Asia is urbanizing at a pace faster than ever. The ever increasing population in the Asian cities and the consequent increase in demands for supply of basic services like housing, water, sanitation, health, education etc. pose enormous challenges to the urban local governance institutions. The existing capacities and resources of most urban local governance institutions are over stretched. The situation is exacerbated due to lack of governance reforms leading to enormous deficits in the transparency, accountability and citizen participation- the hallmarks of any democratic governance institutions. The engagement of civil society organizing (CSO) is pivotal in making the urban local governance institutions transparent, accountable, and responsive participatory. However, the capacities of CSOs to engage and hold the urban local governance institutions are also limited.