november:city collective
november:city collective is a Netherlands-based non-profit organisation advancing inclusive urban transformation through research, implementation, and strategic support.
We work in contexts shaped by political complexity, social inequality, and competing urban priorities. By engaging with these conditions rather than simplifying them, we help cities and public institutions navigate uncertainty and translate it into meaningful, equitable action.
Our work spans Europe and the Global South, supporting transformative urban change through grounded research, collaborative processes, and evidence-based strategies.
Who We Are
november:city collective is a transdisciplinary collective of urban researchers and practitioners working across diverse geographies, institutional settings, and governance contexts.
Our team brings together expertise from collaborations with municipalities, civil society organisations, and international research institutions in Europe and the Global South. We work across languages, disciplines, and sectors to support inclusive and context-sensitive urban transformation.
We are accustomed to navigating conflicting perspectives and contested priorities. Rather than treating ambiguity in urban decision-making as a barrier, we work with it – using it as a starting point for developing robust, sustainable, and politically informed solutions.
What We Stand For
We believe that urban transformation requires evidence-based approaches, inclusive governance, and a deliberate focus on addressing structural inequalities in access, resources, and decision-making.
Navigating Ambiguity in Urban Transformation
Areas of Work
Across these areas, our work combines applied research, capacity building, and transnational exchange to support inclusive, evidence-based, and scalable approaches to urban transformation.
Inclusive Urban Development & Local Governance
We work with municipalities, civil society organisations, and local communities to address challenges related to urban growth, inequality, and governance. Our work focuses on inclusive planning processes, participatory decision-making, and cross-sector collaboration.
We apply an intersectional lens to ensure that planning and governance processes respond to diverse needs and improve equitable access to urban resources.
Mobility Justice, Public Space & Climate
Mobility systems and public spaces are key arenas where social and spatial inequalities become visible. We develop and support low-carbon and active mobility strategies that respond to diverse needs while strengthening urban resilience to climate change.
Our work connects mobility justice, public space design, and climate-responsive urban strategies.
Informal Settlements & Marginalised Contexts
In contexts where inequality is most pronounced – including informal settlements and under-resourced neighbourhoods – we collaborate with locally rooted organisations to support inclusive and rights-based urban development.
In the Global South, our work is grounded in long-term partnerships with local actors. Project agendas are co-defined, and decision-making authority remains with local partners. Our role is to contribute methodological expertise, facilitate knowledge exchange, and support access to international funding and networks.
Research, Practice, and Knowledge Exchange
Applied Research & Policy-Oriented Analysis
november:city collective conducts applied, transdisciplinary research that directly informs urban policy, planning, and investment decisions. Our research responds to concrete challenges faced by cities, municipalities, and local communities, particularly in contexts marked by inequality and rapid transformation.
We work at the interface of qualitative and quantitative methods, combining spatial analysis, policy review, participatory research, and stakeholder engagement. Our focus is on generating evidence that is actionable and relevant for decision-makers, practitioners, and civil society actors.
Typical research outputs include policy briefs, strategic recommendations, methodological toolkits, and pilot frameworks that can be adapted and scaled across different urban contexts.
Capacity Building and Institutional Strengthening
Capacity building is a core component of november:city collective’s approach to urban transformation. We design and deliver workshops, training programmes, and mentoring formats that support individuals and organisations in navigating complex urban challenges and strengthening their capacity to act effectively within specific institutional and political contexts.
Our capacity-building activities are grounded in real-world challenges and closely linked to ongoing research and implementation processes. Formats are tailored to the needs of municipalities, civil society organisations, community groups, and interdisciplinary project teams.
Key focus areas include inclusive urban planning and governance, participatory methods, mobility justice, climate-responsive public space, and working in marginalised or informal contexts. Across all activities, we emphasise critical reflection on power relations, institutional constraints, and the practical application of evidence-based approaches.
Global Networking and Peer-to-Peer Exchange
november:city collective actively fosters transnational networking and peer-to-peer exchange to support learning, innovation, and solidarity across diverse urban contexts. By connecting actors from Europe and the Global South, we create opportunities for mutual learning that recognise both shared challenges and context-specific realities.
Our exchange formats bring together urban practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and community-based organisations to share experiences, reflect on successes and failures, and adapt approaches across different governance and institutional environments.
We facilitate structured formats such as thematic learning spaces, practitioner dialogues, and collaborative workshops, often linked to research or implementation projects. These are designed to move beyond one-directional knowledge transfer and instead promote horizontal learning and co-production of knowledge.
Through sustained networks and partnerships, we support the circulation of ideas, methods, and practices that inform policy development, programme design, and future collaborative initiatives at local, national, and international levels.
Our Role
We act as partners, facilitators, and critical allies to public institutions, civil society organisations, and local communities.
By bridging research and practice, technical and social perspectives, and local and global scales, we support actors seeking to challenge existing urban systems and advance more just and sustainable alternatives.
Our Vision
We envision cities that address inequality rather than reproducing it. Cities where access to opportunities, resources, and public spaces is not shaped by income, gender, ability, or origin, and where urban development is guided by those who live in and care for the city.
Work With Us
We work with municipalities, civil society organisations, research institutions, and community initiatives seeking to advance more just and inclusive cities.
Our collaborations span applied research, pilot projects, strategic partnerships, and programme development. We welcome co-created initiatives, funded projects, and community-driven approaches that foster equitable, sustainable, and inclusive urban futures — from mobility and climate adaptation to public space and governance interventions.
Let’s navigate urban futures together.
Contact
office[at]novembercity.eu