This reflective thought piece aims to explore the future trajectories of urbanisation in India, with over 4,000 cities and towns poised for exponential growth and facing challenges in managing infrastructure and delivering urban services. It delves into several crucial aspects of urban development that define how cities function, evolve, and meet the needs of their people. It examines key barriers and potential opportunities to drive sustainable urbanisation. The book strives to stimulate dialogue and raise questions that will help shape pathways for green urban futures in the country - futures that are healthy, inclusive, and regenerative.

The Alt Urban Housing Challenge 2025 was conducted through a unique collaboration between Development Alternative and Dhun Life, emerging from a shared aspiration to reimagine housing in response to the pressing environmental and social issues of our time. The challenge aims to foster climate-resilient, inclusive, and community-driven housing design solutions. This book presents the journey of the Alt Urban Housing Challenge and the insights that emerged from this enriching process.

Environmental injustice towards women and girls was identified as a key issue by the Women’s Empowerment Working Group under India's G20 Presidency in 2023. This Policy Brief draws on existing mechanisms and best practices across G20 economies to recommend ways to ensure equal access to climate technologies for young people, enabling them to combat climate change.

Water is essential for life and ecosystems, but in India, water scarcity and degraded water bodies are growing concerns. The rejuvenation of ponds, which historically play a key role in groundwater recharge, biodiversity support, and meeting human needs, is a vital solution. This report assesses 12 pond rejuvenation interventions, both Amrit Sarovars and non-Amrit Sarovars, across diverse climatic zones in India. It examines their implementation, impact on the triple bottom line, and offers recommendations to improve governance and enhance future efforts under Mission Amrit Sarovar.

"Reflection: Water for Peace" delves into the intricate tapestry of water governance, equity, and sustainability, resonating with the theme of World Water Day 2024. This e-book intertwines diverse perspectives, from gender equity in water management to the nexus between water and culture, offering a roadmap for collective action. Amidst the spectre of water scarcity and climate change, it champions resilience and innovation in the pursuit of a harmonious future. Join this introspective journey, embracing the transformative power of water as a catalyst for peace, prosperity, and sustainable development globally.

In this issue of Work4Progress e-newsletter, we present compelling stories of change, highlighting the significance of collaboration for enabling impact at scale.

This comprehensive study is part of the 'Climate Resilient and Low Carbon Development Pathway for Bihar' project in collaboration with the Bihar State Pollution Control Board and Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation. The report underscores Bihar's sugar sector, proposing short-, medium-, and long-term net-zero strategies by 2070 through GHG Protocol analysis. Despite minimal fossil fuel use, the sector exports surplus green electricity, showcasing environmental responsibility. Strategies include methane recovery and aligning with the Biofuels Promotion Policy 2023 for low-carbon development. The report outlines a comprehensive roadmap for sustainable and environmentally conscious development in Bihar's sugar industry.

This comprehensive study is part of the 'Climate Resilient and Low Carbon Development Pathway for Bihar' project in collaboration with the Bihar State Pollution Control Board and Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation. The report assesses GHG emissions from Bihar's Re-Rolling Mills, revealing 381,440 tons of CO2e in 2021-22. Forecasting sector growth until 2070, it projects a potential annual emission of 2.59 million tons of CO2e. To achieve near-net zero by 2070, proposed interventions focus on reducing coal usage and adopting energy-efficient technologies. This report outlines that successful implementation requires policy, technology, and financial support. The study offers a vital guide for Bihar, outlining a low-carbon development strategy for sustainability in the Re-Rolling Mills sector.

This plastic waste-busting roadmap is the culmination of 3 years of research by TERI, CSIR-NEERI, CSIRO, DA and UTS, Sydney. It tackles plastic pollution from all angles, offering a blueprint for a circular economy revolution!

Bihar tackles air pollution with GeoAI! A collaborative effort led by UNDP & DA uses satellite data to pinpoint non-compliant brick kilns, driving informed regulation and cleaner air for the Indo-Gangetic Plains.

A compilation of 20 case studies of Work4progress entrepreneurs, authored by Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA). These studies delve into the entrepreneurs' journeys and showcase the impact on both the individuals and their enterprises, and the local entrepreneurial ecosystems.

In this issue of Work4Progress e-newsletter, we present compelling stories of change in Bundelkhand, where women and youth are actively shaping new narratives. These inspiring accounts reflect the shifts in the ecosystem that are beginning to nurture and support the growing entrepreneurial spirit in the region.

Nature-based solutions (NbS) are critical for building resilience against the threats of climate change and biodiversity loss that are triggered by unsustainable land use and poor agricultural practices. Despite this understanding, investment into NbS in the G20 economies—especially from the private sector, multilateral development banks, and international financial institutions—is inadequate.

Ponds in India are dying. It is time to Revive, Rejuvenate and Restore them. Development Alternatives collaborated with various stakeholders to take on this challenge and launched an initiative “Humare Talab Humari Pehchan” to work on pond rejuvenation

The G20 governments face compounding crises or ‘polycrisis’ while delivering the green transition over several political cycles. The multilateral challenge can only be addressed by engaging the G20, allowing structural green solutions to be embedded into national development pathways. COVID-19 green recovery packages have helped the progress of the green transition, but structural green transition policies that deliver longer-term returns

This contextual financial analysis report strategically analyses the sustainable finance architecture in the agriculture and allied sector in Bundelkhand (Madhya Pradesh), the tourism sector in Mandi (Himachal Pradesh), and the construction sector in the State of Bihar. The objective of the report is to assess the effect of financing (or lack thereof) on the enterprises. The learnings from this analysis are envisaged to feed into dialogues around the green economy and financial reforms at state, national, and international levels.

This guidebook gives an insight into the remote village cluster around Parashar Lake in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh. It explores traditional cuisine, indigenous knowledge, handicrafts, local history, and vernacular architecture of houses converted into homestays. This guidebook seeks to promote the culture of slow tourism by helping travellers to plan their visit to Himachal Pradesh responsibly.

The Work4Progress (W4P) programme, launched in India towards the end of 2016 and subsequently in Peru and Mozambique by the ”la Caixa’’ Foundation, seeks to create new employment opportunities. The programme operates as an open platform for social innovation, formed by civil society organizations, financing institutions, research and technology agencies

The Toolkit for Facilitating Fly Ash Brick Enterprises is an end-to-end guide developed by Development Alternatives Group with Bihar State Pollution Control Board to support ease of setting up & financing green enterprises in Bihar. A highly customizable tool, it provides business, market and financial knowledge to enable entrepreneurs start a fly ash brick unit or expand an existing one

Development Alternatives started working in Bundelkhand more than three decades ago. In an attempt to transform the economy and ecology of Bundelkhand we worked here to build massive programmes for restoring and rebuilding the social and natural processes which resulted in measurable improvement in the lives and livelihoods of the people and in the productivity of their land, water and biological resources. This book, thus, is a tribute to AVM Sahni for his contribution in guiding the sustainable development initiatives. This resulted in community transformation, environmental regeneration and economic sustainability.