
Shaping Livable Neighborhoods
Creating neighborhoods that build resilience, improve health and equitably connect people with opportunities.
More than a third of India’s population lives in cities, and within our lifetime this figure is likely to reach three-quarters. With urban India on the frontlines of both climate and development challenges, our cities must transform to meet the needs of our growing population, alongside building resilience to escalating climatic threats like heatwaves and floods.
Contemplating millions of new residents seeking basic services and opportunities is overwhelming. Instead, we could break this down – by looking at improving how we live, work and play – at the basic unit of a neighborhood. Creating people-centric spatial planning and development at the neighborhood level can create a ripple effect, building the city’s confidence by working with diverse stakeholders in scaling up and even institutionalizing the prospect of livable neighborhoods as part of urban policies and planning.
With limited access to public spaces and natural areas, lower-income residents face the brunt of climate risks, highlighting the need to underpin urban development with equity. We assess these social drivers of vulnerability to create equitable and accessible public spaces, and housing, while also improving access to critical resources and services. The Urban Development team looks at alignment across a range of human systems, from housing to infrastructure, to improve access to services and strengthen climate resilience at the neighborhood-level, the city-level and at the regional-level.
By working within communities, we build local capacity and engage with governments to strengthen data capacity and knowledge to support long-term approaches to integrated planning. Our team brings deep expertise across multiple areas to help achieve this goal:
Equitable Public Spaces
Equitable public spaces are central to fostering inclusive and resilient neighborhoods. We assess gaps and engage with communities in co-developing solutions. We also collaborate with city governments and experts towards developing strategies and policies to help institutionalize approaches towards inclusive and climate resilient public space planning.
Resilient Housing
Addressing the inequities in access to housing and basic services in cities, we aim to enable decent, affordable and climate resilient infrastructure and housing for all. By building capacities for planning and implementation and bringing together a diverse coalition, we aim to enable action through integrated national schemes and programs.
Connected Transit
We use data-driven planning, people-centric street design measures and capacity building, to reduce traffic fatalities, promote walking, cycling and uptake of public transport, and creating resilient, vibrant, people-centric streets and mobility systems. Integrating green infrastructure, in conjunction with built form and open spaces, we work to mitigate the impact of climate change.
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Media Contacts
Shaping Livable Neighborhoods is a part of Sustainable Cities.
Contact Chaitali Patil for media inquiries.
Nurturing Neighbourhoods
The program envisions supporting a network of Indian cities to institutionalize a young children and caregiver-centric approach in urban development.
Part of Sustainable CitiesSafe, Vibrant and Healthy Public Spaces for Adolescents
We aim to empower 1,000 adolescents as Public Space Ambassadors, by 2025, to co-lead city development processes.
Part of Sustainable CitiesAustralia India Water Security Initiative (AIWASI)
Transitioning two disadvantaged communities in Delhi along the continuum towards a water-sensitive city by 2025.
Part of Sustainable CitiesNeighborhood Improvement Program
A participatory planning game aimed at shaping people-centric livable neighborhoods.
Part of Sustainable CitiesGlobal Housing Technology Challenge
Promoting a sustainable and innovative approach to accelerate affordable urban housing in India.
Part of Sustainable Cities