At India Urban Space Foundation (IUSF), we are driven by a mission to shape cities that are economically vibrant, efficient, equitable and sustainable. We aspire to emerge as the premier institution catalysing urban transformation through improved practices, approaches, technologies and standards in urban planning, management of urban spaces, infrastructure development and service delivery.

We firmly believe that spatial planning is at the core of shaping vibrant cities. Urban issues when seen through the perspective of ‘space’, throws up new insights and approaches to solving problems, generally never perceived.

At IUSF, we create enabling platforms that serve as ‘marketplaces’ for exchange of ideas, knowledge, experiences and business opportunities. Participants and stakeholders at such marketplaces include – elected and administrative leadership from city governments, State and Central level agencies, private sector – large corporates to small entrepreneurs, research and academic institutions, NGOs, CBOs, et al.

The ‘marketplaces’ we catalyse are unique, vibrant and effective, as they drive significant change in the urban sector by - throwing up new ideas and approaches; highlighting innovations; sharing knowledge and expertise; opening new market opportunities; shaping deeper understanding of stakeholders’ perspectives; and much more. Enabling platforms created by IUSF are in the form of – conferences, seminars and expositions; government-industry interface; on-line exchange; site visits; etc.

‘Innovations in Services for Urban Poor Awards’, is our latest initiative that seeks to identify, reward and celebrate the success of the best innovations in reaching out and delivering services to the urban poor.This award program is anchored by India Urban Space Foundation, with support from The World Bank – SIDA Partnership.

One comes across the effective confluence of business entrepreneurship and social development, through a number of successful innovations with the urban poor in cities across India. At IUSF, we firmly believe the power of these emerging innovations lie in
> their ability to create enduring value and transform the quality of life of urban poor
> the potential they hold to inform policies, programs and fund allocations at National, State and City level Governments
> the possibility of creating large scale impact when replicated and scaled up
> the opportunity they provide to the entrepreneurs to create wealth while serving the bottom of the pyramid

The ‘Innovations in Services for Urban Poor Awards’ will unearth success stories – large and small, celebrate the successes and widely disseminate the lessons learnt.