A small mud house with green painted walls and a corrugated metal roof, featuring triangular ventilation openings and an open doorway. A motorcycle is parked in front, and dry vegetation and a few trees are visible in the background under a partly cloudy sky--Van Gujjars

A lock on identity: What happens when nomads are asked to stay

For Van Gujjars, a doorless home signals freedom. Conservation laws and evictions are forcing them to settle and rethink who they are.
by Astha Chaudhary | 3 min read

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Latest

a group of women huddled close together and smiling--gender-based violence

Building lasting change to prevent gender-based violence
Community mobilisation in Mumbai’s informal settlements is helping prevent violence against women and girls through evidence-based interventions.
A woman carrying an infant for the infant's biometrics to be captured for a government scheme in Andhra Pradesh--grievance redressal mechanisms

India’s digital welfare system is quietly eroding people’s basic rights
By prioritising control and surveillance over access and dignity, India’s digital welfare systems exclude many from basic rights to food, work, and education.
women sitting in front of a house on a raised brick platform--palliative care

A right to relief, comfort, and cure: Why palliative care matters
Up to 10 million Indians need palliative care each year, but few receive it. In this article, we break down myths about palliative care and explain why it is key for relieving pain, supporting treatment, and improving quality of life for people with serious illnesses.
wooden blocks on brown table--AI for nonprofits

To use AI effectively, nonprofits must build reliable data systems
AI is only as powerful as the data that fuels it. To use it to its full potential, nonprofits have to create the infrastructure to extract, clean, structure, and document data effectively.
by Eric Dodge | 4 min read
a close up shot of a matcha latte glass placed on napkins on a table--nonprofit humour

Gen-Z slang explained, social sector style: Part III
If you thought you’d finally understood Gen-Z slang, think again.

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.
two women sitting on the floor in a classroom, with numbers and the kannada alphabet painted on the walls behind them--community organiser

The girl who refused to drop out
A day in the life of a young field coordinator in Raichur, Karnataka, reflecting her journey of almost dropping out of school to supporting herself, her family, and her community.
A picture of Parmeet in black t-shirt and blue jeans, sitting on a couch--deaf community

A book club, sign language, and our fight for Deaf rights
A day in the life of a Deaf student and founder of a book club as he strives for awareness, inclusion, and building a shared space for the Deaf community.
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.

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

  • India’s digital welfare system is quietly eroding people’s basic rights
    By prioritising control and surveillance over access and dignity, India’s digital welfare systems exclude many from basic rights to food, work, and education.

    A right to relief, comfort, and cure: Why palliative care matters
    Up to 10 million Indians need palliative care each year, but few receive it. In this article, we break down myths about palliative care and explain why it is key for relieving pain, supporting treatment, and improving quality of life for people with serious illnesses.

    IDR Interviews | Dr Carmo Noronha
    Nonprofit veteran and disability rights champion Dr Carmo Noronha explains the importance of collaboration in designing inclusive learning environments in Meghalaya.


    Building lasting change to prevent gender-based violence
    Community mobilisation in Mumbai’s informal settlements is helping prevent violence against women and girls through evidence-based interventions.

    IDR Interviews | Dr Carmo Noronha
    Nonprofit veteran and disability rights champion Dr Carmo Noronha explains the importance of collaboration in designing inclusive learning environments in Meghalaya.

    The girl who refused to drop out
    A day in the life of a young field coordinator in Raichur, Karnataka, reflecting her journey of almost dropping out of school to supporting herself, her family, and her community.

    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

  • India’s digital welfare system is quietly eroding people’s basic rights
    By prioritising control and surveillance over access and dignity, India’s digital welfare systems exclude many from basic rights to food, work, and education.

    To use AI effectively, nonprofits must build reliable data systems
    AI is only as powerful as the data that fuels it. To use it to its full potential, nonprofits have to create the infrastructure to extract, clean, structure, and document data effectively.

    Building a finance function for your nonprofit as it grows
    An effective finance function is mission critical for nonprofits. Here’s a practical guide to building a finance function that ensures that money flows where it is intended, reporting is reliable, and decision-makers have the insights they need.