Designing for a Healthier Indore, India: Participatory Systems Mapping

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Urban Planning
• Systems Science

Background:

• Rapid urban growth in Indore, India, strains municipal systems and service delivery capacity.
• A systems mapping approach was employed to understand complex urban dynamics and stakeholder perspectives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify high-impact areas for engagement within Indore's urban systems.
• To co-create actionable strategies for improving the city's health and equity.

Main Methods:

• Engaged 247 multi-sector stakeholders through workshops and town halls (2018-2020).
• Synthesized qualitative data with existing project findings to build a comprehensive systems map.
• Identified key patterns within four domains: leadership/governance/financing, service delivery/workforce, information systems, and community infrastructure/education.

Main Results:

• A systems map highlighted the tension between Indore's growth and service delivery capacity.
• Three key leverage opportunities were identified: improving data quality/use/integration, enhancing policy accountability/enforcement, and increasing community engagement.
• Seven "coherent actions" were co-created with stakeholders to address identified barriers.

Conclusions:

• Understanding complex urban systems through stakeholder engagement is crucial for effective interventions.
• Targeted actions focusing on data, policy, and community engagement can foster healthier and more equitable urban environments.
• The developed strategies provide a framework for future implementation and city development planning.