Knowledge
Learning that compounds
Immersive learning experiences that blend mentorship, masterclasses, field insights, and peer exchange, helping Fellows develop both strategic and practical skills for urban problem-solving.
A U-CAN Initiative
Empowering Women Change-Makers to Transform Urban Communities
The U-CAN Fellowship was a program designed to empower passionate leaders dedicated to driving sustainable urban development and fostering community engagement across India. Its inaugural cohort ran in 2024-25.
The programme
About the Fellowship
Over a 12-month period, U-CAN Fellows embarked on an immersive learning journey, collaborating with civic leaders, urban planners, and social innovators to tackle some of the most pressing challenges in urban development. The fellowship integrated hands-on fieldwork, professional mentorship, and skill-building workshops, empowering a new generation of change-makers to drive impactful solutions in urban spaces.
Fellows worked on housing affordability, transportation, environmental sustainability, and inclusion, each embedded for a year with a single host organisation.
The 2024-25 cohort
01Aanchal Aggarwal
Janaagraha
Janaagraha
02Aashima Arora
WRI India & U-CAN
WRI India & U-CAN
03Anwesha Bhattacharya
Safetipin
Safetipin
04Manisha Bisht
Shelter Associates
Shelter Associates
05Ramya M A
Artha Global
Artha Global
06Sharathppriyaa Venkatesan
Reap Benefit
Reap Benefit
07Shubhi Kesarwani
GuruJal
GuruJal
08Shreya Krishnan
SKDO
SKDO
What Fellows gained
Program Highlights
The U-CAN Fellowship was not just an academic experience, it was a chance to work directly on the problems shaping India's cities. Fellows gained:
On-the-Ground Experience
Live urban projects alongside local communities, municipal bodies, and policy experts, solving real-world urban challenges.
Workshops and Training
Workshops, training sessions, and expert-led discussions to develop practical skills and knowledge critical to urban development.
Networking Opportunities
Lasting relationships within a vibrant community of organizations and urban experts, fostering collaboration and ongoing learning in the urban sector.
Project Focus
Each fellow tackled a key urban issue through a project, with mentorship and support from their assigned organization.
Expert Mentorship
Peer-to-peer mentorship within the cohort, plus guidance from U-CAN member organizations, the U-CAN CEO, and the extensive alumni network, with access to potential funding, grants, or investment networks through the U-CAN platform.
Funding
A one-year commitment in the form of a competitive stipend, supporting fellows' work and learning throughout the fellowship.
Inside the Fellowship
Shaping Urban Futures: Stories from the U-CAN Fellowship
India's cities are full of possibility, but women are largely missing from the leadership spaces shaping them, despite being among those most affected by decisions on mobility, safety, public space, and climate. The U-CAN Fellowship was created to bridge this gap and ask a crucial question: what becomes possible when women lead urban transformation?
Over one year, eight women Fellows embedded themselves within leading urban institutions across India, working alongside governments, community networks, researchers, and non-profits to solve real problems on the ground. From clean air zones and climate action planning to participatory governance and public-space redesign, their work demonstrates the power of placing diverse leadership at the centre of city-making.
How the Fellowship Is Designed
The programme was intentionally built as a platform that:
- Promotes women's leadership in the urban development ecosystem, ensuring diverse perspectives and more equitable representation in decision-making spaces.
- Attracts talented mid-career professionals and social entrepreneurs to nurture cross-sector learning and engage meaningfully in shaping India's urban development landscape.
- Builds structured leadership pathways, combining on-ground problem-solving with mentorship, peer learning, and exposure to global best practices.
Three core enablers
What It Aims to Cultivate
Fellows are supported through three core enablers that shape their leadership journey.
Network
Doors that stay open
Access to a connected ecosystem of government institutions, host organisations, practitioners, and technical experts, opening doors to collaboration and long-term pathways in the urban sector.
Funding
Room to experiment
A dedicated one-year grant that provides the stability and flexibility to experiment, co-create solutions with stakeholders, and demonstrate credible impact on the ground.
Together, these pillars create the conditions for Fellows to build confidence, capability, and influence, enabling them to shape more equitable, resilient cities across India.
Inside this publication, you will find:
- The journeys and lived experiences of the inaugural cohort
- The solutions they built with institutions and communities
- And the Fellowship model that supported them
