Gaurav Verma is an Architect and Urban Planner, presently associated with the National Institute of Urban Affairs as a Research Associate under India's Sustainable Cities Integrated Approach Pilot project. As a development practitioner with 4 years of experience, he has experience working with the State Governments and Urban Local Bodies across India. He has expertise in solid waste management, climate change mitigation, and sustainable urban development. In his role as a solid waste management technical expert, he excels in crafting strategies for waste reduction, carbon mitigation, and resilient city planning. He formerly worked as a Development Specialist for the Indian Development Centre, primarily to assist the Panchayati Raj Department of Uttar Pradesh in providing technical and capacity-building support in Solid and liquid waste management under SMB-2. He formerly worked for the Government of Uttar Pradesh's Urban Development Department, where he supported the State Resource Centre for decentralizing Solid Waste Management.