Building the World's First Institute for Urban & Corporate Sustainability of Global South.
The Institute for Sustainable Cities & Responsible Enterprises — a Global South Centre of Excellence connecting urban systems with capital, enterprise, and green growth across Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Not another institute.
A new discipline.
ISCRE is an India-anchored, globally connected hybrid think tank, research and talent-development institution dedicated to shaping the next generation of sustainable cities and responsible enterprises. It develops visionary leaders, generates actionable knowledge, builds future-ready talent and forges transformative partnerships to accelerate inclusive, resilient and sustainable development across Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Sponsored by the Confederation of Sustainable Cities — a non-profit Section 8 Company registered with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India.
Our Core Values
Global South cities
bear the burden —
and get the fewest resources.
Ninety percent of all urban growth this century will occur in Asia, Africa and Latin America — yet no institution of global standing trains the professionals to build, finance and govern these cities sustainably.
No Global South Sustainability Institute
Top-ranked sustainability schools sit in North America, Europe and Australia — none built for the Global South.
Solutions Transplanted, Not Grown
Knowledge is imported from the North — mismatched to local informality and governance.
ESG Regulation Racing Ahead of Talent
ESG mandates tighten across India, Africa and Latin America — with no trained workforce to deliver them.
Informal Economy Ignored
1.1 billion people live in slums — mainstream sustainability education has no curriculum for this reality.
Urban–Corporate Disconnect
Cities and enterprises are interdependent, yet still operate in silos.
Finance Pipeline Drought
Only 10% of needed climate finance reaches Southern cities — trained project developers are the binding constraint.
The world's 1st Institute;
where Urban & Corporate
Sustainability
are taught as one.
ISCRE's academic model integrates six knowledge streams that bridge urban & corporate sustainability, with emerging tech, AI, and green fintech embedded across all programmes.
- 01
Earth, Society & Sustainability
Systems science, ecology and social equity as one field.
- 02
Regenerative Technologies & Engineering
Clean energy, low-carbon materials, regenerative infrastructure.
- 03
Circular Economy & Resource Governance
Materials, waste, water and land — governed as commons.
- 04
Social Innovation & Just Transitions
Informality, livelihoods and equitable transition pathways.
- 05
Climate Science & Urban Resilience
Adaptation, risk and resilient urban form.
- 06
Sustainable Finance, ESG & Green Economy
BRSR, ESG, green fintech, climate capital pipelines.
Programmes Engineered for the Future
Every cohort at ISCRE is prepared for impactful work with cities, corporates, or development sector organisations. We offer non-degree executive certificates, short courses, research, advisory services, and city labs, delivered directly or through recognised Indian and international academic partners.
Why ISCRE is Unique?
1.Global South-First
All curricula and research built from Southern city contexts - not imported Northern frameworks.
2.Forced Integration
Every school, module, and research project requires both urban and business sustainability perspectives.
3.Living Lab Cities
Partner cities are co-researchers, not case studies. 15+ city field stations in each of the 3 regions in first three years of operations.
4.Enterprise in Residence
Leading regional companies embedded in the Institute. Their real challenges drive research.
5.South-South Exchange
Knowledge flows between Nairobi and Bogotá, Jakarta and Accra, Hyderabad and Cape Town -without routing through the North.
6.Policy Translation
Every research project has a named policy output. ISCRE co-implements, it does not just publish.
From Bangalore to
Nairobi to
São Paulo —
an institution of our own.
The private sector drives 60%+ of urban GDP in the Global South, yet has almost no locally relevant sustainability education. Many Southern countries have fewer than one urban planner per 100,000 people, against 13–38 in the US and UK. ISCRE is built where the century is being built.
- New Delhi
- Mumbai
- Bangalore
- Hyderabad
- Jakarta
- Nairobi
- Lagos
- Accra
- São Paulo
- Bogotá
- Lima
Advisory & Consultative Experts
Dr. Avleen Kaur Malhi
Adjunct Professor FinEst Centre for Smart Cities, Estonia
Governing Council
ISCRE multidisciplinary leadership reflects its core philosophy: that the complex challenges of sustainable cities and responsible enterprises cannot be solved within traditional disciplinary or institutional boundaries.
International Development, Government & Public Policy
Urban Development & Infrastructure
G. V. Rao
President, Telangana Developers Association
The urban century
has already begun.
So has ISCRE.
“True sustainability lives at the intersection of public urban systems and private enterprise.”
An institution
already in motion.
Join Us.
Founding Board Member
Recognised through a $1M+ donation, grant or endowment toward our $3.995M Year 1 setup — a place on the founding board and consortium.
City & Enterprise
City or enterprise partnership engagement from Year 1 — embedded fees, sponsored research, and knowledge exchange with a founding cohort.
Faculty & Advisory
Faculty, research, or advisory / consultative expert group roles across six schools and a growing network of Global South cities.
Partners
Transformative partnerships connecting city leaders, academic institutions, and enterprise pioneers across Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
News & Events
Latest updates, research announcements, global summits, and policy briefings from ISCRE.