In order to ensure the practical relevance of our proposed project, and to commence engagement with key policymakers, we have already undertaken the following activities with key beneficiaries:

• Participatory data collection and analysis methods in both cities;
• Feedback sessions at our case study sites;
• City dialogues with academics and policy makers, civil society organisations and representatives of low-income communities;
• and two half-day meetings with Bangladeshi researchers (Dhaka, February 2013) and African researchers (Manchester, March 2013).

We were able to do these activities thanks to our two existing (and successful) major projects (ClimUrb and CLUVA). ESPA will build directly on these research partnerships and policy uptake relationships. Our proposal is thus already strongly influenced by key beneficiary groups and target audiences. In addition, we will promote South-South collaboration through Bangladesh-Tanzania visits of experts with specialist knowledge.

Finally, we will train 20 promising young Bangladeshi and Tanzanian researchers in our project methodology and engage them to undertake data collection. We will support them on academic writing (directly and through our post-docs) and on working as part of a multidisciplinary team. We will extend our capacity-strengthening support to the organisations providing in-kind support to us.

We have allocated just over 10% project costs to fund impact related activities.