Research and Consulting Services

We Believe Qualitative Insights Can Elevate Your Social Impact.

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We provide effective solutions to complex research challenges

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Our services assist organizations in making data-driven decisions

About Us

We turn messy ground-level data into insights CSR leaders can act on.

We are the go-to expert for turning messy, inconsistent ground-level data into clear, actionable insights that CSR heads and foundations can use to make smarter decisions, show impact, and avoid reputational risk. We bring rigour and humanity to data. We bridge the gap between field reality and boardroom strategy.

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Our Services

Leveraging Unstructured Data with Ethnographic Insights

Research Advisory

We provide expert research advice on a broad range of topics and to a wide range of stakeholders.

Engaging with universities

We engage with universities to create and implement courses, workshops, and research projects on a wide range of themes.

Monitoring and Evaluation

We create standardised frameworks aligned to your vision to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in your evaluation processes.

Content Development

For the informal sector, we revise and improve courses in accordance with the latest industry needs.

Program Design

We develop and help execute different programs in the development sector, including CSR initiatives for our corporate clients.

Capacity Building

We work with organisations to set up processes and build capacity to improve outcomes.

Primary Data Collection

We conduct qualitative and quantitative data collection directly from the field through a skilled team of researchers. The data is then used to produce publications and develop actionable insights, providing clients with firsthand, evidence-based information.

Impact Reporting

Our impact reporting services help organisations demonstrate their achievements to funders, stakeholders, and the wider community. We create comprehensive reports that detail the tangible outcomes of projects, supported by qualitative and quantitative data.

Experience The Best

Research and Advisory
for Urban Communities

Empowering Communities through Community Development

At Urban Ethnographers, we understand the importance of community development in building strong and resilient cities. Our community development research and advisory services are designed to empower organizations and community members to understand the needs and aspirations of local communities and develop strategies to meet them.

Our expert team of ethnographers and researchers work closely with community partners to gather valuable insights and perspectives that inform practice, programs, community development, and policy. We believe that by working together, we can create vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities for all.

Informing Policy through Evidence-based Research and Advisory

At Urban Ethnographers, we understand the importance of evidence-based policy in creating fair and just cities. Our policy research and advisory services are designed to help governments, non-profits and other organizations to understand the impact of policies on urban communities and develop evidence-based policies that are effective and equitable.

Our expert team of ethnographers and researchers use a variety of research methods to gather valuable insights and perspectives that inform policy decisions. We believe that by working together, we can create policies that promote social, economic and environmental justice for all.

Improving Practice through Practice-based Research and Advisory

At Urban Ethnographers, we understand the importance of understanding the impact of programs, interventions and services on communities and developing best practices for delivering them. Our practice-based research and advisory services are designed to help organizations to understand the impact of their programs and develop best practices for delivering them.

Our expert team of ethnographers and researchers use a variety of research methods to gather valuable insights and perspectives that inform practice. We believe that by working together, we can create programs and services that are effective, responsive and inclusive for all.

Evaluating Programs through Program Research and Advisory

At Urban Ethnographers, we understand the importance of evaluating the effectiveness of programs and identifying opportunities for improvement. Our program research and advisory services are designed to help organizations to evaluate the effectiveness of their programs and identify opportunities for improvement.

Our expert team of ethnographers and researchers use a variety of research methods to gather valuable insights and perspectives that inform program design and delivery. We believe that by working together, we can create programs that are effective, responsive and inclusive for all.

Explore The Dynamics Of Urban Society
Through Ethnographic Research

Unlock urban insights

Testimonials

Dr. Gayathri Vasudevan

Co-founder & Chairperson, LabourNet Services India Pvt. Ltd and Chief Impact Officer, Sambhav Foundation

“Urban Ethnographers have been a key thought partner in strengthening our livelihood, skilling and education ecosystem. Their support has spanned curriculum architecture, faculty processes, outcome frameworks, and mixed-methods impact studies. Their insights helped us align training quality with industry relevance and community based projects, while embedding evidence and learning into everyday programme decisions”.

