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Capacity Development

Building the capacities of India’s changemakers to foster
innovation and urban transformation at scale

OVERVIEW

The IIHS Capacity Development programme is dedicated to building the capacities of practitioners across government, public agencies, development organisations, the private sector, academia, and civil society in urban and rural India. By equipping practitioners with interdisciplinary skills, strategic perspectives and new frameworks of knowledge, the Programme fosters innovation and change at scale.

Grounded in the belief that the transformation of human settlements depends on capacity as much as financial resources, the Programme delivers training led by IIHS researchers, visiting faculty, and practitioners with first-hand experience in the Indian context.

Comprehensive capacity development

Developing individual, institutional and ecosystem-level capacity through customised training that integrates research-based insights with real-world experiences

Cohesive learning packages

Providing a rich blend of knowledge, skills and perspectives vital to addressing challenges in human settlements.

Diverse pedagogical methods

Teaching methods focused on practical, application-oriented learning that builds resilience and reflexivity.

Areas of Expertise

Effective capacity development requires more than training delivery alone. This process connects stakeholder engagement, capacity assessment, programme design, implementation, and evaluation to ensure that interventions remain relevant, responsive, and informed by evidence.

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States and union territories

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Urban local bodies

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Years

Participants

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Programmes

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Engagements

Working with governments at all levels, key national missions and institutional partners—building capacity at the very institutions responsible for India’s urban transformation

Building Capacity in the Central Services

The Programme works with the Central services to design specialised capacity development initiatives for IAS officers and other officials, equipping them with practical skills in governance, infrastructure, climate action, and digital urban management to address urban challenges in a rapidly urbanising context.

Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA)
Trained 1,500+ IAS officers through in-campus, off-site, and international immersion programmes that address wide-ranging and critical aspects of the urban, such as governance, finance, management, urban infrastructure and service delivery
Department of Personnel and Training
Trained 1,500+ IAS officers through in-campus, off-site, and international immersion Trained 100+ mid-career officials in <capacity development programmes for the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT)>, covering essential urban themes, such as urban transformation, blue-green infrastructure for climate action and digital governance in urban infrastructure
Indian Army
Held workshops and seminars for the Indian Army, and has trained 250+ military personnel across various Commands, with a focus on creating sustainable cantonments and efficient management of military stations

Enabling National Missions

The Programme supports India’s urban transformation through capacity-building initiatives for municipal officials and elected representatives across key national missions, with 9,000+ participants trained to strengthen governance and sustainable urban development.

Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA)
Part of the <empanelment for the Integrated Capacity Building Programme (ICBP)>, IIHS has trained 9,000+ municipal functionaries and elected representatives from across India
Ministry of Jal Shakti
Empanelled as a Key Resource Centre to offer <capacity development for the National Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)>, reaching 1,200+ senior- and middle-level officers through multiple training programmes supporting safe and sustainable drinking water delivery to households across India
Support to National Missions
Supports key national missions including the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana–Urban (PMAY-U), National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM), Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), and National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY).

Open Enrolment Programmes

The Programme offers capacity development courses for students, researchers, and practitioners focused on practical skills and applied insights in the context of Indian cities, taught by IIHS faculty and experienced academic and professional advisors.

Building Capacity Development Systems

The Programme works with institutional and development partners to design and deliver large-scale capacity development initiatives, alongside IIHS’ practice work.

This work includes collaborative diagnostics, training needs assessments, curriculum and programme design, training-of-trainers models, and the development of learning systems and tools that strengthen institutional capacity and translate research into practice.

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