schemes have the potential to act as a robust means for ITC-friendly neighbourhood development by addressing people’s needs directly. The ITCN capacity building programme developed a concept note that includes checklists covering thematics like neighbourhood streets, parks, open spaces and other social infrastructure. It highlights the considerations for young children and their caregivers by referencing the ITCN framework, the Smart Cities Mission, and learnings from the ITCN and Urban 95 programmes and outcomes in India.

The concept note had been submitted to TCPO for further discussion, and a half-day consultation with TCPO and ITCN programme partners was organised in hybrid mode at NIUA on 15 September 2023. Besides TCPO and ITCN representatives, training and delivery agencies, as well as academic institutes gave their inputs on the concept note. These will be incorporated in the revised version to be submitted to TCPO, requesting them to incorporate the proposed considerations in local area guidelines to enable children-friendly development in our cities.

The C-Cube team alongside important dignitaries and officials representing various departments and state authorities from Jamnagar city during the inaugural stakeholder consultation

The C-cube team at the Jamnagar inaugural session, alongside representatives from NGOs, associations, industrial representatives, and developers

Stakeholders engaged in mapping exercise during the inaugural stakeholder consultation at Jamnagar

Conversations with participants at Jamnagar regarding the causes and impacts of hazards

Group photograph of the participating stakeholders at Pune Climate Action Plan- Stakeholder Consultation

Anshul Abbasi from C-Cube team delivering a presentation on the city's baseline and performance at Pune Climate Action Plan- Stakeholder Consultation

A glimpse of the attendees at Pune Climate Action Plan- Stakeholder Consultation

Shri Madhav Jagtap, Deputy Commissioner PMC addressing the participants at Pune Climate Action Plan- Stakeholder Consultation

Consultation with 5 Pilot Indian Cities for Climate Action Plan (CAP) Project

Climate Centre for Cities (C-Cube)

C-Cube at NIUA, in collaboration with the EU-funded Global Covenant of Mayors (GCoM) South Asia, is in the process of developing climate action plans for five pilot cities: Kolkata, Pune, Leh, Junagadh, and Jamnagar. Various consultations have been organised across these cities to comprehensively understand the impact of climate change, and the challenges they face, and to co-create a vision for the Climate Action Plan.

1. Jamnagar Climate Action Plan: Inaugural Stakeholder Consultation

With the support of the Jamnagar Municipal Corporation, the inaugural meeting was held by C-Cube with city stakeholders to understand Jamnagar's specific needs and analyse challenges related to climate mitigation and adaptation in September.

Besides officials representing various departments and state authorities, NGOs, associations, industrial representatives and developers participated. This two-day consultation included notable figures such as Mayor Hon. Vinodbhai N. Khimsuriya, Former Mayor Hon. Binaben Kothari, Standing Committee Chairman Hon. Nileshbhai Kagathar, Deputy Mayor Hon. Krishnaben Sodha, Ruling Party Leader Hon. Aashishbhai Joshi, City BJP Mahamantri Shri Vijaysigh Jethava, Municipal Commissioner Shri D. N. Modi, Deputy Municipal Commissioner Shri Bhavesh N Jani, Chief Fire Officer Shri K. K. Bishnoi, and NIUA Advisor Shri Chetan Vaidya. 

2. Pune Climate Action Plan: Stakeholder Consultation for Vision Setting Date 

The consultation for the Pune Climate Action Plan, in collaboration with the Pune Municipal Corporation was held in September by C-Cube at NIUA to deliberate on the analysed findings and key focal points to identify measures that will enhance Pune's resilience to the challenges posed by climate change. Valuable recommendations and constructive feedback were provided based on the progress made so far.

The discussion included prominent stakeholders, like  Mr. Madhav Jagtap, Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Environment at Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC); Mr. Aniruddha Pawaskar, Chief Engineer of the Water Supply Department at PMC; Ms. Asha Raut, Deputy Commissioner of the Solid Waste Management Department at PMC; Mr. Rahul Jagtap, Head of the Information Technology Department at PMC; and Mr. Mangesh Dighe, Environmental Conservation Officer of the Environment Department at PMC.

