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Over 25 Years of

Building Capacities and Shaping Inclusive Cities

Established in 1997 as the Indian project office for the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), UMC has spent the past 25 years transforming the field of urban management in India and beyond. As a women-led non-profit organisation, UMC is dedicated to shaping more inclusive and resilient cities through its expertise and commitment to making cities work for everyone.

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UMC Recognition Awards, Bill Gates, Gates notes

One Milestone at a Time

Celebrating Impact,

UMC continues to create meaningful change in urban development.

We won First Prize for Best Development Partner in Women's Economic Empowerment at the SPARK Awards 2023-24 for our work in Odisha.

 

UMC’s Founder Director, Manvita Baradi, was featured in Gates Notes by Bill Gates during his visit to Odisha, showcasing our efforts in women's livelihoods.

 

Our 9-episode film, Misaal, earned the Best Communication in Sanitation award at the 6th ISC-FICCI Sanitation Awards 2022 for its impactful storytelling on sanitation awareness.

Climate Change

Gov-Tech

Capacity Building

Women's Economic Empowerment

Heritage Management

Key Focus Areas

Bridging Policy with Ground Level Insights

UMC works across 4 levels of governance

We believe that if policy reforms are implemented; systems are strengthened; city managers are capacitated and empowered then cities would become cleaner, livable, productive and equitable.

We operate across all four levels of governance—Community, Local, State, and National—ensuring that policies are rooted in ground realities and translated into meaningful action. By embedding teams at every level, we bridge the gap between policy design and implementation, enabling governments to deliver inclusive, effective, and sustainable solutions that improve lives and strengthen institutions.

UMC's Founder Director - Manvita Baradi and Deputy Director - Meghna Malhotra

Realised by All

A Vision Shaped by Women,

Urban Management Centre is a women-led non-profit organisation dedicated to building resilient systems for inclusive and equitable development. We work with governments to strengthen local governance and build lasting institutional structures. We also work directly with vulnerable people to ensure that they have the tools and support they need to enhance their voice and agency.

Over the last 25 years, UMC teams have developed fundamental innovations in urban development challenges such as municipal institutional strengthening, urban planning, climate resilience, gov-tech and capacity building.

Upcoming Webinars

Cities Matter

Heritage Management

Planning for Non-Planners

If you are reading this, chances are, you live in a city. And if you do, you’ve probably spent a lot of time dealing with the garbage, the noise, the traffic, the pollution, and the lack of parks. You’ve probably also enjoyed having access to restaurants, malls, neighbourhood cafes, and your favourite shops. What makes a city great? And What makes it terrible? What does YOUR city do for you, and what can YOU do to make it better? Urban Management Centre has been working to make cities better for over 25 years. In this time, we have been a part of many ‘firsts’ in India’s urbanization story. Our work across diverse contexts have given us insight into urban challenges, and strategies that have been adopted to solve them. Our Founder and Director, Manvita Baradi first conceived of this course in 2005. It has subsequently been run in many forms and with different pedagogies, including at CEPT university and recently at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) as part of the 96th Foundation Program. ​This iteration of the course is dedicated to in-service professionals, from both the non-profit and for-profit sectors, as well as students and government officials. The course uses narrative elements and case studies to introduce the various technical, administrative, and governing structures that make Indian cities what they are. They help learners relate to their lived experiences, while also absorbing the bigger picture and contextualizing some significant experiments in urban development.

What is urban heritage and why should we preserve it? Who are the key stakeholders for urban heritage management and what role to common citizens play in it? How can you participate in this process? This course will introduce you to various perspectives around urban heritage management and how to navigate the complexities surrounding this. We hope to enrich your work areas by becoming aware and sensitised towards heritage and cultural assets of cities.

Have you ever wondered why that empty plot has not been converted into a neighbourhood park? Why are there no public spaces where you and your family can go for a picnic? Or why there are no 30 floor buildings in the city, despite the demand for housing and real estate? Why are there no cycling tracks in our cities? Why is crossing a road a game of life and death? To solve these issues, we need to understand how cities are planned and managed. In most cases, it is your city government that plans this infrastructure. To truly understand this, we need to understand how development plans and development regulations are made. If these questions resonate with you, this webinar is for you. Join us as we explore actionable strategies, share insights from real-world case studies, and discuss how integrating women’s SHGs can create sustainable livelihoods, improve service delivery, and foster inclusive governance. Learn how you can be part of this transformative movement and weave these solutions into your work.

Our Donors

Asian-Development-Bank
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Dasra-Logo
Gates Foundation_logo
giz-logo
ICMA_Logo
unicef-logO
itc-limited-logo
usaid logo
Jhpiego_logo
wateraid-logo
Oak-Foundation_logo
The_World_Bank_logo
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World-Health-Organization-Logo

Our Partners

Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs logo
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment logo
DAY-NULM-logo
Government-of-Odisha_logo
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government-of-andhra-pradesh-logo
Govt. of Telengana_Logo
Tamil Nadu Govt_Logo
Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation Logo
Surat Municipal Corporation_logo
Jodhpur-Nagar-Nigam_Logo
Municipality-of-Warrangal-logo
Sambalpur-Municipal-Corporation_logo
Bhubaneshwar Municipal Corporation_Logo
Jatni Municipality_Logo
Paradeep_Municipal Corporation_Logo
National Institute of Urban Affairs_logo
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Khordha Municipality_Logo
NFSSM Alliance logo.png
Centre for Advocacy and Research_Logo
Janaagraha_logo
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University-of-Birmingham_Logo
Mahila-Housing-Trust_Logo
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NFDC_logo
Federation-of-Sri-Lankan-Authorities
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Our Publications

Integrating Women's SHGs in Urban Sanitation Service Delivery

Integrating Women's SHGs in Urban Sanitation Service Delivery

A Resource Guide for Decision Makers and Sanitation Leaders

A step by step Guide for Planning, Designing of Street Vending in Indian CitiesStreet Vend

A Step-by-Step Guide for Planning and Designing of Street Vending

in Indian Cities

Creating Gender Inclusive, Equitable and Sustainable Vending Spaces for All

Turning Tides

Turning Tides

A Journey Towards Safety and Dignity for Sanitation Workers in Urban India

Training Manual for Sewer Entry Professionals by UMC

Training for Sewer Entry Professionals: Safe Confined Space Entry

Transforming the Lives of Core Sanitation Workers

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Contact Us

Thank you for your interest in Urban Management Centre (UMC). We value your feedback, inquiries, and collaboration opportunities. Please feel free to reach out to us using the contact information provided below. Our dedicated team is here to assist you.

Head Office

A-202, GCP Business Center, Opp Navrangpura Fire Station, 120 Feet Ring Rd, Sarvottam Nagar Society, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380009

079-26400306-307

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