Sustainability: The relevance and intrinsic ability of the innovation to be replicated in similar situations / context in other cities will be an important attribute of the innovations we seek. In many cases, such sustainability may be contributed by viability of the financing model of the initiative, wherein the pricing and funding pattern is replicable across locations.

We believe that the market orientation of such innovations also contributes to their sustainability. Initiatives that treat the urban poor as ‘customers’ and ‘stakeholders’ and not as ‘beneficiaries’ have the intrinsic ability to sustain themselves, as the service providers hold themselves accountable for the product / service they deliver. Also such orientation in implementing such innovation brings in the element of being responsive to the demands and needs of the urban poor.

Linkage with civic mandate: Within the wide range of issues that confront the urban poor, this program restricts its focus to areas that are broadly the mandate of civic agencies across the country*. Innovations and development roles donned by NGOs / CSOs and private entrepreneurs, does in no way diminish the primacy of role of Government to address the needs of the urban poor.

Evidence across countries over time reveals that when private initiatives are integrated and work in partnership with public agencies, the impact, replicability and sustainability of the initiative is increased manifold.

We seek innovations that in the course of their implementation have worked closely in association / partnership with civic agencies.

*While such mandates vary across cities (for e.g. some municipal bodies run primary health centres, and hospitals, while many do not), the program will consider a nomination within these areas, irrespective of whether such role is played by the municipal body in that particular city.

Community of Interest: Social development interventions that have an intrinsic ability to replicate and sustain over a long period of time are those that address individual interests, but also effectively lock-in individual gain with the larger community benefit.

Building the community of interest, enables fight back forces that resist change and empowerment of urban poor. When the benefits of the initiative are shared and valued by entire community, collective efforts ensure a few individuals will not sabotage collective gains.

We seek such innovations that link individual and community interest, to create sustainable ownership.