Vision
Indian cities should be livable, equitable, and inclusive—places where all citizens are empowered to partner with government agencies to improve last-mile service delivery.
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About U-CAN
U-CAN is a network of organisations working together to strengthen urban problem-solving in India's Tier II and Tier III cities. Formed in 2022 by a founding circle of twelve city-focused organisations, U-CAN today convenes practitioners, government officials, researchers and philanthropies around one shared goal: safer, more inclusive, better-governed cities for their residents.
Our Vision & Mission
Mission
We are a network of organisations working to strengthen urban problem-solving in emerging Indian cities.
By creating safe spaces for people, communities, and policymakers to come together, we foster collaborative solutions that lead to more inclusive governance and a richer, more livable urban experience.
Our approach is grounded in collective action, a multisectoral systems lens, and a strong commitment to citizen participation in policymaking.
How we work
Governing Principles
Citizen-centric approaches
We prioritise amplifying citizens' voices by championing solutions that centre their needs, making participation and civic responsibilities more accessible, meaningful, and impactful.
Inclusivity and Equity
We commit to inclusive development rooted in the socio-economic realities of vulnerable and marginalised communities—those often left out of traditional planning processes.
Openness and transparency
We advocate for transparent governance practices at the local level to foster trust, accountability, and informed citizen engagement.
Systems thinking with a multi-sectoral and long-term perspective
We promote coordinated city planning by encouraging interdepartmental collaboration and nurturing institutional memory, ensuring sustainable, holistic urban development.
Collaborative partnerships
We actively partner with diverse stakeholders to identify synergies and work collectively towards the shared vision of Indian Cities@2047.
Our journey
Timeline
From the first possibility circle in 2022 to the launch of the Urban Reforms Collective—here's how the network has grown.
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March 2022
Urban Governance Collective: 1st Possibility Circle
The first U-CAN meeting aimed to discover common grounds for creating an urban collective, articulating the purpose and gaining clarity on the next steps.
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March 2022
Urban Governance Collective: 2nd Possibility Circle
The 2nd U-CAN possibility circle focused on aligning the working definitions of U-CAN, identifying preferred areas of engagement and agreeing on the next steps such as the frequency of subsequent meetings.
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May 2022
Urban Governance Collective: 3rd Possibility Circle
The 3rd U-CAN Possibility Circle brought together members to refine the collective's principles, discuss effective ways of working, and align on ambitious goals, setting the foundation for meaningful collaboration across the urban ecosystem.
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October 2022
Meeting Zero
This meeting focused on shaping the collective's emerging charter, outlining a concrete action plan, and establishing a robust governance framework to guide its efforts and ensure accountability within the collective.
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December 2022
U-CAN Charter
The charter defines U-CAN's purpose, principles, goals, themes, and approach. The collective envisions building a community of diverse yet complementary experts from industry, civil society, academia, and government to foster a unified ecosystem for impactful, scalable collective action.
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May 2024
In-person Steering Committee Meeting
U-CAN members gathered in person for the Steering Committee Meeting to reaffirm the collective's purpose, goals, and working modalities. The session offered a platform to reflect on past progress and shape U-CAN's program priorities for 2024 through collaborative input.
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May 2024
Network Dialogue and Kick-off
The Network Dialogue brought together diverse voices from the urban ecosystem, including donors, multilaterals, think tanks, and philanthropies. The session featured a Q&A, inviting participants to explore the collective's vision and approach, followed by a collaborative exercise highlighting the value of joint problem-solving.
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July 2024
Launch of the U-CAN Fellowship Program
The launch of the U-CAN Fellowship marked the first program under the U-CAN umbrella, setting the stage for empowering individuals passionate about sustainable urban development. This milestone reflected U-CAN's commitment to nurturing talent and driving systemic change in urban spaces across India.
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October 2024
In-person Steering Committee Meeting
At the second in-person Steering Committee Meeting, U-CAN members review progress over the preceding six months, ideated and discussed program and operational priorities for 2025.
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November 2024
U-CAN Fellowship Begins for Mid-Career Professionals and Social Entrepreneurs
The U-CAN Fellowship officially commenced, welcoming six mid-career professionals working with U-CAN member organisations, and two social entrepreneur fellows.
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February 2025
Launch of the Request for Collaboration
The Request for Collaboration was launched, providing member organizations with the opportunity to collaborate on innovative projects aimed at addressing urban challenges. This initiative encourages experimentation and learning through collective action, paving the way for sustainable, scalable solutions within the urban ecosystem.
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April 2025
Launch of the first City Mixers in Mumbai and Bangalore for our members
These get-togethers, hosted in partnership with our member organisations, are an opportunity for teams to meet in-person, exchange updates, and spark new ideas together.
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May 2025
In-person SteerCo Meeting
At the third in-person meeting, members get together to review updates since the last meeting and collectively shape the Annual Forum, due to be hosted in August 2025.
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August 2025
First U-CAN Annual Forum
Our first-ever Annual Forum brought together 70+ urban changemakers from across U-CAN's network. Over three days in Panjim, Goa, participants shared insights, explored bold ideas, and built connections that continue to shape our collective work in urban governance.
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October 2025
End of the first cohort of the U-CAN Fellowship
The first U-CAN Fellowship came to a close, marking the culmination of a transformative year in which fellows worked alongside urban institutions to co-create solutions and reimagine women's leadership in cities.
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December 2025
U-CAN's first public City Mixers in Delhi and Mumbai
Hosted by WRI India and Praja Foundation, the City Mixers were opened to the public for the first time, bringing together students, researchers, academics, and practitioners beyond the U-CAN network.
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January 2026
City Mixer in Bengaluru
Hosted by Reap Benefit, we began the year with an open “Adda” format that encouraged candid reflections and unstructured dialogue across the network.
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February 2026
City Mixer in New Delhi
Hosted at the Centre for Policy Research, this mixer explored the state of collective action in our cities and the challenge of sustaining meaningful civic engagement.
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February 2026
In-person SteerCo Meeting in Lucknow
At our fourth in-person SteerCo meeting, members evaluated the impact of existing programs and new initiatives introduced this year, and joined a field visit to Banthra hosted by Shelter Associates.
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Latest
June 2026
Launch of the Urban Reforms Collective in Mumbai
12 organisations signed the Mumbai Declaration, marking the formal launch of the Urban Reforms Collective.