Additionally, a valuable collaboration was established with esteemed organisations such as the  Indian Meteorological Department (IMD),  Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM),  Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd. (MSEDCL), Maha Mumbai Metro Operation Corporation Limited (MMRCL), and Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) Ltd.

Participants at the Urban Act Workshop

Victor Shinde, Head of C-Cube, addressing the inaugural session

Vaishnavi Shankar, representing C-Cube, led a session titled 'Institutional Capacity and Structure

Workshop on ‘Development of Enabling Framework Conditions for Urban Climate Finance in India’ in New Delhi

Urban Act

C-Cube at NIUA played a supportive role in organising a workshop under the Urban Act Project by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in partnership with  GIZ India on the 15 September. This workshop provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss climate finance in India's urban context. A session on 'Institutional Capacity and Structure,' was organised on assessing the capacity of national and state governments to coordinate climate policies and local planning, peer learning, and the availability of financial resources to fulfill climate commitments. 

A glimpse of the inaugural session of LCCM, Mysuru

Ankita Raman from the C-Cube team delivering a session on actions for climate mitigation and adaptation

Participants actively playing the CLAP NOW game

Integration of CLAP NOW in the Leaders in Climate Change Management (LCCM) Program, Mysuru

Climate Centre for Cities (C-Cube)

The CLAP NOW card game, developed by C-Cube, is a valuable tool for facilitating stakeholder consultations and building consensus in cities when developing Climate Action Plans. The LCCM program has incorporated this game as an integral component of its training program.

Ankita Raman, Research Associate at C-Cube, provided training to the faculty at the Administrative Training Institute in Mysuru on 21 September 2023. This session was attended by Smt. V Manjula, Director General & Additional Chief Secretary, and Shri Dr. Satheesha B C, Joint Director (Admin & Training).

Participants were equipped with a city profile, enabling them to understand the challenges and identify relevant actions while considering various factors such as budget, implementation time, and impact. to integrate climate mitigation and adaptation actions into ongoing urban development, prioritise actions to achieve short, medium, and long-term impacts, and grasp the concept of co-benefits. 

For more details, visit the link: https://niua.in/c-cube/clap-now-card-game

Panelists discussing key challenges & opportunities in wastewater treatment & reuse

Expert Consultation Meeting for Framework on Reuse of Treated Wastewater

Water and Environment (W&E)

Cities are in dire need of practical, hands-on knowledge to effectively implement water reuse initiatives. To bridge this gap, NIUA and NMCG are collaborating to develop a one-of-a-kind framework that will guide cities, step by step, to assess their current situation concerning the availability of treated used water and the possible avenues for its reuse and application.

In this regard, NIUA and NMCG conducted a consultation meeting with domain experts on 12 September 2023. The distinguished panel included S Vishwanath, Founder of Biome Environmental Solutions, Girija Bharat, CEO of Mu Gamma Consultants, Nitin Bassi, Senior Programme Lead, Sustainable Water, CEEW, Rajesh Pai, Director of WASH Institute and Nupur Bahadur, Head of NMCG-TERI Centre of Excellence on Water Reuse.

Participants at Urban Rivers Partners Meeting on World Rivers Day 2023

Mr. Hitesh Vaidya speaking at Urban Rivers Partners Meeting

Glimpses from the Urban Rivers Partners Meeting

Urban Rivers Partners Meeting on World Rivers Day 2023 

Water and Environment (W&E)

NIUA and NMCG hosted an Urban Rivers Partners Meeting on 22 September 2023 to celebrate World Rivers Day 2023. Like-minded partners came together to reflect on the challenges and possible solutions for Urban River Management.

