The Urban Collective Action Network brings together people, communities, policymakers, and state agencies in
Tier II and Tier III Indian cities, creating a safe space to discuss and solve challenges—leading to stronger urban
governance and a more livable, inclusive city experience.
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.
We are a network of organizations working to strengthen urban problem-solving in Tier II and Tier III Indian cities.
By creating safe spaces for people, communities, policymakers, and state agencies 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.
The Collective operates according to the following core principles:
U-CAN’s steering committee brings deep, hands-on experience in implementing both programmatic and systemic interventions, collaborating with partners across multiple levels of governance.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The U-CAN Fellowship officially commenced, welcoming six mid-career professionals working with U-CAN member organisations, and two social entrepreneur fellows.
The U-CAN Small Grants Initiative 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.