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India Development Review

India Development Review (IDR) is India’s first independent online media platform for leaders in the development community. Our mission is to advance knowledge on social impact in India. We publish ideas, opinion, analysis and lessons from real-world practice.

Articles by India Development Review

Gloved hand holding a stained petridish
IDR Explains
November 12, 2019

IDR Explains | Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs)

In just seven minutes and six questions, get a quick introduction to RCTs—how they work, why they're used, and what some of the criticisms and challenges around them are.
by India Development Review | 7 min read
Diwali crackers vector
Humour
October 23, 2019

Diwali gifts: Nonprofit style

Move past giving generic Diwali gifts to your nonprofit colleagues. Here are some ideas to make the festival really special. 
by India Development Review | 1 min read
Oprah WInfrey_what is going on_nonprofit humour
Humour
October 14, 2019

If talk-show hosts were panel moderators

Imagine how brutally honest they would be.
by India Development Review | 1 min read
Philanthropy & CSR
October 08, 2019

Take part in #GivingTuesday

#GivingTuesdayIndia turns three today—here are some lesser-known facts about this global movement and five ways you can participate
by India Development Review | 1 min read
Macro shot of financial concept
IDR Explains
September 25, 2019

IDR Explains | Impact investing

In just six minutes and six questions, get a quick introduction to impact investing—what it is, the size of the market, and how we can make the ecosystem more robust.
by India Development Review | 6 min read
Brooklyn 99 gif_nonprofit humour
Humour
September 23, 2019

#NonprofitPickupLines Part III

Contrary to popular belief, working in the social sector might actually help your love life.
by India Development Review | 1 min read
woman on a typewriter graphic_nonprofit humour_pxhere
Humour
September 16, 2019

Nonprofit flow chart | Should you write that research report?

Thinking about writing another research report? Find out if you really need to, using this flow chart.
by India Development Review | 1 min read
Humour
September 09, 2019

Sh*t nonprofits say

"We are science-based, but we’re also major-donor’s-random-idea-based."
by India Development Review | 1 min read
The godfather_nonprofit humour
Humour
August 26, 2019

If the Godfather ran a nonprofit

Would the mafia don's negotiation skills work with donors in the development sector?
by India Development Review | 1 min read
Improving learning outcomes_nonprofit humour
Humour
August 19, 2019

Nonprofits vs social enterprises

Which approach would you fund?
by India Development Review | 1 min read
Leadership & Talent
July 30, 2019

Here’s how you can hire and retain talent better

A landscape report on talent management in the social sector reveals gaps, and highlights efforts that nonprofits and funders can take to address them.
by India Development Review | 4 min read
P Sainath giving a talk on India's agrarian crisis, water scarcity, and farmer suicides - India Development Review IDR - Photo courtesy: Dextrus
Agriculture
July 25, 2019

P Sainath: The water crisis is not caused by drought

Magsaysay award winner and founder-editor of PARI, P Sainath analyses India's water scarcity, the agrarian crisis, and farmer suicides, before asking the question: what can we do about it?
by India Development Review | 1 min read
dwight schrute the office yelling
Humour
June 24, 2019

#SixWordHorrorStory | The nonprofit edition

Nonprofit horror stories in six words or less, all based on real life experiences.
by India Development Review | 1 min read
Dog leading another dog by the leash _ IDR love language
Humour
June 17, 2019

How to upward manage your boss

Have you heard of the five love languages? Doesn’t matter. Here’s how you can use them to upward manage like a boss.
by India Development Review | 1 min read
bird with glasses reading dictionary_nonprofit humour_pxhere
Humour
June 03, 2019

A new dictionary for nonprofits - Part II

Sometimes, the words we use in our daily nonprofit life don't do justice to the way things actually work. So, we decided to take those words, and add, subtract, or change a few letters to come up with a new, more accurate definition.
by India Development Review | 1 min read
Old files and folders in a messy stack
IDR Explains
May 21, 2019

IDR Explains | FCRA

In just nine minutes, get a quick introduction to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act—its history, how it affects Indian nonprofits, who is eligible for it, the controversy around it, and more.
by India Development Review | 9 min read
Young adults sitting on a bench looking down at their smartphones _ India
Livelihoods
May 14, 2019

The jobs crisis severely affects educated youth and women

India is witnessing a rise in the number of educated youth with a simultaneous fall in the generation of jobs; a problem that requires immediate government-led intervention.
by India Development Review | 5 min read
Everyday people walking on a street in a city in India_everyday giving
Philanthropy & CSR
April 25, 2019

The largest study on India's everyday giving market

The first-ever in-depth attempt to quantify everyday giving in India, a new report aims to shine a spotlight on the ways in which Indians can contribute to the country's social development.
by India Development Review | 6 min read
piles of books_FCRA
Philanthropy & CSR
April 23, 2019

The most accurate data on FCRA today

This report makes sense of, and simplifies the publicly available numbers and trends in FCRA.
by India Development Review | 4 min read
Shakespeare quote_nonprofit humour
Humour
April 22, 2019

What would Shakespeare say?