The meeting served as a platform to announce several groundbreaking initiatives and collaborations listed below that promise to reshape the future of our urban rivers.

a) Preparation of 60 Urban River Management Plans

In a significant move towards sustainable urban river management, plans for the preparation of 60 Urban River Management Plans were unveiled. The project will be carried out with World Bank assistance, underscoring the importance and global significance of the project.

b) Launch of the Academic Arm of the River Cities Alliance (RCA)

The meeting marked the official launch of the Academic Arm of the River Cities Alliance. This alliance, comprising universities, research institutions, and experts, is dedicated to advancing river-related knowledge and solutions. 

c) Launch of Season 4 of Student Thesis Competition on "Re-imagining Urban Rivers"

One of the most exciting announcements at the Urban Rivers Partners Meeting organised by NIUA and NMCG was the kickoff of Season 4 of the Student Thesis Competition on "Re-imagining Urban Rivers." This competition encourages young minds to explore innovative ideas and solutions for the sustainable development and restoration of urban rivers. The new season promises even greater opportunities for research, collaboration, and impact.

Special section on the CITIIS projects in the Revolve magazine

CITIIS Section in Special Edition of Revolve Magazine

City Investments to Innovate, Integrate and Sustain (CITIIS)

A special edition of Revolve, "The Sustainable India Report 2023", was launched on 6 September 2023. The edition features all 12 projects under the CITIIS program as case examples.

Mr Hitesh Vaidya, Director of NIUA, delivered special remarks during the virtual launch of the publication. Mr. Stuart Reigeluth, Founder of Revolve, introduced the platform and Ms. Priyanka Bhide, Co-founder and director of Kubernein Initiative, provided the background on the special report. The launch was followed by a panel discussion with architects Ms. Neha Ballal, Mr. Tarun Sharma, Director of Nagrika, and Ms Uttra Dasgupta, Knowledge Officer for the CITIIS program.

Established in 2010, Revolve is dedicated to inspiring climate action by keeping readers informed about the circular economy, ecosystem restoration, the energy transition, sustainable mobility and water resources. The quarterly magazine is an award-winning publication providing different angles on sustainability. The special report can be downloaded here: https://revolve.media/report/sustainable-india-2023

Speakers at the Festival of Startup 2023

Mr. Manpreet Singh, Chief Program Officer, NUDM-NIUA, addressing participants of the Festival of Startup 2023

Start-ups Encouraged to Explore Innovative Solutions in the Festival of Startup 2023

National Urban Digital Mission (NUDM)

Mr. Manpreet Singh, Chief Program Officer, NUDM-NIUA, was a Chief Guest on 6 September 2023 at the ‘Festival of Startup 2023’ hosted by the Pimpri Chinchwad Startup Incubation Centre (PCSIC). He encouraged start-ups to explore innovative solutions, emerging technologies and potential use cases developed into smart applications that will be relevant to the future of the urban ecosystem.

Co-treatment of Faecal Sludge and Septage at Sewage Treatment Plants uploaded on NULP

NULP Hosts a New Course on Co-Treatment of Faecal Sludge

National Urban Learning Platform (NULP)

NULP hosted a comprehensive course on "Co-treatment of Sludge and Septage at Sewage treatment plants." The module has been developed with the collaborative effort of National Faecal Sludge and Septage Management Alliance (NFSSMA) partner organisations under the Training Module Review Committee (TMRC), anchored by NIUA and supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF).

The course will facilitate an understanding of the co-treatment approach for handling faecal sludge and septage at city/town level as a step to achieve the City-Wide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS) principles through financially viable, sustainable solutions that use existing sewerage infrastructure available. The course is designed to enable the participants to plan for integrated wastewater and septage management through various national missions like Smart City Mission (SCM), SBM-U 2.0, JJM-U, AMRUT, NMCG and the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission.

To access the course, click here: https://nulp.niua.org/learn/course/do_1138312420716707841334

NULP team interacting with Mr. Hrishiraj Sharma, Assistant Director for the adoption of NULP

NULP onboards Assam

National Urban Learning Platform (NULP)

NULP achieved another milestone by successfully onboarding Assam as its 11th partner state in September 2023. A meeting was conducted with Mr. Hrishiraj Sharma, Assistant Director, Town and Country Planning Office (TCPO), Assam on 5 September 2023, to introduce NULP to the authorities.

The NULP team intends to organise a State onboarding workshop in collaboration with TCPO, Assam in Guwahati. This workshop is tentatively scheduled for November 2023, and it will serve as a platform to onboard and orient all relevant state and city officials regarding NULP. 

