The Livelihoods India Case Study Competition is a pioneering initiative that brings together the collective intellect of the sector and assimilates innovative solutions, breakthroughs, experiences, and best practices that help in learning from diverse sector experience and impact poverty reduction. Instituted in 2009 by ACCESS, the competition is a tool to identify and collate models and best practices that have significantly contributed to livelihoods promotion of the poor in India. ACCESS announces the Livelihoods India Case Study Competition 2025.

India is among the world’s fastest-growing economies, with ambitions to reach a US$5 trillion economy by 2026 and US$40 trillion by 2047. Economic development and urbanisation are closely intertwined, with Indian cities emerging as engines of growth. Although they occupy just 3% of the country’s land, cities contribute an impressive 60% to India’s GDP.

By 2030, India’s urban population is expected to exceed 600 million, with over 40% of the population living in urban areas. At the same time, 7 to 8 million young people will enter the workforce annually, placing India in a strong position to leverage its demographic dividend. However, this will also lead to increased reliance on cities for employment, livelihoods, and economic stability.

To address the livelihood challenges of rapid urbanisation and ensure inclusive growth, the Government of India has implemented the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM), which aims to reduce urban poverty by providing skill development, self-employment opportunities, and support for the urban poor. Building on this foundation, a pilot New Mission on Urban Poverty Alleviation has been launched in 25 Indian cities with an outlay of 180 crore is in league of the initiatives undertaken to holistically support the most vulnerable – construction workers, transportation workers, gig workers, care workers, waste workers and domestic workers with sustainable livelihoods.

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and startups are playing a key role in driving India’s economic growth and supporting urban livelihoods. With over 5.93 crore registered MSMEs and more than 1.57 lakh startups, India now ranks as the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem. While major cities continue to lead this growth, smaller cities and peri-urban areas are also seeing a rise in entrepreneurial activity. In fact, over half of all MSMEs are now based in Tier II and Tier III cities, showing their increasing importance. This shift is reshaping the urban livelihoods landscape—creating jobs, encouraging innovation, and opening up new opportunities across sectors.

This transformation offers immense opportunities while it also poses complex challenges that necessitate strategic policy interventions, inclusive economic frameworks and sustainable development approaches. As the urban livelihoods system evolves, innovations in employment, while ensuring equitable access to resources, social protection mechanisms and ease of doing businesses are amongst the renewed focus that will be crucial in building sustainable livelihood systems for the vulnerable population.

Across India, pioneering urban livelihood models have emerged through the collaborative efforts of governments, apex institutions, civil society organizations, and the private sector. These models have demonstrated groundbreaking innovations that can serve as blueprints for inclusive urban growth shaping policy and practice.

To recognize and amplify these transformative efforts, the Livelihoods India Case Study Competition 2025 is themed as ‘Innovations in the Urban Livelihoods’. The Competition invites entries showcasing scalable innovations, across areas such as informal economy (street vendors & hawkers, waste management, domestic workers), mobility and logistics, gig and platform based work, home based enterprises, self-employment and micro entrepreneurship among others.