10001623-Technical Assistance to implement gender-responsive solid waste management / circular economy and green public spaces in India

The project "Gender in Smart Cities / Resilient Urban Development: Gender and Digital Approaches as drivers for sustainable growth and recovery in Cities" (GRC) is implemented by GIZ in India on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), along with the political counterpart the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). The project is being implemented in three partner cities in India: Guwahati in Assam, Kochi in Kerala and Faridabad in Haryana. The project GRC focuses on two municipal public services: solid waste management (SWM) / circular economy (CE), and safe and green public spaces. Context India"s economic transformation is a story shaped mainly by its cities. Indian cities act as powerful hubs for sustainable growth by driving innovation, creating inclusive economies, and fostering collaboration to achieve development goals. They achieve this by developing smart urban policies, investing in green, climate-resilient infrastructure, improving public services, and using technology for better resource management. By strategically addressing urban challenges through integrated and interdisciplinary solutions, cities can achieve prosperity while minimizing environmental impact and enhancing the quality of life for their growing populations. Objective In selected cities in India, women and girls benefit as users or providers from climate-resilient, municipal public service systems in the areas of solid waste management (SWM) / circular economy (CE) as well as from safe and green public spaces. Approach 1) Improving the evidence base The project aims to improve the data and knowledge base for the provision of climate-resilient municipal public services. This is based on the following impact hypotheses: On the basis of strengthened cooperation between the actors relevant to service provision, the evidence base (knowledge and information base) will be improved and particularly with regard to gender responsiveness (esp