UPYOG platform

NUDM Team discussed platform enhancements in UPYOG 2.0

National Urban Digital Mission (NUDM)

The Empanelled Agencies and states/UTs officials participated in the webinar organised by NUDM  on 12 September 2023, to discuss the new features, modules and enhancements made to the UPYOG Platform in the release of UPYOG 2.0

Participants at the 5th session in the series of Best Practices for Online Delivery of Urban Services

NUDM Team organised the 5th Session in the series of Best Practices for Online Delivery of Urban Services

National Urban Digital Mission (NUDM)

Over 110 officials from all states/UTs ULBs participated in the fifth session in the series of Best Practices for Online Delivery of Urban Services organised on 15th September 2023 by NUDM-NIUA in association with the Urban Administration and Development Department (UADD), Government of Madhya Pradesh. The session on 'Automated Layout Process Approval and Scrutiny System (ALPASS) & Automatic Building Plan Approval System (ABPAS) in Madhya Pradesh', was held, providing insights into the merits of the automated building plan approval and layout approval systems, which are seamlessly integrated in MP.

NIUA signing MoU with the Govt. of Meghalaya under NUDM

The NUDM Team with Dr. D Vinay Kumar, IAS, Commissioner and Secretary, Government of Meghalaya

NIUA signed MoU with the Govt. of Meghalaya under NUDM 

National Urban Digital Mission (NUDM)

To enable online delivery of urban services & benefiting citizens at large, NIUA signed a tripartite MoU with the Govt. of Meghalaya on 15th September 2023 for the implementation of NUDM in the state.

The NUDM Team met with Dr. D Vinay Kumar, IAS, Commissioner and Secretary, Government of Meghalaya on 15 September 2023 to discuss the way forward for implementation of the NUDM by supporting digitalisation of urban citizen services using shared digital infrastructure in the State.

NIUA team with Director of SUDA, Jharkhand

NUDM Team Conducted a DiagnosticSstudy for Implementation of NUDM in Jharkhand

National Urban Digital Mission (NUDM)

The NUDM team met the Director of SUDA Jharkhand on 18 September 2023 to delve into key topics like integrating current services into the National Dashboard, the development of innovative services and the establishment of an in-house team for new service development. A full diagnostic study of the existing platforms and municipal services was also conducted.

Speakers at the U20 Manthan

U20 Activities in September 2023

U20

1. 12th U20 Manthan Webinar on Transforming Urban Planning Conducted

The 12th U20 Manthan webinar was successfully organised, focusing on the critical topic of Transforming Urban Planning. Distinguished experts from various fields, including representatives from RTI, HLC on Urban Planning, Singapore University of Technology & Design, Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation, and MNRE, shared their insights and expertise during the event.

2. E-Gov Special Issue Contributions

The U20 team has submitted articles related to the six U20 priority areas for the upcoming E-Gov special issue. These articles aim to provide valuable insights and perspectives on key urban challenges and solutions.

3. Convergences between G20's New Delhi Declaration and Urban 20 Communique

The G20 declaration highlights the significance of urban issues, including water security, climate action, support for local culture and economy, and the promotion of a digital urban future. Notably, this marks the first time that the terms 'cities' and 'urban' have been prominently featured in a G20 declaration, emphasizing the increasing global recognition of urban challenges. These priorities were originally outlined in the communiqué presented at the U20 Ahmedabad mayoral summit in Gandhinagar this July.

Partners and city representatives at UrbanShift Asia Forum 2023, New Delhi

Launch of UrbanShift’s knowledge product- Variations in TOD Geographies: borrowing contextual cues at the inaugural session of the UrbanShift Asia Forum

UrbanShift Project Management Unit (PMU) and Project Implementation Units (PIU) of Surat and Pune

UrbanShift Asia Forum organised in New Delhi

UrbanShift Country Project

The UrbanShift Asia Forum - a flagship event funded by the Global Environment Facility was recently organised in New Delhi, from from September 25-28, 2023, by the NIUA, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), C-40 and World Resources Institute (WRI) with the generous support of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India.

