What this is
ACT Indore is the first on-the-ground pilot of the Youth ACT Framework — testing whether a national framework for youth-centered urban climate governance can work at the ward level, in the everyday realities of one of India's fastest-growing cities.
It is a Fondation Botnar initiative running through a consortium: Youth Ki Awaaz as lead partner, AAs Indore and SHEDO as local implementing partners, StartUp! as MEL partner, and NIUA as policy-support partner.
How it works
Engaging across all 85 wards
Local partners engaged adolescents from communities across all 85 wards of Indore — introducing climate change through what they already navigate every day: water supply, heat exposure, waste conditions, mobility, and neighbourhood safety.
3-stage fellow selection
From open applications across Indore, 100 candidates were shortlisted. Through listening circles, mapping, and team activities, 50 fellows were selected based on engagement, leadership potential, and ability to observe climate issues. Grouped into 10 teams based on locality.
The themes
Two priority themes emerged from community assessments: water and waste — with intersectionalities across heat, health, and gender.
Ward-level household survey
Fellows surveyed 1,080 households across 10 wards. Key findings: 74% of households in some areas never received piped water; women and girls spend 1–2 hours daily managing water; 87% believe the climate is changing; 92% link waste, water, and climate to disease.
What's coming
A 3rd policy consultation with NIUA, EPCO, and Indore Municipal Corporation — bringing ward-level survey findings into governance conversations.
The final Indore Youth ACT Framework — integrating adolescent perspectives into Indore's urban governance structures.
A national conference to scale learnings to other Indian cities.
