Sattva Consulting

Dr Soumya Swaminathan, former Chief Scientist at the World Health Organization and former Director-General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), has been elected Fellow of The Royal Society, one of the world’s highest honours in science. The achievement marks a historic milestone for Indian science, as Dr Swaminathan and her father, Prof. M.S. Swaminathan (who has also been awarded the Bharat Ratna), become the first daughter-father duo from India to be elected Fellows of the Royal Society. We are honoured to be associated with Dr Swaminathan through Decoding Impact, where she shared her perspectives on the intersection of climate change and public health. Congratulations once again, Dr Swaminathan, on the honour and your extraordinary contribution to science and society!

Last week, all three of our offices — Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru — kicked off the new Financial Year with our All Hands. Anchored in a strong vision and a clear roadmap for success, the event sparked ambition and eagerness for what lies ahead, while recognitions and alumni visits created space to reflect on the journey so far, celebrate the people and milestones that shaped it, and carry that momentum forward into the year ahead. Check out some of our favourite photos with our alum! On LinkedIn: lnkd.in/gMKr38SJ Or Instagram: instagram.com/p/DYhhXDbE9Uh/… How did you find the All Hands meeting? Share with us in the comments. #NewYearNewGoals #SattvaAlum #FY27VibeCheck

Many non-profits cast a wide net while approaching funders, hoping volume will translate into opportunities. But a broad outreach plan often drains time and effort that could be better invested in building deeper, more strategic relationships. The most important lens during this process is whether a funder aligns with your organisation’s mission, priorities, and long-term vision. A fundamental shift in approach – from a pipeline-building exercise to a prioritisation exercise – may make all the difference. Reach out to our fundraising strategy experts at impact@sattva.co.in. #nonprofit #fundraising #mindsetreframe #mindsetshift

"In a free enterprise, the community is not just another stakeholder in business, but is in fact the very purpose of its existence." — Jamsetji Tata, Founder, Tata Group This enduring idea anchored Girish Ramachandran's keynote address at the Philanthropy Asia Summit, where he spoke on "Beyond Capital: Reimagining the Role of CSR in Shaping Impact Outcomes." He spoke about a shift from compliance to capability, where corporates bring not only funding, but also technology, talent, execution strength and partnerships to solve problems at scale. His message was compelling: the future of impact may depend less on stand-alone programmes, and more on how well institutions work together. The keynote set the tone for a panel that explored how corporates’ capabilities, coordination, and commitment will anchor long-term impact, and that scale means not just bigger programmes but stronger ecosystems for effective collaboration. #collaboration #CSR #longtermimpact

We recently conducted a capacity-building workshop led by Arushi Kapoor, in collaboration with Impact Hub Nairobi, for SMEs, start-ups, and impact enterprises navigating evolving climate and sustainability priorities. The discussions highlighted that the biggest constraint SMEs are facing today is the absence of internal capability to translate sustainability expectations into day-to-day business decisions. Small businesses are increasingly expected to respond to climate and ESG demands despite limited access to technical support and structured guidance. In this context, operational readiness becomes critical, particularly the ability to embed sustainability into decision-making, supply chains, and growth strategy. To discuss how your business can strengthen climate readiness and sustainability capability, write to us at esg@sattva.co.in #SustainabilityReadiness #SME #KnowledgeSharing #Kenya

What does it take to truly strengthen how teachers grow? Last week, we brought together government stakeholders, SCERT and DIET representatives, researchers, and civil society organisations in Lucknow for the second consultation of the in-service Teacher Professional Development (TPD) landscape study, jointly undertaken by Seekho Sikhao Foundation, India Education Collective, and Sattva Consulting. The room was filled with candid dialogue around what teachers actually need: agency, contextual training, peer learning, and meaningful feedback. But what stood out most was the genuine openness from government partners to engage with findings and co-own the path forward. Because sustainable change in education doesn't come from isolated interventions. It comes from a shared ecosystem, aligned around teachers. Read the full report here: sattva.co.in/publication/in… #TeacherDevelopment #Education #TPD #UttarPradesh #SattvaConsulting #IEC #SeekhoSikhao