There is enough drama that happens in the social sector. Here's how you can channel your inner bard to get you through it all.
by India Development Review | 1 min read
Stacks of coins
Philanthropy & CSR
April 09, 2019

CSR giving in India is heavily skewed

Drawing from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs database, this report finds that more than 50 percent of companies have not reported their net profit or CSR spends, and amongst those who did, there are noteworthy disparities in giving.
by India Development Review | 3 min read
A group of adolescent boys in India sitting together
Perspectives
April 04, 2019

Looking forward: What the social sector can expect in 2019-2020

What trends can civil society look out for in the year ahead? We asked development sector leaders to share their predictions on what lies ahead.
by India Development Review | 5 min read
Months and dates shown on a calendar whilst turning the pages
Perspectives
April 03, 2019

Trends that shaped the social sector in 2018-2019

Over the last year, the social sector has seen shifts in both ideology and investment. To examine this further, we asked development sector leaders to speak about the changes they thought to be most significant.
by India Development Review | 5 min read
Collection of speech boxes
Perspectives
April 02, 2019

10 things that stayed with us in 2018-2019

Reflecting on the year gone by, we put together some of our most powerful pieces – ideas that resonated deeply, and have stuck with us since.
by India Development Review | 6 min read
female health community worker in India
Humour
April 01, 2019

Lower salaries lead to higher impact

While professionals in the social sector have long been advocating for better salaries, new research indicates that nonprofits that don't reward high performance monetarily have higher impact on ground.
by India Development Review | 2 min read
fcra licence
Humour
March 18, 2019

Nonprofit flow chart | Will I get my FCRA licence?

What are the chances that your nonprofit will get its FCRA licence? Here is a friendly guide to help you find out.
by India Development Review | 1 min read
brooklyn nine nine cast nonprofit humour
Humour
March 11, 2019

Is Brooklyn Nine-Nine actually about nonprofits?

Using our favourite TV show to express our everyday angst.
by India Development Review | 1 min read
hand book reading magnifying glass close up eye
Humour
March 04, 2019

A new dictionary for nonprofits

Sometimes, the words we use in our daily nonprofit life don't do justice to the way things actually work. So, we decided to take those words, and add, subtract, or change one letter to come up with a new, more accurate definition.
by India Development Review | 1 min read
Maslows Hierarchy of Needs for Nonprofits
Humour
February 18, 2019

Hierarchy of needs for nonprofits

What would Maslow's famous model look like for nonprofits?
by India Development Review | 1 min read
Handloom weaving sustainable livelihoods
Livelihoods
February 13, 2019

The funding landscape of sustainable livelihoods

Do funders prefer certain occupations over others? Who are their target groups? What methods do they use? This report looks at the rationale driving donor decisions within the sustainable livelihoods sector.
by India Development Review | 5 min read
post its
Humour
February 11, 2019

So much 'work', so little time

Here's a glimpse into the daily calendar of a nonprofit team. We agree, the programme coordinator deserves a raise.
by India Development Review | 1 min read
digital security
IDR Select
January 29, 2019

IDR Select: Toolkits and upskilling

How to assess organisational capacity properly, ensure your work is digitally secure, and get your organisation's message across clearly through social media.
by India Development Review | 2 min read
livelihoods, jobs in India, basket weaver
Livelihoods
January 23, 2019

Sustainable livelihoods: Where donors need to focus

After interviewing sector experts and 44 organisations, this report tells donors exactly what the sustainable livelihoods sector wants and needs.
by India Development Review | 6 min read
still from Grease
Humour
January 14, 2019

An ode to your younger, less-jaded self

GIFs from our favourite 70s teen romance, Grease, paying tribute to who you were when you joined the sector.
by India Development Review | 1 min read
comic on feminism
Humour
December 17, 2018

