Project Partners
The Bartlett Development Planning Unit (DPU), University College London
An international centre in UCL with 70 years of experience in academic teaching, research, policy advice and institutional capacity building in the field of urban and regional development policy, planning, and management in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. The DPU has a strong international reputation in both academic (research and teaching) and practice-based activities (capacity building and advisory services) in cities of the Global South. A key focus of those activities is supporting community-led processes at scale, either directly through work with CBOs and NGOs, or through strengthening the capacities of local government to interact with communities in an inclusive and transparent manner.
Kota Kita (KK) is a non-profit organization based in the Indonesian city of Surakarta (Solo) with expertise in urban planning and citizen participation in the design and development of cities. We bridge the dialogues between government and their constituencies by facilitating citizen participation and collaboration, influencing urban policies, encouraging open access to information, and providing civic education to empower urban citizens. KK’s projects focus on governance, inclusivity, and climate change resilience. We use a co-creation design process that cultivates the active participation of underprivileged and marginalised communities in improving their living spaces. We believe that by facilitating a stronger relationship between community and spaces, communities will gain a stronger sense of belonging to the space and strengthen their collective agency to bring about change.)
CatalyticAction is an organisation that uses design and architecture to empower vulnerable children, young people and their communities. They achieve this through built and research projects delivered using a participatory approach that engages local communities. CatalyticAction works with communities to produce dignified built environments where everyone can take part in the creation of equitable, inclusive and sustainable communities. Through community engagement CatalyticAction builds local human capacity that ensures work has a lasting positive impact.
The SHM Foundation aims to provide communities and individuals with the practical tools they need to develop innovative solutions to drive positive social change. SHM Foundation has over a decade long experience of working with information communication technologies, such as mobile phones user groups in diverse contexts, to foster peer support and engagement of young people in areas related to mental health, HIV and education.
Fondation Botnar is a Swiss philanthropic foundation working to improve the health and wellbeing of young people living in cities around the world. Advocating for the inclusion of youth voices and the equitable use of AI and digital technology, the foundation invests in and supports innovative programs and research, and brings together actors from across sectors to create dialogue and partnerships.
This project is led by The Bartlett Development Planning Unit (UCL), Kota Kita, Catalytic Action and the SHM Foundation. It is funded by Fondation Botnar as part of the TYPCities research program.