Urban Development, Governance and Planning Programme

Tagline: Shaping Resilient, Inclusive and Well-Managed Cities Through Innovative Urban Development, Governance and Sustainable Planning.

The programme focuses on enhancing understanding of urban policies, governance frameworks, and institutional mechanisms that shape city lives. It aims to strengthen capacities, facilitate knowledge dissemination, and build skills needed to design resilient, efficient, and citizen-centric urban systems for creating sustainable, inclusive, and well-managed cities.
The programme aims to promote modern planning tools, data-driven decision-making, and participatory governance approaches. Special emphasis is placed on core urban issues such as infrastructure, affordable housing, sustainable mobility, efficient public service delivery, and environmental management. It also explores the critical challenges posed by rapid urbanisation, including the growth of informal settlements, traffic congestion, and escalating climate-related risks.
We intend to foster collaboration among planners, urban administrators, academicians, research institutions, civil society organisations, and community leaders to translate knowledge into real action and impactful urban transformation.

• Capacity Building of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs): Enhancing the administrative and technical capabilities of municipal staff and elected officials for efficient service delivery and governance.
• Sustainable Urban Infrastructure Development: Focusing on resilient and green infrastructure solutions, including water management, sanitation, energy, and transportation systems.
• Inclusive Urban Housing and Slum Upgradation: Developing policies and implementation strategies for providing equitable, affordable housing and improving living conditions in informal settlements.
• Data-Driven Decision Making and Smart City Solutions: Utilising modern urban informatics, GIS, and data analytics for evidence-based planning and management of urban services.
• Climate Change Adaptation and Urban Resilience: Integrating climate risk assessments into planning processes to mitigate vulnerabilities and strengthen city resilience against environmental shocks.
• Participatory Governance and Civic Engagement: Implementing mechanisms to ensure active citizen participation in planning and budgeting processes, promoting transparency and accountability.
• Metropolitan Planning and Regional Linkages: Addressing governance challenges across city boundaries and promoting coordinated development planning at the regional scale.