Webcomic | Some of our favourite Sanitary Panels

Comic strips on manels, gender stereotypes and #NotAllMen.
by India Development Review | 1 min read
3 alarm clocks, each having different expressions
Humour
December 03, 2018

Four pie-charts that describe how we spend our time

If you don't relate to any of these, you're probably kidding yourself.
by India Development Review | 1 min read
two men carrying bricks on a cart
IDR Explains
November 28, 2018

IDR Explains | Development Impact Bonds

In just five minutes and five questions, get a quick introduction to Development Impact Bonds—what they are, how they work, and why there is so much debate around them.
by India Development Review | 5 min read
A seesaw with a block on one side and several things on the other side
IDR Select
November 20, 2018

IDR Select: November's picks

From demystifying caste-based myths, blockchain, and M&E, to discussing women in the workplace, this month's selection has something for everyone.
by India Development Review | 2 min read
GIF from office
Humour
November 19, 2018

How to appear broke ‘enough’ on your next donor visit

Twelve foolproof ideas to show your donors exactly how much in need of money you are.
by India Development Review | 2 min read
poster for Me Too Rising
IDR Select
October 30, 2018

IDR Select: #MeToo

Amidst the storm of coverage on the movement, here are some of the useful resources, points of view, and ideas that stood out for us.
by India Development Review | 2 min read
Disney GIF
Humour
October 08, 2018

12 Disney gifs that describe your nonprofit life

Because Disney makes everything - including your work-related anxiety - more palatable.
by India Development Review | 1 min read
CIVICUS-map
IDR Select
September 25, 2018

IDR Select: What caught our attention this September

This month's picks really make you consider: are we forcing our ideas of 'opportunity' and 'development' on the communities we work with?
by India Development Review | 2 min read
A female doctor smiling with a few women in the background
IDR Explains
September 19, 2018

IDR Explains | Frontline Health Workers

In just eight minutes and five questions, get a quick introduction to Frontline Health Workers—who they are, what they do, why they matter, and their challenges.
by India Development Review | 7 min read
bricks
Programme
September 04, 2018

Does bottom-up development work?

Though it may seem like an ideal paradigm—with community members themselves actively participating—the impact of community-driven development may not be as significant as it seems.
by India Development Review | 4 min read
Humour
September 03, 2018

Nonprofit flow chart | Will you get funding?

Ever wondered what goes on while you are waiting to hear on your funding request? Here is a handy flow chart to help you get through those long hours, and evaluate whether you are going to succeed this time.
by India Development Review | 1 min read
A drawing of a woman doing various tasks
IDR Select
August 28, 2018

IDR Select: On our radar this August

What does it mean to be born into inequality? Can singing about celebrating pleasure spark a conversation around consent? Want to refine your digital content? Find out in this month's selection of what's caught our attention.
by India Development Review | 3 min read
ESG Investing
Philanthropy & CSR
July 25, 2018

Driving ESG Investing in Asia

Integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors into investments may seem daunting. However evidence shows that it creates value for organisations. This AVPN report looks at how this can be achieved in the context of the Asian market.
by India Development Review | 5 min read
IDR Select
July 24, 2018

IDR Select: Our favourite picks

We've brought together a list of things that are on our radar; take a few minutes to read what's caught our interest.
by India Development Review | 2 min read
SRA housing buildings in India
Urban
July 18, 2018

The gaps and opportunities in low-income housing

A study on this underserved area gives us a comprehensive idea of what the low-income housing landscape looks like, and how it can improve.
by India Development Review | 6 min read
Female athletes competing in a hurdles race
Philanthropy & CSR
June 20, 2018

How funders become their own enemy

The findings from this analysis provide the first-ever empirical dataset on 'what goes wrong' in nonprofit programmes. The results are unexpected, but familiar.
by India Development Review | 5 min read
Nonprofit Venn Diagram
Humour
June 04, 2018

Four Venn diagrams that perfectly describe nonprofit life

All your pain points captured neatly in four illustrations.
by India Development Review | 1 min read
Humorous flow chart on the chances of getting promoted
Humour
May 14, 2018

Nonprofit flow chart | Will I get promoted?

It's time for those dreaded conversations at work again. Have you done what it takes to make the cut for promotions this year? Find out with this flowchart.
by India Development Review | 1 min read
Ecosystem Development
April 24, 2018

We are one! Thank you for helping us get here

As we celebrate our first birthday, here’s a short video on our journey and milestones so far.
by India Development Review | 1 min read
Feature Image Do you have what it takes to be a philanthropist
Humour
March 12, 2018

Do you have what it takes to be a philanthropist?