There are a plethora of open data platforms to source your water data & intelligence from – at the global and national level, at the state level, and even decision-making support systems and mobile apps. Some of our most trusted recommendations are: National & State-Level Water Governance and Monitoring India Water Resources Information System (India-WRIS): Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) State-level Water Resource Information Systems (WRIS): (Andhra Pradesh, Mizoram, Karnataka, Kerala) PoCRA GIS Dashboard: Government of Maharashtra (Project on Climate Resilient Agriculture) Climate Intelligence and Water Risk Assessment Aqueduct: World Resources Institute (WRI) Water Risk Filter: World Wildlife Fund (WWF) CRAVIS (Climate Resilience Analytics and Visualisation Intelligence System): Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) Commons, Ecology, and Community Resilience India Observatory Data Platform: Foundation for Ecological Security (FES) CORE Stack (Commoning for Resilience and Equality): IIT Delhi, CommonsTech Foundation, WELL Labs, Gram Vaani, Magasool, Foundation for Ecological Security Field-Level Operations and Rural Implementation Composite Landscape Assessment & Restoration Tool (CLART): Foundation for Ecological Security (FES) FarmPrecise: Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR) Avni-Gramin: Samanvay Foundation Conversational AI and Virtual Extension Services FarmerChat (or Farmer.CHAT): Digital Green Explore our report, “Open Data Platforms for Measuring Water Risk and the Role of Citizen Science” for the full list: sattva.co.in/ski/report-ope…. To take this a step further and break down data silos across these diverse networks, we envision the Water Data Exchange (WDE), an open digital infrastructure to seamlessly connect fragmented platforms, intelligence layers, and on-ground community applications for unified, collective water action. For more information on WDE, please read: sattva.co.in/publication/wa…

At Sattva, impact has always meant more than the work we do. It is ALSO about the people who have shaped our journey, the relationships we continue to nurture, and the extended Sattva family that grows stronger with time. Between 07 May-15 May - across Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai - we were delighted to bring together our alumni, current team members, and friends of Sattva once again for memorable evenings of conversations, reconnecting, and shared nostalgia. Across the room were stories from different chapters of Sattva’s journey, moments of learning, collaboration, challenges overcome, and milestones celebrated together over the years. To all our alumni and extended Sattva family - thank you for being such an integral part of our story. Your contributions, partnerships, friendships, and continued goodwill are woven into the impact we strive to create every day. #NewYearNewGoals #OnwardsandUpwards #SattvaAlum

What happens when philanthropy moves beyond funding and starts building systems? Our Partner Event at the Philanthropy Asia Summit today, "Beyond Capital: Reimagining the Role of CSR in Shaping Impact Outcomes," brought together perspectives on why the next phase of impact will depend as much on capability, coordination and long-term commitment as on capital itself. Panellists discussed how corporates are using their strengths — from technology platforms and employee expertise to public-private partnerships and patient funding — to strengthen community leadership and resilience, support innovation, and build implementation partner capabilities over time. There was also a strong call to rethink scale itself: not as bigger programmes, but as stronger ecosystems where governments, non-profits, businesses and communities can work together more effectively.

We recently convened the South x South Impact Exchange, an event for social impact leaders and ecosystem builders from India and Africa to ask a timely question: What could development look like when the Global South coordinates, cooperates, and communicates? Featuring leaders who had worked across both geographies, the conversations struck at the heart of what could foster collaboration – cross-border learning, philanthropy as a de-risker, and enabling regulatory frameworks – while also outlining a roadmap for the future. Insights from the Flash Panel spilt over into conversations, as people connected, shared, and exchanged their experiences and imagination for what lies ahead. The South x South Impact Exchange marked not just the inauguration of our regional office in Kenya, but also the beginning of deeper partnerships shaped by the priorities and possibilities of the Global South. #GlobalSouth #impact #development #collaboration

Our Partner, Soumitra Mandal, recently spoke at an illuminating session, "Education: An Expenditure or an Investment?" at the Global CSR and Sustainability Awards, organised by Sampark Foundation. Leading with data, he highlighted the importance of shifting perspectives on CSR investments in education, treating it as an investment in the country's future rather than a cost to be accounted for on the P&L account. The reason? With funds treated as patient capital and programmes that prioritise livelihood preparedness, CSR investments in education can enable long-term economic participation, creating sustained impact with effects that extend well beyond the immediate beneficiaries. #education #investment #corporates #CSR

