The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India, launched the National Competition on “Safaimitra Suraksha Challenge” on 19th November 2020. The Challenge, aptly launched on the occasion of World Toilet Day, aimed at preventing ‘hazardous cleaning’ of sewers and septic tanks and promote their mechanized cleaning. MoHUA nominated NIUA to anchor the capacity building initiative for this challenge. The institute engaged with more than 30 partner organizations across India to assist the chosen 246 cities. The need expressed by the cities for the challenge included capacity building, implementation and execution. Under this Challenge, NIUA as an anchoring agency between the cities and training entities undertook various activities and workshops that could build their capacities to participate in this challenge. Before initiating the training program, the institute analyzed the gaps through Rapid Need Assessment, to support the city’s with respect to implementation and capacity building.