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Women’s contributions to agricultural production and household food security are significant, yet their role in decision-making and access to resources often remain unequal.

Developed through the University of Toronto School of Cities’ International Multidisciplinary Urban Capstone Project (IMUCP), facilitated by University of Toronto India Foundation, these modules support Raah Foundation’s One Acre Food Forest Program in Palghar, Maharashtra.

Grounded in field research and interactions with indigenous women, the modules address three interconnected challenges: limited agency, inequitable resource distribution and the invisibility of women’s labour. Through participatory activities, community dialogue and practical guidance for field teams, the resource offers an approach to integrating gender sensitivity into agricultural development programmes, with a focus

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How can cities ensure that climate action reaches communities most vulnerable to its impacts?

Developed through the University of Toronto School of Cities’ International Multidisciplinary Urban Capstone Project (IMUCP), with support from the University of Toronto India Foundation (UTIF) and Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action (YUVA), this research summary examines gaps in the inclusion of informal settlements and communities in urban climate planning.

Drawing on an analysis of nine City Climate Action Plans across India and the Global South, alongside grassroots case studies, the report proposes a practical framework for more inclusive climate action. It highlights pathways for integrating community priorities, local knowledge and accountability into municipal planning, moving towards more equitable and participatory urban climate governance.

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Understanding Waste Worker Inclusion in Municipal Circularity Initiatives examines how India’s transition towards more circular urban waste systems is reshaping the lives and livelihoods of the informal workers who have long sustained recycling, material recovery, and landfill diversion. Drawing on case studies from Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, and Goa, the report explores how policy frameworks, institutional arrangements, contracting models, and socio-economic conditions determine whether waste workers are meaningfully recognized, protected, and able to participate in emerging municipal waste systems.

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A Report on Deliberative and Participatory Climate Governance documents the Sudhagad Block-Level Conference of Panchayats, held on 29 April 2026 in Pali, Raigad. Bringing together Panchayat representatives, Sarpanchs, community members, government officials, academics, and civil society organisations, the initiative sought to create a block-level space where communities could identify shared climate and development challenges, bring local and indigenous knowledge into planning, and collectively shape actionable responses. The process engaged 15 Gram Panchayats across Sudhagad and positioned the block, or “meso tier”, as an important bridge between village-level priorities and district- and state-level governance.

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Project Guidebook by IMUCP 2025–26 student team, along with community partner Raah Foundation and supported by UTIF, addresses gendered inequities in nutritional access among Indigenous communities in Palghar through a design justice approach. Through policy analysis and gender-sensitive training, it strengthens accountability, translates lived experiences into actionable insights, and advances Indigenous women’s agency in nutrition, health, and decision-making systems.

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