The Urban Collective Action Network (U-CAN) aims to bring together people, communities, policymakers and state agencies in Tier II and Tier III Indian cities, in a safe space to discuss and solve problems, resulting in better urban governance and a richer livable experience.
Indian cities should be livable, equitable and inclusive where all citizens are empowered to partner with government agencies in improving last mile service delivery.
To bring together people, communities , policy makers and state agencies in Tier II and Tier III Indian cities, in a safe space to discuss and solve problems, this will result in better urban governance and a richer livable experience. We are a network of organisations committed to improving urban problem solving through collective working, a multisectoral systems approach and a commitment to citizen inclusion in the policy making process.
The workings of the Collective are governed by the following principles:
Member organisations of the Collective have immersive experience in working on both programmatic and systems interventions with partners across different governance levels.
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.
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