What if the most impactful outcome was immeasurable? Trust between a business and its communities defies quantification, yet its ripple effects are undeniable: deeper relationships, sustained transformation, and meaningful societal change. Few understand this better than Sourav Roy, CEO of Tata Steel Foundation. With years of experience both on the ground and in the boardroom, he brings a rare dual perspective, one that yields striking insights on what it truly means for companies to become partners in change, and how to build community relationships rooted in depth and equity. Tune into the full conversation here. YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=Hr_RVG Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/2n4MaQ… #SocialImpact #CommunityEngagement #SustainableDevelopment

For water conservation plans to be impactful and sustainable in the long-term, they need to be contextually relevant to the region they are targeting. Moving beyond a hydro-geological and ecological understanding of water data enables us to understand the water landscape from multiple perspectives: Economics: How much are nearby industries consuming? Who is employed and who isn’t and how does that affect access? Socio-cultural norms: Who gets access to water in their homes and who has to walk kilometres for a few litres? Administration:  Who avails subsidised electricity schemes? How has the land usage been bifurcated in this district? Water data can also be understood in terms of its spatial resolution (broad basin level vs granular village level) and the source of the information (top-down approach from government bodies vs bottom-up approach from community members). The result is a much more nuanced, contextualised understanding of both the risks and the levers available for effective water conservation measures, in a way that is just to both the environment and the people. Looking to strengthen your water conservation strategy through better data? Connect with our team of water experts at impact@sattva.co.in.

Our Partner, Arun Nathan, conducted two vital sessions for nonprofits at The Side Bar at the Skoll World Forum. The first, on building organisational resilience, focused on the internal readiness and adaptability nonprofits need to grow even during complex times. The second session reframed the varied sources of philanthropy as a strength in diversity, encouraging organisations to build partnerships rooted in shared values and embrace the richness of perspectives, approaches, and resources within the ecosystem. The sessions sparked free-flowing conversations amongst the participants, as they shared their experiences, insights, and hopes for what lies ahead.

We’re headed to Ecosperity Week 2026! As Asia accelerates towards its 2030 sustainability ambitions, the transition is increasingly being shaped by the intersection of innovation, infrastructure, policy, and capital. This year’s theme at Ecosperity Week 2026, “Asia's Race Towards 2030: Powered by Innovation, Driven with Intent,” reflects the growing focus on scalable and commercially viable pathways for sustainable growth. From AI and next-generation sustainable data centres to electrification, adaptation, and resilience, the event will bring together global leaders, businesses, investors, and policymakers to advance solutions that can accelerate Asia’s low-carbon transition. At a time when organisations are navigating rising energy demand, climate risk, and evolving transition pathways, these conversations come at a pivotal moment for strengthening cross-sector collaboration. Reach out to shriram.bharathan@sattva.co.in to set up a conversation and explore opportunities for collaboration. #Innovation #LowCarbonTransition #Climate

As resource constraints tighten and input costs become more volatile, growth is not just about scaling output, but also about retaining value within a business. Circularity offers a way to stabilise costs, unlock new revenue streams, and build long-term resilience. Global evidence increasingly shows that a significant share of value is eroded across the lifecycle, often before it is ever realised. This highlights a critical opportunity, where business can shift from focusing only on production to optimising how resources are designed, used, and recovered. Swipe to see where value is being lost, and how organisations can turn it into measurable gains. If you are looking to build internal capabilities and translate circularity into tangible business outcomes, write to us at esg@sattva.co.in

Sattva is looking forward to being at the Philanthropy Asia Summit 2026 next week as we continue working with philanthropists, foundations, impact investors and social purpose organisations across Asia to drive meaningful impact in the region. We’re excited to meet partners and friends from the ecosystem to discuss how philanthropy can help shape better impact outcomes for Asia. If you’ll be at PAS 2026, we’d love to connect. Please reach out to rukmini.pandit@sattva.co.in to set up a conversation.