Neighbourhoods Fit for Diverse Young People: Civic Media Practices and Urban Claims Making in Nepal and India
Through ‘Civic Media Workshops’, emerging youth leaders in each city explore the potential of digital tools like community radio, participatory video, and digital storytelling to support urban advocacy and activate change. The project explores how diverse young people can use civic media technologies to enable meaningful and equitable participation as ‘urban citizens’, to create ‘neighbourhoods fit for young people’.
Our team represent a diverse mix of partners working across research, policy, and practice.
Principal Investigator
Sheffield University-UK
Rajanya Bose
Postdoctoral Researcher
Sheffield University-UK
Lumanti Joshi
Project Lead in Nepal
LUMANTI Support Group for Shelter
Project Lead in India
Hunnarshala Foundation
Aishwarya Gupta
Workshop Coordinator
Hunnarshala Foundation
Shounak Saha
Youth Mobiliser
Hunnarshala Foundation
Ananta Raj Bajracharya
Workshop Coordinator
LUMANTI Support Group for Shelter
Newton Maharjan
LUMANTI Support Group for Shelter
Chandra Lal Pandey
Research Lead in Nepal
Kathmandu University-NP
Himanshu Burte
Research Lead in India
Indian Institute of Technology
(IIT Bombay)
PhD researcher
Indian Institute of Technology
(IIT Bombay)
Pravesh Khanal
Research Assistant
Kathmandu University-NP
Lajana Manandhar
Asian Coalition for Housing Rights
(ACHR)
Marina Kolovou Kouri
Asian Coalition for Housing Rights
(ACHR)
Alexandre A. Frediani
Co-investigator-Policy Impact
International Institute for Environment & Development
Camila Cociña
Co-investigator-Policy Impact
International Institute for Environment & Development
Co-investigator-Civic Media
International Institute for Environment & Development
Design & Comms Consultant
Sheffield University-UK
Our partners form a dynamic network connecting local youth-led action to global knowledge, combining academic, practice, and policy expertise to co-produce knowledge on equitable cities for young people.
University of Sheffield (UK)
The School of Geography and Planning at Sheffield University is a Russell Group University committed to research on social justice and environmental change. Our research team focuses on impact-oriented projects that address humanity's greatest challenges. We work to bridge the gap between academic research and real-world transformation through interdisciplinary collaboration and rigorous methodologies. Our commitment to equitable urban development is reflected in our extensive experience partnering with organisations across the Global South.
Kathmandu University (Nepal)
Kathmandu University is a public university, with a vision of bringing knowledge and technology to the service of mankind. The University aspires to serve the nation by fulfilling the needs of the society through the motto of taking knowledge and skills “from the campus to the community.” Our work is focused on working with professionals and academics to bring these knowledge and skills to contemporary national and global development challenges.
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay (India)
IIT Bombay is a leading technical institute in India, renowned for its innovative approach to science, technology, and design. Our institution combines technical excellence with social responsibility, particularly through our engagement with urban development challenges. Through collaborative research initiatives, we foster deep connections between academic expertise and real-world urban challenges. Our work in the Centre for Policy Studies spans technology, design, and social innovation, with a particular focus on creating sustainable and inclusive urban futures.
Asian Coalition for Housing Rights (ACHR)
ACHR is a regional network that has been pioneering community-led urban development across Asia for over three decades. We connect grassroots organisations, NGOs, and professionals to support innovative approaches to urban challenges. We specialise in creating platforms for knowledge exchange and collective action across Asian cities, and aims to provide an alternative model of urban development based on Asian realities and experiences.
International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)
IIED is a policy research organisation that bridges local priorities with global challenges. We specialise in promoting sustainable development through collaborative research and action. Our extensive network connects grassroots initiatives with international policy platforms, ensuring that local voices influence global conversations. With decades of experience in supporting LMIC organisations, we focus on co-creating rigorous policy research and advancing equitable urban development. Our communications reach extends to social media channels that help amplify local voices in global discussions.
Lumanti Support Group for Shelter (Nepal)
Lumanti is a Nepal-based NGO with deep roots in community development and urban transformation. Since our establishment, we have worked extensively across Nepali cities, focusing on disaster resilience, infrastructure development, and community empowerment. Our organisation has pioneered innovative women and youth engagement approaches, establishing successful cooperatives and urban resource centres. Our work spans housing advocacy, water and sanitation infrastructure, and youth empowerment initiatives.
Hunnarshala Fundation (India)
Established in 2001 following the Gujarat earthquake, Hunnarshala Foundation is based in Bhuj, and represents a unique blend of traditional wisdom and modern innovation in urban development. We specialise in sustainable construction techniques and community-led design. We believe in bridging traditional knowledge with contemporary technologies to create sustainable urban solutions. Our approach combines technical expertise with deep community engagement, particularly focusing on youth empowerment and participatory urban planning, working with a wide network of organisations in Bhuj.