Ecosystem Development

Dear 2024, make conferences fun again

In-person gatherings offer space for solidarity, ideation, collaboration, and celebration. But are we making the most of them?

by Natasha Joshi | 7 min read

IDR is a free resource. We will never go behind a paywall. So, if you like what you’re reading and find value in our articles, please support us by making a donation.

Latest

Ecosystem Development

How organisations can drive systemic change

This report on systemic change exemplars highlights a combination of eight practices used by Indian nonprofits to create impact at scale.

by India Development Review | 7 min read

Climate Emergency

SUPPORTED BY MAF

IDR Explains: The Loss and Damage Fund

In five questions, learn about this new climate financial mechanism, understand how it originated, what critics have to say about it, and what India stands to gain from it.

by India Development Review | 9 min read

The five stages of writing an IDR humour article

Here’s what goes on behind the scenes.

by Derrek Xavier | 2 min read

Monitoring & Evaluation

Case study: The importance of nonprofit M&E systems

Why are monitoring and evaluation (M&E) frameworks important for grassroots nonprofits? Tapasya's journey presents the critical role they can play in driving impact and growth.

by Saba Kohli Dave | 9 min read

Does certification lead to sustainable forests?

India’s forest and wood certification scheme is expensive and won’t necessarily lead to sustainable extraction of forest produce or better forest management.

by Dhanapal Govindarajulu | 7 min read

Did you know that IDR is a free learning and media platform and we are determined to never go behind a paywall? So, if you like what you’re reading and find value in our articles, please support us by making a donation.

Ground Up

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

Water & Sanitation

The lost water managers of Karnataka

by Caitlin Blood, Abhiram Nandakumar

Chikkaballapura district, Karnataka

Climate Emergency

Rain woes: Climate change brings farming challenges for Tharu Adivasis

by Nivada Rana, Sahvaniya Rana

Lakhimpur Kheri district, Uttar Pradesh

photo

A disappearing tradition in the arid lands of Kachchh

by Vikram Kandukuri

Kachchh district, Gujarat

photo

The aftermath of a demolition: “Will the government give us houses?”

West Delhi district, Delhi

A day in the life of

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

Ecosystem Development

Chulha to LPG: How a fieldworker is fuelling change

A day in the life of a fieldworker in Delhi, who helps marginalised communities in Bhalswa colony combat household air pollution by encouraging the use of clean cooking fuels.

by Rama | 9 min read

SUPPORTED BY HUF

A young woman’s journey from a nonprofit to a corporate

A day in the life of a sales executive in rural Uttar Pradesh who isn't deterred by the challenges she faces as the only woman in the role, and perseveres to achieve her targets.

by Pratibha Singh | 7 min read

Enabling citizens to access their rights digitally

A day in the life of an eMitra, who helps people from marginalised communities in Rajasthan apply for government-mandated schemes and services online as a way of securing their social entitlements.

by Chatar Singh | 7 min read

Failure Files

Social change leaders chronicle their failures and lessons learnt.

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.

by India Development Review | 10 min read

Leadership & Talent

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.

by Rachita Vora, Tanaya Jagtiani | 7 min read

Leadership & Talent

The road to recovery

In Part II of a conversation with Dream a Dream CEO Suchetha Bhat and co-founder Vishal Talreja learn about what it took to rebuild an organisation in crisis, and why it needed a new kind of leadership.

by India Development Review | 15 min read

IDR Interviews

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

"There isn’t some book where it’s written what you need to do to sustain a movement. When you go among people and actually work, that is when one gets to learn, and one’s own values are determined."

8 min read

"The women’s movement cannot operate in a silo; it is an integral part of other social movements such as human rights, sexual identities and sexual orientation, people in same-sex relationship, social transformation, and against caste-based violence."

9 min read

"Movements slow down and become invisible, but they don’t end. They always continue. When we go on pride marches, is that not an extension of the freedom movement? Are we not asking for freedom?"

8 min read

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Sectors

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:

Water & Sanitation

cut timber in a forest-sustainability

Does certification lead to sustainable forests?

India’s forest and wood certification scheme is expensive and won’t necessarily lead to sustainable extraction of forest produce or better forest management.

by Dhanapal Govindarajulu | 7 min read

Photo of Shankar Singh_social change

IDR Interviews | Shankar Singh (Part II)

Co-founder of Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) and RTI activist Shankar Singh talks about the role of music and theatre in driving social movements, and how to remain motivated amid adversity.

by Rajika Seth, Rakesh Swami | 6 min read

woman working in a garment factory with a mask covering her face--women employment laws

Laws that limit women’s employment in India

A report reveals that there are more than 150 labour laws that restrict women’s workforce participation in India and suggests ways to rectify the situation.

by Abhishek Singh | 6 min read

Themes

Approaches and ideas that cut across sectors and counter the dominant narratives around us.

See all coverage by topic:

Advocacy & Government

Climate Emergency

Diversity & Inclusion

Ecosystem Development

Philanthropy & CSR

Social Business

three people playing a game-social sector conference

Ecosystem Development

Dear 2024, make conferences fun again

In-person gatherings offer space for solidarity, ideation, collaboration, and celebration. But are we making the most of them?

by Natasha Joshi | 7 min read

colourful cubes stacked on top of each other_systemic change

Ecosystem Development

How organisations can drive systemic change

This report on systemic change exemplars highlights a combination of eight practices used by Indian nonprofits to create impact at scale.

by India Development Review | 7 min read

riverbank at salmore_L&D fund

Climate Emergency

SUPPORTED BY MAF

IDR Explains: The Loss and Damage Fund

In five questions, learn about this new climate financial mechanism, understand how it originated, what critics have to say about it, and what India stands to gain from it.

by India Development Review | 9 min read

Expertise

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

See all coverage by topic:

Board & Governance

Fundraising & Communications

Leadership & Talent

Monitoring & Evaluation

coloured pencils against a white background_m&e

Monitoring & Evaluation

Case study: The importance of nonprofit M&E systems

Why are monitoring and evaluation (M&E) frameworks important for grassroots nonprofits? Tapasya's journey presents the critical role they can play in driving impact and growth.

by Saba Kohli Dave | 9 min read

a stack of files-evidence

Ecosystem Development

How evidence can contribute to effective policymaking

Policymakers and implementers haven't fully embraced evidence based on research. Here's how to better link such evidence with policy decisions.

by David de Ferranti | 6 min read

a girl in a classroom holds up a newspaper--ASER survey

Bridging the gap between education and learning

The ASER 2023 survey findings indicate that India's education system needs to account for the creativity, aspirations, and digital literacy of its youth to ensure that years of schooling translate into lifelong learning.

by Annette Francis | 6 min read