What We Do  > Civic Participation

Building cities for
all, demands participation from all

Civic participation is a foundational pillar of democracy. For cities to thrive, citizens must go beyond voting and play a more active role in daily democracy. 

Our work in Civic Participation includes the interrelated strands of citizen engagement, councilor leadership, civic learning, and civic technology.  

We empower citizens and elected representatives with knowledge of local governance and citizenship as well as with the tools they need to engage in neighbourhood development. We also offer guidance on how to mobilise communities to engage and collaborate with city governments. 

These efforts to deepen citizen participation and invigorate civic leadership are primarily channelled towards strengthening Ward Sabhas (also known as ‘ward committees’ in cities where they are formalised by law). 

Civic learning is a crucial component of our work and focusses on creating the active citizens of tomorrow. The initiative is designed to engage students and the youth, instil a sense of civic duty and responsibility, and impart 21st-century skills such as systems thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork.  

Our work in civic technology enables government-citizen engagement, improves accountability, and streamlines processes. 

A Multi-Pronged Approach to Catalysing Ward Sabhas

Engagement between civil society and government is crucial to realising the potential of Ward Sabhas to spark change. We facilitate this engagement through:

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Active
Citizenship

Improving citizen participation is crucial to improving quality of life. Empowered citizens have a say in how their neighbourhoods and cities are planned and managed, how funds are allocated, and which civic problems are prioritised.

We work on participatory democracy at the local level with:

  • Community Coalitions
  • Tools
  • Data
two-women

Active
Citizenship

Improving citizen participation is crucial to improving quality of life. Empowered citizens have a say in how their neighbourhoods and cities are planned and managed, how funds are allocated, and which civic problems are prioritised.

We work on participatory democracy at the local level with:

  • Community Coalitions
  • Tools
  • Data

Active Citizenship

Deepening citizen-government engagement through community coalitions

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City Politics

The City Politics Platform is an initiative to mobilize citizens and communities at the city level. It boosts participation in local civic matters, advocates for ward committees, and creates an enabling space for emerging civic leaders.

Slum Dwellers Associations

Slum Dweller Associations (SDAs) promote and support the participation of the urban poor in the development of their settlements. In Odisha, we are working towards strengthening SDAs as the fourth tier of governance. This will pave the way for the urban poor to plan, prioritise, and oversee the transformation of their settlements into liveable habitats called Biju Adarsh colonies.

MyCityMyBudget

MyCityMyBudget (MCMB) is a participatory budgeting initiative implemented in collaboration with the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike and civil society organisations. It aims to make citizen voices an integral part of the city budget-making process.

Building civic technology platforms to resolve neighbourhood issues

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Swachhata Technology Platform

Public Eye

Run in collaboration with the Bengaluru Traffic Police, Public Eye is an app that allows citizens to report traffic violations and sensitizes them about traffic rules.

Biju Adarsh Colony Portal

The Biju Adarsh Colony Portal is a collaboration between the Government of Odisha and Janaagraha. Powered by Janaagraha, the portal tracks and monitors the progress of the Jaga Mission of slum upgradation and delisting. It offers a district and ward-wise breakdown of the delisting and trainings as well as updates from the slum.

Encouraging data-driven decision making for city budgets

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Infrastructure Scores

Infrastructure scores provide an accurate picture of the quality of life in a city. Our adaptable and scalable framework assesses the quality and accessibility of a city’s infrastructure. This includes roads, parks, playgrounds, public toilets, footpaths, bus stops and other infrastructure.

Budget Information

Citizen participation in a city’s budget-making process is dependent on accessibility to data. We simplify budget information to help citizens understand the availability of funds and prioritise allocations.

City Leaders
Program

A capacity-building initiative, the City Leaders Program aims to equip elected representatives with the skills and knowledge they need to affect change in their constituencies.

leadership

City Leaders
Program

A capacity-building initiative, the City Leaders Program aims to equip elected representatives with the skills and knowledge they need to affect change in their constituencies.

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Civic Learning

The Civic Learning program is designed to activate citizenship among students, youth, and citizens. Through experiential learning, students learn how to solve local civic issues, develop leadership and critical thinking skills, as well as a strong understanding of how democracy functions.

metro

Civic Learning

The Civic Learning program is designed to activate citizenship among students, youth, and citizens. Through experiential learning, students learn how to solve local civic issues, develop leadership and critical thinking skills, as well as a strong understanding of how democracy functions.

Collaborations

City Government Partnerships

Nagara Palika Nigam Raipur

Corporation of the City of Panaji

Municipal Corporation of Faridabad

Municipal Corporation of Gurugram

Solapur municipal corporation

Greater Vishakapatnam municipal corporation

Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike

Mangaluru City Corporation

State Government Partnerships

Government of Chattisgad

Government of Odisha

Central
Government Partnerships

Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs

Community
Coalitions

Karnatak Ward Samiti Balaga

Collaborations

City Government Partnerships

Nagara Palika Nigam Raipur
Corporation of the City of Panaji
Municipal Corporation of Faridabad
Municipal Corporation of Gurugram
Solapur municipal corporation
Greater Vishakapatnam municipal corporation
Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike
Mangaluru City Corporation

State Government Partnerships

Government of Chattisgad

Government of Odisha

Central Government Partnerships

Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs

Community Coalitions

Karnatak Ward Samiti Balaga

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT US

“Having worked with hundreds of cities around the world I have never seen an organisation as effective and speedy as Janaagraha in analysing the challenges of their city’s growth, developing solutions, mobilising the local citizenry and supporting local action. The Janaagraha model combines the roles of a think-tank, a capacity-building organisation and a grassroots movement, which in most cities are split into separate organisations that struggle to coordinate efforts. Janaagraha generates fresh, pragmatic solutions through a truly inter-disciplinary and multi-sectoral approach, and it promotes its solutions boldly with a spirit of entrepreneurship and unjaded conviction. It puts the power of fresh, objective, practical thinking in the hands of citizens.”

Jeb Brugmann, Founding Partner 
The Next Practice 

Awards

  • Social Media for Empowerment Award (2017) by the Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) for MyCityMyBudget.
  • The Manthan Award for South Asia (2015) for IChangeMyCity.
  • 41 Gems of Digital India (2017) for the Swachhata web and mobile apps.
  • Information Society Innovation Fund (ISIF) Asia Award (2015) for IChangeMyCity.
  • Google Global Impact Award (2013) for IChangeMyCity.

Awards

  • Social Media for Empowerment Award (2017) by the Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) for MyCityMyBudget.
  • The Manthan Award for South Asia (2015) for IChangeMyCity.
  • 41 Gems of Digital India (2017) for the Swachhata web and mobile apps.
  • Information Society Innovation Fund (ISIF) Asia Award (2015) for IChangeMyCity.
  • Google Global Impact Award (2013) for IChangeMyCity.

Recognition

Social Media for Empowerment Award (2017) by the Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) for MyCityMyBudget.

The Manthan Award for South Asia (2015) for IChangeMyCity.

41 Gems of Digital India (2017) for the Swachhata web and mobile apps.

Information Society Innovation Fund (ISIF) Asia Award (2015) for IChangeMyCity.

Google Global Impact Award (2013) for IChangeMyCity.