‘Accessing Climate Finance’ and ‘Accelerating Urban Growth’ were key themes of the Forum that offered a curated platform for building capacity, knowledge exchange and collaboration.  The sessions brought together senior technical and political representatives from participating cities and countries, global partners, multilateral funding agencies and other stakeholders on different urban challenges and success stories, further elaborated on by the UrbanShift city officials from Pune, Surat and Puducherry.

Key moments from the event include

• Chief guest, Shri. Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, presided over the inaugural session of the forum and launched the UrbanShift’s knowledge product 'Variations in TOD Geographies: Borrowing Contextual Cues.'
• Ms Sarika Chakravarty, Team Lead, UrbanShift Country Project, emphasized the scalar approach of the UrbanShift Country Project for disseminating the knowledge created and lessons learned from the implementation of pilot demonstrative projects. The project envisages to influence the planning of over 2,500 sq kms of area around metro stations and enhance the climate resilience of 24 coastal cities.
• Mr Nilesh Rajadhyaksha, Programme Director Urban Strategy Unit and Head U20 technical Secretariat, spoke about the strategic planning initiatives adopted in Delhi to manage densities, urban sprawl and urban regeneration. He stressed the need for innovative and nuanced planning solutions, multi-level governance and spatial strategies that can facilitate compact and sustainable urban development.
• Ms Kanak Tiwari, Programme Director, Urban Strategy Unit and Head, Urban 20 (U20) Technical Secretariat, underscored the importance of recognizing that governance challenges extend beyond the confines of city boundaries, stressing the critical need for multilevel action, as opposed to isolated initiatives.
• The Forum also witnessed active participation from the UrbanShift Project Management Unit (PMU) and Project Implementation Units (PIU) placed at Pune and Surat, in the sessions that deep dived into accessing climate finance, accommodating urban growth and role of multi-level governance.

NIUA at Urban Thinkers Campus

NIUA at Urban Thinker Campus, 2023

Urban Youth Unit (UYU)

The Urban Youth Unit (UYU), NIUA, conducted a session at Urban Thinkers Campus (UTC)-2023 in collaboration with the Red Dot Foundation on 1 September 2023 in Mumbai. The theme for UTC-2023 was "Youth-Led Safe and Inclusive Cities."

UYU, committed to empowering and enlightening the youth, introduced them to the ABLE India Framework: Accessibility Assessment for Built Environment in India. Conducted by Prof. Haimanti from IIT Kharagpur in association with BASIIC team, the session explored how youth can help create inclusive and accessible environments. 

The marginalized groups were also addressed, including persons with disabilities, the elderly, children, and women, who face heightened urban challenges due to persistent physical, social, and attitudinal barriers.

Poster for You-vichar episode 2

Release of Episode 2 Dialogue Series: You-Vichar

Urban Youth Unit (UYU)

Urban Youth Unit released the 2nd episode of the youth dialogue series, "You-Vichar: Young Voice for Urban Development" on 18 September 2023. This episode featured Swati Raj Bansal, who shared her research on 'Carbon Credit Marketing' for Indore.

The full episode is available on the YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2ktGympvyo

Participants at the roundtable discussion at Vizag

Consultation on RISE Framework for Vizag

Urban Youth Unit (UYU)

The Urban Youth Unit and the City Climate Alliance, along with Youth Ki Awaaz and the support of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (Sustainability and Resilience Unit and EcoVizag), conducted a multi-stakeholder roundtable discussion on “Creating a Youth-Led Engagement Framework for Urban Climate Action” on 12 September  2023. 

This discussion saw the participation and convergence of the youth with eminent dignitaries from the education, NGO and private sectors, along with the municipal corporation. 

Participation and entry points with respect to consistent youth engagements in partnership with the city authority were explored and deliberated upon in order to inform the development of the framework. Visakhapatnam is one of the five cities selected for piloting the ‘RISE’ framework currently under development, with the long-term goal of scaling its utility to the benefit of urban authorities and concerned stakeholders across the country.