# Jana Urban Space Foundation: Designing Better Cities

**URL:** https://grove.rainmatter.org/t/jana-urban-space-foundation-designing-better-cities/5177
**Category:** Events
**Created:** [August 22, 2026, 8:45am UTC](https://grove.rainmatter.org/t/jana-urban-space-foundation-designing-better-cities/5177 "2026-08-22T08:45:34Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![JUSF](https://grove.rainmatter.org/user_avatar/grove.rainmatter.org/jusf/32/5791_2.png) [@JUSF](https://grove.rainmatter.org/u/JUSF)
#### Post date: [August 22, 2026, 8:45am UTC](https://grove.rainmatter.org/t/jana-urban-space-foundation-designing-better-cities/5177/1 "2026-08-22T08:45:34Z")

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Hello everyone,

Here’s a quick look at how **Jana Urban Space Foundation** is working towards more **resilient, inclusive and sustainable cities** through nature-based solutions and people-first street design.

**Rethinking Pedestrian Spaces: Building Streets for People**

**Nithya Ramesh** , Director – Planning and Design, Jana Urban Space Foundation, was a speaker at the International Conference **“Rethinking Pedestrian Spaces for Cities of the Global South.”**

She spoke about **Jana Urban Space’s work on Tender SURE (Specifications for Urban Road Execution)** and how streets can be designed as integrated public spaces that work for everyone.

The approach focuses on:

• **Continuous footpaths and cycle tracks**  
• **Safer intersections**  
• **Organised underground utilities**  
• **Inclusive infrastructure for all users**  
• Reducing repeated road digging through **“Build Once, Build Right”**

The goal is simple: **build streets that are safer, more accessible, resilient and comfortable for people, while making urban infrastructure last longer.**

**Financing Nature-Based Solutions for Better Cities**

How can Indian cities unlock more finance for **Nature-based Solutions (NbS)?**

On 6 August 2025, **Diksha Jain** , Senior Associate, Jana Urban Space Foundation, attended a closed-door Focus Group Discussion as part of the **India Forum for Nature-based Solutions** , alongside partners including **WRI India, Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), and Climate Policy Initiative (CPI).**

The discussion brought together funders, project developers, government stakeholders and finance experts to explore innovative financing models for urban and peri-urban NbS.

The conversation focused on key barriers and opportunities around:

• **Project preparation and bankability**  
• **Risk and cost recovery**  
• **Revenue generation**  
• **Innovative financing models**  
• Opportunities to **replicate and scale** successful NbS projects

The discussion highlighted an important question for India’s cities:

**How do we move from promising nature-based solutions to projects that can attract and sustain investment?**