Transforming quality of life in India’s cities and towns
We strengthen how cities are planned, designed, governed, and funded — so they work for everyone who calls them home.
Planning and Design
Decentralised Participatory Governance
State Capacities
Our cities are
struggling
Cities are engines of economic prosperity. They attract migrants seeking hope, better opportunities, and a more secure tomorrow. By 2050, 814 million Indians will call cities home—nearly double today’s urban population.
Yet the pace of urbanisation has outpaced our ability to govern cities effectively.
Sustainable Change Requires Systemic Thinking
Cities need to go beyond quick fixes to address the root causes of urban challenges. Efforts to improve infrastructure and services in cities are supported by efforts to improve the systems that deliver them. This includes laws, policies, institutions, processes, capacities, and frameworks.
We call this City-Systems Thinking
Learn more about our Theory of Change
Better cities for a better India
Our work builds trust and engagement between citizens and governments. It helps them discover and implement ways of working together to build inclusive and vibrant neighbourhoods and cities.
Better cities for a better India
Our work builds trust and engagement between citizens and governments. It helps them discover and implement ways of working together to build inclusive and vibrant neighbourhoods and cities.
01
Planning and Design
Placing people at the heart of how cities are shaped — with roads, public spaces, and neighbourhoods that work for all.
02
Decentralised Participatory Governance
Deepening democracy at the local level — through empowered city governments, engaged citizens, and capable councillors.
03
State Capacities
Strengthening finances and capacities so cities can deliver on the promise of what they can be.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT US
The Next Practice
Having worked with hundreds of cities around the world I have never seen an organisation as effective and speedy as Janaagraha in analysing the challenges of their city’s growth, developing solutions, mobilising the local citizenry and supporting local action. The Janaagraha model combines the roles of a think-tank, a capacity-building organisation and a grassroot movement, which in most cities are split into separate organisations that struggle to coordinate efforts. Janaagraha generates fresh, pragmatic solutions through a truly inter-disciplinary and multi-sectoral approach, and it promotes its solutions boldly with a spirit of entrepreneurship and unjaded conviction. It puts the power of fresh, objective, practical thinking in the hands of citizens.
Janaagraha in Numbers
Janaagraha in Numbers
Platforms for participation catalysed for 1.6 million citizens in 2,900 urban poor settlements in Odisha
INR 120 crores allocated by Bengaluru through MyCityMyBudget in FY 2020-21
15,000+ financial statements published by 4,300+ cities on CityFinance.in
My City My Responsibility
A Handbook for Active Citizenship
A ready reckoner that is designed to help individuals become active citizens, regardless of their experience or expertise.
My City My Responsibility
A Handbook for Active Citizenship
A ready reckoner that is designed to help individuals become active citizens, regardless of their experience or expertise.
Collaborative Action for Collective Good
Access Resources
Facilitate change at the neighbourhood level.
Partner
Channel efforts and resources towards shared goals.
Join
Become a part of the Janaagraha movement.