fishermen on a coast_coastal commons

What are coastal commons?

Coastal commons play an important economic, social, and ecological role but are facing increasing pressure due to climate change, pollution, and coastal erosion.
by Max Martin | 6 min read

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a hamster sitting with a computer_nonprofit humour

The millennial office bingo
If you win, you know you’ve lost some years.
a group of women standing and talking in the field--rural working women

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.
Photo of Shankar Singh_social change

IDR Interviews | Shankar Singh (Part I)
Co-founder of Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) and a key figure in the agitation for the right to information, Shankar Singh tells us about his early influences and building and sustaining movements.
coal mine in jharkahnd_natural resource extraction

Who owns a nation’s natural resources?
Current practices of natural resource extraction burden indigenous communities and deny future generations of their rightful share.
temporary public toilets_denotified tribes

The missing piece in sanitation access for nomadic and denotified tribes
Social welfare schemes and public facilities are not planned keeping this population in mind. Here's why this needs to change.
by Deepa Pawar | 4 min read
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Bite-sized stories from the people closest to the action.



A day in the life of


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


a group of women standing and talking in the field--rural working women

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.

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.
Man standing with a tree in the background-bonded labour
“I don’t miss anything about the life I left behind”
A day in the life of a community leader, who mediates conflicts among his people and helps them access a better life, in a resettlement colony for former bonded labourers in Tamil Nadu.


Social change leaders chronicle their failures and lessons learnt.

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.
rural women take part in a boat race in west bengal-leadership
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.


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


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
  • Livelihoods
  • Rights
  • Water & Sanitation

  • What are coastal commons?
    Coastal commons play an important economic, social, and ecological role but are facing increasing pressure due to climate change, pollution, and coastal erosion.

    IDR Interviews | Shankar Singh (Part I)
    Co-founder of Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) and a key figure in the agitation for the right to information, Shankar Singh tells us about his early influences and building and sustaining movements.

    Who owns a nation’s natural resources?
    Current practices of natural resource extraction burden indigenous communities and deny future generations of their rightful share.


    What are coastal commons?
    Coastal commons play an important economic, social, and ecological role but are facing increasing pressure due to climate change, pollution, and coastal erosion.

    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.

    Who owns a nation’s natural resources?
    Current practices of natural resource extraction burden indigenous communities and deny future generations of their rightful share.

    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

  • “A philanthropist’s job is to connect the dots and build synergies”
    Rekha Koita, co-founder of Koita Foundation, talks about her journey as a philanthropist and shares her excitement about the future of giving in India.

    Case study: Organisational development at the grassroots
    This case study outlines how instituting formal structures, policies, and processes can influence the operations and impact of a grassroots nonprofit.

    “As a philanthropist, it is your failures that shape you”
    Amit Chandra, co-founder of ATE Chandra Foundation, discusses his life as a philanthropist, speaks about his values and anxieties, and shares some lessons for his peers.