Context
The Collaborative is a multi-stakeholder initiative anchored by Saath to strengthen urban resilience and inclusion, particularly for the informal sector. It brings together NGOs, academic institutions, urban local bodies, private actors, and community representatives to co-create solutions that address systemic challenges such as climate change, unsustainable urbanization, and weak urban governance. Rooted in deep community engagement and guided by principles of inclusivity, subsidiarity, and evidence-based action, the Collaborative aims to secure livelihoods, promote circular economy practices, and influence policy for equitable urban growth. It envisions cities that are co-created by their residents, where informal workers are recognized as key contributors to shaping sustainable, resilient, and just urban futures.
| Key Areas of Focus | |
|---|---|
| o | Ecosystem Building |
| • | Develop a collaborative knowledge ecosystem to drive systemic change. |
| • | Advance and scale the ongoing efforts of participating organizations by promoting cross-learning and best-practice replication. |
| o | Establishing a Sandbox for Innovation |
| • | Create an incubation environment for testing, accelerating, and scaling urban solutions. |
| • | Facilitate: |
| o | A comprehensive knowledge repository. |
| o | Community capacity-building initiatives. |
| o | Tailored training and professional development programs. |
| o | Research and Data-Driven Insights |
| • | Conduct research on sustainable practices, policy models, and climate adaptation strategies. |
| • | Establish a centralized data repository to track urban informal sector contributions, vulnerabilities, and economic trends. |
| • | Conduct sector-wide impact assessments to measure the effects of climate change and economic policies on informal workers. |
| • | Develop methodologies to assess Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions in the informal sector. |
| • | Conduct research on sustainable practices, policy models, and climate adaptation strategies. |
| o | Stakeholder Influence and Engagement |
| • | Build partnerships with local governments, academia, and the private sector to foster investment and systemic change. |
| o | Promoting Social Entrepreneurship and Enterprises |
| • | Support and scale innovations emerging from the informal sector, enabling their integration into mainstream economic frameworks. |
| o | Centralized Information and Resource Hub |
| • | Establish a digital knowledge-sharing platform to ensure equitable access to resources and best practices. |
| o | Digital Tools and Knowledge Platforms |
| • | Utilize GIS-based mapping and digital technologies for real-time data-sharing, impact assessment, and innovation tracking. |
| o | Advocacy and Policy Engagement |
| • | Engage in policy advocacy to institutionalize systemic change and ensure the informal sector is represented in climate action plans at the city and national levels. |
Collaborative Vision
To establish an inclusive, resilient urban ecosystem through collaborative partnerships that strengthens the informal sector, enhance economic opportunities, integrate circular economy principles, and mitigates climate change impacts, ensuring long-term scalability and sustainability.
Collaborative Principles
- Engagement with NGOs and Civil Society: Collaborate with organizations directly working with the informal sector to strengthen impact and outreach.
- Cooperative-Based Approach: Uphold a model that ensures community ownership, sustainability, and collective empowerment.
- Sustainability and Climate Responsibility: Align all adaptation and mitigation strategies with environmentally sustainable and climate-friendly practices.
- Inclusive Decision-Making: Ensure that informal sector workers and marginalized communities have a voice in shaping policies and initiatives.
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Foster synergy between academia, private industry, and governance to drive holistic solutions.
- Evidence-Based Action: Ground all policies and strategies in data-driven insights and continuous impact assessment for maximum effectiveness.
Collaborative Shift and Markers
The urban collaboration shifts from isolated efforts to a collective framework, integrating climate resilience and informal sector empowerment. Key markers include impact of climate assessment for the informal sector, scaling climate resilience practices, circular economy integration, and mobilizing investments. Success is measured by improved livelihoods, sustainable practices, policy influence, and technology adoption for long-term urban impact.
All the shifts mentioned in the table below encompass
- Mental,
- Structural,
- Systemic,
- Mode Engagement, &
- Measurable Growth dimensions.
| Shifts | Markers |
|---|---|
| Climate Resilience Moving from vulnerable, disaster-prone informal settlements to climate-resilient urban habitats. | Increased infrastructure resilience (flood-resistant housing, heat adaptation measures) |
| Reduction in climate-induced displacement | |
| Quality of Life | Reduced climate-induced health risks (heat stress, vector-borne diseases) |
| Improving health, safety, and well-being of urban informal workers and communities with climate-sensitive interventions. | Improved access to clean water, sanitation, and waste management |
| Governance | Formal inclusion in city-level climate action planning |
| Transitioning from exclusion to active representation in climate action planning and governance. | Representation in climate policy frameworks |
| Organised Partnership | Co-created sustainability initiatives |
| Moving from fragmented engagement to structured collaboration between government, private sector, and civil society. | |
| Awareness to Action | Implementation of adaptation programs tailored for informal settlements |
| Shifting from passive awareness-building to proactive mitigation and adaptation strategies. | Measurable reduction in environmental impact |
| Economic Stability | Expanded access to financial services and micro-loans. |
| Transitioning from economic instability to structured and sustainable livelihood opportunities. | |
| Expanded Skills and Knowledge | |
| Better access to Government Schemes | |
| Circular Economy | Increased adoption of sustainable business practices in informal enterprises |
| Moving from waste-intensive practices to sustainable, resource-efficient business models. | Growth of urban recycling hubs and waste-to-energy initiatives |
| Inclusive Policy | Development of city-level policies specifically addressing informal workers |
| Shifting from reactive policy approaches to inclusive, forward-thinking urban governance. | Strengthened regulatory mechanisms supporting climate adaptation in informal settlements |
| Digital Divide | Increased digital literacy among informal workers |
| Moving from digital exclusion to equitable access to digital tools and platforms. | Widespread use of technology in informal enterprises |
| Collective Impact | Formation of multi-stakeholder urban resilience networks |
| Shifting from isolated efforts to collaborative, cross-sectoral urban development. | |
| Organized Informal Sector | Formation of proper collectives and cooperatives |
| From fragmented informal work to structured cooperatives | |
| Structured governance models for informal worker networks |
