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.
Bridging Policy with Ground Level Insights
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.
Key Milestones Over 25 Years
Over the last two and a half decades, UMC has evolved from a city management initiative to a trusted partner for governments and global development agencies. Our journey is marked by bold ideas, lasting collaborations, and scalable impact.
From institutionalising WASH benchmarks at the national level to introducing tech-driven platforms like Quneiform and leading climate action efforts in Chennai, each milestone reflects our deep commitment to making cities more inclusive, resilient, and future-ready.
Our Timeline
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 Publications
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The Garima Story (2025)
A documentation of Odisha’s Garima Programme, India’s first state-wide initiative ensuring safety, dignity, and welfare for sanitation workers.
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
Integrating Women's SHGs in Urban Sanitation Service Delivery
A Resource Guide for development practitioners and Sanitation Leaders.
Training for Sewer Entry Professionals: Safe Confined Space Entry
Transforming the Lives of Core Sanitation Workers
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
079-26400307