Being a philanthropist takes work. (Or, does it?) Here's a handy flow chart to help you figure out whether you've got what it takes to become one.
by India Development Review | 1 min read
Women's Day quote
Humour
March 09, 2018

We fixed your Women's Day WhatsApp forwards

We tried to be funny, but we couldn't. We were too busy rolling our eyes.
by India Development Review | 1 min read
Development Valentines
Humour
February 19, 2018

Our favourite #DevelopmentValentines

Didn't get the valentine you were dreaming of? Don't worry, we got you. Here's a collection of our favourite #DevelopmentValentines tweets from this year.
by India Development Review | 1 min read
nonprofit flow chart
Humour
February 05, 2018

Nonprofit flow chart | Will I get funding?

There are many tools to help us improve our decisions: flow charts, 2X2 matrices, decision trees, and so on. Here's one to help you decide whether or not to pursue a funder. Caution: Use at your own risk.
by India Development Review | 1 min read
nonprofit Christmas
Humour
December 18, 2017

Your nonprofit Christmas wish list

This year, we started making a wishlist for a #nonprofitchristmas. And then it hit us: why not approach our readers to crowdsource ideas? So that’s what we did. And as expected, you did not disappoint.
by India Development Review | 1 min read
An illustration of a regular day at work
Humour
November 27, 2017

Your nonprofit life in graphs: There just isn't enough time

From getting that morning cuppa to the next promotion, nonprofit life can be all sorts of fun AND drudgery. Here it is, explained visually for easy reading on a busy Monday.
by India Development Review | 1 min read
Buggs bunny's heart furiously beating
Humour
October 30, 2017

#NonprofitPickupLines Part II

Back by popular demand, here's another collection of our favourite #NonProfitPickupLines. Because sometimes the sequel is just as good as the original.
by India Development Review | 1 min read
Sachin Tendulkar
Humour
September 25, 2017

If your fundraising woes were iconic cricket moments

Does fundraising have you stumped? You’re not alone. These cricketers also know what it’s like to win some and lose some.
by India Development Review | 1 min read
Nonprofit Memes feature image
Humour
September 18, 2017

Indian miniatures on life in the social sector

Miniature painting in India dates back to as early as the 11th century. And yet, the scenes they depict hold relevance today. Especially for those of us working in social impact.
by India Development Review | 1 min read
old man talking
IDR Select
August 08, 2017

IDR Select: Power deserves scrutiny

How often do we speak up against established power structures, privilege and hubris? This month’s IDR Select brings you articles that ask the uncomfortable questions and force us to confront the status quo.
by India Development Review | 2 min read
Joey from Friends
Humour
August 04, 2017

Nonprofit pick-up lines

Here are the best #NonprofitPickUpLines we could find, to ensure that you, like your grants, don't get rejected.
by India Development Review | 1 min read
distressed women
IDR Select
July 18, 2017

IDR Select: Why the voiceless, the nameless and the silent matter

We bring you an interesting mix of ideas to dwell upon: why new philanthropy must focus on the most marginalised; the changing face of violence in India; why the Skill India programme fails to address some core issues on skilling; and more.
by India Development Review | 2 min read
A group of women carrying some load in baskets
IDR Select
June 13, 2017

IDR Select: Looking beyond the obvious, solving the right problems

On our reading list this week: understanding the numbers behind the Swachh Bharat Mission; the absurd way we talk to survivors of sexual assault; five questions to help you identify the right problem; and more.
by India Development Review | 2 min read
Whale Image for slider
IDR Select
May 23, 2017

IDR Select: Five ideas that got us thinking

Take a few minutes to read some of the most compelling articles we discovered this month as we trawled the World Wide Web.
by India Development Review | 2 min read
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IDR is India’s first independent media platform for the development community.

We publish cutting edge ideas, lessons and insights, written by and for the people working on some of India’s toughest problems. Our job is to make things simple and relevant, so you can do more of what you do, better.

IDR is produced in partnership with Ashoka University’s Centre for Social Impact and Philanthropy.

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© 2019 India Development Review    
India Development Review is published by the Forum for Knowledge and Social Impact, a not-for-profit company registered under Section 8 of the Company Act, 2013.
CIN: U93090MH2017NPL296634

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