Rajesh AR

CEO, LabourNet

“Urban Ethnographers have been both a learning partner and a programme design partner to LabourNet. Their work with us on the Good Business Lab and the GGC Forum strengthened how we generate and use evidence for ecosystem-level decision-making. They have also supported the design and positioning of new interventions, including proposals on waste recycling and skilling. Their ability to move between system intelligence and grounded programme architecture has added real strategic value to our work”.

Dr. Jyothi Kumar

Professor & Dean, Bannerghatta Road Campus, CHRIST (Deemed to be University)

“I have known Dr. Padmini Ram for 5 years now and I am always amazed by her perseverance and eye for detail at work. She has always surprised me with her ability to complete tasks with perfection and her multitasking ability is laudable. Wishing her venture, Urban Ethnographers, the best!”

Prof. Smita Shukla

Indian Council of Social Science Research, Western Regional Centre, University of Mumbai

“Dr Padmini Ram’s session and discussion on the theme ‘Research Methodology in Social Sciences’ contributed extensively in capacity building on the subject of Research Methodology for Social Sciences”.

Puja Solanki

Program Manager, Impact Evaluation, Educational Initiatives: Ei

“Urban Ethnographers played a critical advisory role in strengthening our research and impact assessment systems in the education sector. They helped us clarify intended learning and program outcomes, refine context-relevant indicators, and ensure our assessment design reflected on-ground realities. Their support blended strategic clarity with methodological rigor, enabling us to generate stronger evidence and make more confident decisions. Their guidance meaningfully improved the way we plan, evaluate, and communicate educational impact.”

Dr. Uma Chatterjee Saha

Professor & Dean, Academics, XIDAS, Jabalpur

“Dr Padmini’s presence for the event inspired and impressed everybody- the students, online/offline guests as well as the Faculty and Staff of XIDAS. Everybody felt that we were under the good collaboration with the esteemed Alumni and this was a plus point for us to motivate the existing students and others in the Institute. Her M V d. Bogaert Memorial Lecture was marvellous. From the beginning till the end there was a rapt attention from the audience to whatever you said. The examples which she cited were practical and enriching and connected with the values, ethos and vision of Fr. M V d. Bogaert. It did drive home to the students the lessons of life skills and management she emphasised so very well”.

Lavanyaa Saxena

Associate Manager – Communications & Strategy, Educational Initiatives: Ei

“Urban Ethnographers notably strengthened the qualitative and ethnographic dimensions of our study. Their team refined our research questions, brought a clear ethnographic lens to the study design, and invested the time needed to understand lived experiences in context. As a result, we were able to surface insights that went far beyond what traditional interviews, FGDs, and observations alone could offer. Their analysis skillfully connected everyday behaviours and constraints, enhancing the analytical depth and practical relevance of our framework. They approach communities with sensitivity, curiosity, and professionalism, bringing both rigor and a human touch to the research process”.

Shveta Lall

Associate Director, Language Learning Foundation

“We’ve worked with Urban Ethnographers on a repeat basis across multiple MLE and teacher-training projects in several states. They helped us identify what meaningful learning looks like in our classrooms, sharpen our indicators, and connect daily teaching practices to actual changes in children’s learning. They also refined our data-collection tools and strengthened our report writing, giving us a clearer evidence base and a more grounded understanding of our impact”.

Smita Sircar

CEO, LabourNet Foundation

“Working with Urban Ethnographers and Dr. Padmini Ram has been a very positive experience for us. They brought thoughtful expertise and a genuine willingness to listen and adapt to our context, which made the collaboration smooth and meaningful.

They played a key role in setting up our Capstone program by shaping the structure and anchoring it in real workplace expectations. Their support across our ITI partnerships and community-based skilling projects helped us build systems that are practical and easy for teachers, students and candidates to adopt. They also strengthened our monitoring and learning systems, ensuring that our work was supported by evidence and continuous improvement.

What stood out most was their commitment to partnership and attention to detail. We value what we have built together and look forward to continuing this relationship as we create stronger learning environments for young people”.

Our Clients and Partners