Urban Ethnographers

Urban Ethnographers is a knowledge and strategy partner to mission-driven organisations, dedicated to enabling transparency, coherence, and systemic impact. With a strong foundation in both qualitative and quantitative research, we help institutions navigate complexity, generate actionable insights, and build robust systems that drive sustainable and equitable change.

Since its inception, Urban Ethnographers has worked with grassroots nonprofits, philanthropic foundations, large-scale implementation partners, and academic institutions across sectors such as education, skilling, public health, and livelihoods. The organisation’s approach is collaborative and deeply embedded—working closely with teams to frame critical questions, guide strategic redesigns, and communicate impact effectively.

Key Offerings:

• Evaluation Design & Framework Development – Designing rigorous tools such as Theory of Change models, MEAL frameworks, and audit-ready data systems.
• Impact Research & Assessment – Conducting in-depth, triangulated studies using ethnography, focus groups, and large-scale surveys in collaboration with implementation partners.
• Strategic Reporting & Documentation – Delivering compelling reports and presentations that build alignment and stakeholder trust.
• Proposal Development & Strategy Support – Aligning on-ground realities with long-term goals through high-impact proposals and programme redesign.
• Development Communication & Narrative Support – Creating communication products that humanise data, highlight stories of change, and engage diverse audiences through reports, toolkits, multimedia content, and campaigns.
• Capacity Building & Organisational Support – Strengthening data systems, offering customised training, and providing long-term research advisory support.

Urban Ethnographers’ work is guided by the TRACE framework—a collaborative model that helps Track needs, Refine strategies, Align goals, Connect teams, and Enable action—ensuring that insight leads to sustained impact.

The organisation has supported initiatives funded by UNICEF, Tata Trusts, and the Ford Foundation, and has collaborated with corporates such as Google, Microsoft, and HUL—enabling partners to turn insight into meaningful action.