a group of women seated in a hall with their hands raised--Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)

Building sustainable FPOs: Lessons from India’s cooperatives

By early 2025, 10,000 FPOs had been set up in India under a central government scheme. But a focus on targets risks undermining what makes FPOs truly viable—community ownership, infrastructure, and capacity building.

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Latest

an unpaved lane, with a field to its right, leading up to a house in a Jaintia village in Meghalaya--MGNREGA

Why villagers in West Jaintia Hills quit agriculture for MGNREGA
Although the Meghalaya government introduces schemes and disburses funds to village bodies, it spends little time in explaining how they can be used.
a vegetable vendor in India selling vegetables--community-driven change

Measure what matters to the community
To effectively track progress and evaluate results of community-driven initiatives, funders and nonprofits must start by asking what success looks like from the community’s perspective.
a squirrel peeking from behind a tree--nonprofit humour

If we were being honest on LinkedIn: Part II
What we should post on LinkedIn, but can’t.
by Salman Faheem | 2 min read
A textile motif in shades of brown and that looks like a kaleidoscopic image-scale

Good intentions don’t scale, good systems do 
Scaling impact isn’t about doing more, it’s about enabling others. Here's how decentralised delivery and shared ownership can drive scale.
by Sudhir Subbaraman | 7 min read
A Nishi/ Hill-Miri tribesman wearing the traditional head-dress having a hornbill beak--Tani language

Shin-chan, borrowed words, and Tani language conservation
In Arunachal Pradesh, a young nonprofit’s journey highlights the importance of community collaboration and consent in language conservation.
by Luke Rimmo Lego | 7 min read

Bite-sized stories from the people closest to the action.



Why villagers in West Jaintia Hills quit agriculture for MGNREGA
Location Icon West Jaintia Hills district, Meghalaya ; East Khasi Hills district, Meghalaya
Youth
photo

Rural youth in Manipur return to an unfamiliar home
Location Icon Senapati district, Manipur ; Tamenglong district, Manipur


A day in the life of


Frontline workers and first responders share their insights from working at the grassroots.


a female forest guard puts out a forest fire in Mewar Biodiversity Park, Udaipur district, Rajasthan--forest guard
Why conservation needs connection: Guarding Rajasthan’s forests
A day in the life of a forest guard, who navigates gender roles, community needs, and conservation in Rajasthan.
Women in a village standing in a group and talking_mental health stigma
From self to society: Navigating silence and stigma around mental health
A day in the life of a community health worker in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, who tackles mental health stigma through trust and support—in her own life and for the people she serves.
a teacher coach observing a class in session--government school teachers

Observing classrooms, building capacities
A day in the life of an educator, who uses a technology-enabled approach to coach government school teachers in Palghar, Maharashtra.


Social change leaders chronicle their failures and lessons learnt.

Silhouetted birds perched on bare tree_leadership failure
Building team culture isn’t optional
A nonprofit co-founder reflects on how scaling rapidly unintentionally alienated employees, which led to cracks in organisational culture.
Aerial shot of women protestors sitting_well-being
Preparing for a marathon, not a sprint 
Dalit civil rights activist Thenmozhi Soundararajan on why failure is an opportunity to build power, how systems of oppression affect well-being, and what healing looks like for individuals and communities.
Barbed wire_nonprofits
Why don’t nonprofits talk about their failures?
A number of risks, both real and perceived, stop nonprofits from talking about failure. Here's how various stakeholders can work together to overcome them.


Conversations with visionaries on their life's work, and their efforts to challenge the status quo in our country.

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Insights and analysis of specific sectors in the development arena—what works, what doesn't, and what needs to change.

See all coverage by topic:
  • Agriculture
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Health & Well-being
  • Livelihoods
  • Rights
  • Water & Sanitation

  • Building sustainable FPOs: Lessons from India’s cooperatives
    By early 2025, 10,000 FPOs had been set up in India under a central government scheme. But a focus on targets risks undermining what makes FPOs truly viable—community ownership, infrastructure, and capacity building.

    Commons and communities: The missing link in climate action
    From forests and grazing lands to wetlands and coastlines, India’s commons are vital buffers against the climate crisis. Yet, climate policies often overlook these ecosystems and the people that protect them.

    Why digital nudges alone won’t transform classrooms
    What a field experiment in rural Uttar Pradesh revealed about teacher motivation, engagement, and the limits of light-touch solutions.


    Building sustainable FPOs: Lessons from India’s cooperatives
    By early 2025, 10,000 FPOs had been set up in India under a central government scheme. But a focus on targets risks undermining what makes FPOs truly viable—community ownership, infrastructure, and capacity building.

    Good intentions don’t scale, good systems do 
    Scaling impact isn’t about doing more, it’s about enabling others. Here's how decentralised delivery and shared ownership can drive scale.

    Shin-chan, borrowed words, and Tani language conservation
    In Arunachal Pradesh, a young nonprofit’s journey highlights the importance of community collaboration and consent in language conservation.

    Skills and functions that are core to growing programmes and organisations.

    See all coverage by topic:
  • Board & Governance
  • Fundraising & Communications
  • Leadership & Talent
  • Monitoring & Evaluation
  • Programme
  • Technology

  • Measure what matters to the community
    To effectively track progress and evaluate results of community-driven initiatives, funders and nonprofits must start by asking what success looks like from the community’s perspective.

    Good intentions don’t scale, good systems do 
    Scaling impact isn’t about doing more, it’s about enabling others. Here's how decentralised delivery and shared ownership can drive scale.

    Shin-chan, borrowed words, and Tani language conservation
    In Arunachal Pradesh, a young nonprofit’s journey highlights the importance of community collaboration and consent in language conservation.