News and Updates

Blended Finance

In India, the informal sector represents a significant portion of the workforce, employing more than 90% of workers and contributing

REVIVE is providing zero cost Returnable Grants and skill training to help India's workers bounce back from the most severe
Can we modify or extend certain aspects of the microfinance model to achieve better outcomes for recipients?
Research on the traditional microfinance model reveals the alterations that can be made to further small businesses and welfare gains.

Case Study

Samhita & Collective Good Foundation partnered with Reckitt Benckiser to launched the Dettol School Hygiene Education Programme in the Indian
DHFL wanted to invest their CSR funds in such a way that they can address critical gaps in 3 cause
How Viacom18 utilized storytelling to create lasting impact in a society that has long been captured by the screen.
How Kimberly Clark impacted lives of 2000+ women and children
How RB took a shared value approach and unlocked advantages for both business and society
India Protectors Alliance was constituted in early 2020 to equip workers in healthcare and sanitation sectors with the necessary tools

Collaboration

Analysing the opportunities that Indian corporates can explore to play a creative role in rebuilding our economy and society as
Community participation and acceptance are critical in ensuring the success of CSR programs

There are approximately 8,00,000 pharmacies in India with a compounded  annual growth rate of 10.08% in the organized sector. As

Samhita and CGF collaborate with SBI Foundation’s Project Breath Free to provide oxygen concentrators and other equipment to hospitals in
Sole bread-winner Valarmathi Thangaswami, a 55-year-old sanitation worker from Trichy, works to support her struggling son despite all the hurdles
Through strategic partnerships, Global India Fund, Samhita, and Collective Good Foundation fight to ensure equity in the world’s largest vaccination

Credit Gaurantee

Analysing the opportunities that Indian corporates can explore to play a creative role in rebuilding our economy and society as
Community participation and acceptance are critical in ensuring the success of CSR programs

There are approximately 8,00,000 pharmacies in India with a compounded  annual growth rate of 10.08% in the organized sector. As

Samhita and CGF collaborate with SBI Foundation’s Project Breath Free to provide oxygen concentrators and other equipment to hospitals in
Sole bread-winner Valarmathi Thangaswami, a 55-year-old sanitation worker from Trichy, works to support her struggling son despite all the hurdles
Through strategic partnerships, Global India Fund, Samhita, and Collective Good Foundation fight to ensure equity in the world’s largest vaccination

CSR

Priya Naik and Dr. Nachiket Mor illustrate the virtuous cycle of mutual benefit that can be created between business and
Setting up environment friendly bio-toilets to eliminate open defecation practice.
Samhita, and Villgro, elaborate on facilitating partnerships between companies and incubators and social enterprises(SEs). Read on
Analysis on the challenges and opportunities for CSR in rural development.
Community participation and acceptance are critical in ensuring the success of CSR programs
We have updated our 2020 report with new information about how to go about diversifying your funding and building your

Digital Empowerment

When it comes to keeping up with the digital age, women in India face several challenges, which have a significant

  In this series, we delve on the key lessons from the Samhita -Collective Good Foundation (Samhita-CGF) and Microsoft Project

Around 13-17 million kirana stores form an integral part of the retail industry in India and local economy in various

The COVID-19 crisis has affected livelihoods and brought income shocks to the working classes. This shock has been accompanied by

Financial inclusion

Analysing the opportunities that Indian corporates can explore to play a creative role in rebuilding our economy and society as

In a world striving for new innovations in pursuing holistic financial inclusion, Samhita-CGF takes a bold step forward with its

Priya Naik, Founder and Managing Director of Samhita Social Ventures emphasizes on financial inclusion as the key to economic and

Esther Duflo, 2019 Nobel laureate, on Monday said that it is essential for government, business, and NGO stakeholders to focus

Can we modify or extend certain aspects of the microfinance model to achieve better outcomes for recipients?
Research on the traditional microfinance model reveals the alterations that can be made to further small businesses and welfare gains.

Health

Samhita & Collective Good Foundation partnered with Reckitt Benckiser to launched the Dettol School Hygiene Education Programme in the Indian
Analysing the opportunities that Indian corporates can explore to play a creative role in rebuilding our economy and society as
oal of reproductive health for all by 2015. Although universal agendas set the tone for progress in the allied areas,

Improving sexual and family health and well-being within communities starts with engaging both females and males. Traditionally, females have been

VID-19 pandemic challenged the planning capacity, efficiency, effectiveness, and preparedness of the global public health systems. With increased socio-economic insecurities
We need adaptable and accessible communication strategies to address vaccine hesitancy and vaccine indifference in the most vulnerable sections of

Livelihoods

Corporate leaders recommend fortified social security provisions for gig economy workers.

COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdown severely impacted artisans across the country. A KPMG study estimated that approximately 7.3 million people

This partnership will provide technical assistance such as business advisory, capacity building, digital skills, and market linkages, in addition to
While we take a fresh look at how we innovate in value chains, they need to be understood from the
The corporate sector holds the potential and responsibility to change the dynamics within which workers operate.

Monitoring and Evaluation (MEL)

To push towards sustainable development goals, the voice and agency of women are catalysts for change and progress. Recognizing this,

This FAQ is a result of collaboration between Samhita & Centre For Advancement of Philanthropy. It has been written with

As companies’ CSR and sustainability strategies are growing more sophisticated, they are demanding better measurement and evaluation of the impact

Programme evaluation, often misrepresented as ‘impact assessment’, has become an essential component of many development initiatives

As India’s leading CSR consulting and implementation facilitation firm, our strategic consulting, research and knowledge, programme management, need and impact

Reports

We have updated our 2020 report with new information about how to go about diversifying your funding and building your
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) approved the creation of the ‘Social Stock Exchange’ which is widely perceived
Knowledge and project collaboration with Cipla and NIIF to tap into the enormous potential of pharmacists as a key driver
This report is Part II of a research project by UC Berkeley Director of Philanthropy and Fulbright Scholar Morry Rao
This report reviews 7 SSEs from Brazil, Portugal, South Africa, Jamaica, UK, Singapore, & Canada to provide the most comprehensive
This report helps fill a gap in the knowledge base about what NGOs are doing, and what is working, in

Research And Knowledge

Samhita has collaborated with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to study CSR approaches, opportunities, and challenges in India. This
SEBI recently approved the creation of India’s social stock exchange. We analyse some of the strengths and shortcomings of its

Returnable Grant

  India’s informal sector makes up a significant portion of the country’s workforce ~43% and provides employment opportunities for millions,

In India, the informal sector represents a significant portion of the workforce, employing more than 90% of workers and contributing

Returnable Grants (RGs) have emerged as a transformative financial instrument, driving economic empowerment and livelihood for vulnerable communities. A Returnable

Returnable Grants (RGs) have revolutionized the landscape of financing and social impact, providing leverage from a funding perspective while creating

The COVID – 19 lockdown has adversely impacted the most vulnerable sections of society, such as informal workers, farmers, street

When a nationwide lockdown was announced, it immediately had a harsh effect on street vendors. An almost empty city without

REVIVE

Experts stress the importance of organising and fortifying the private healthcare system’s response to the COVID-19 crisis.
The Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns have upended India’s informal job market. But are there positives from the crisis?
Corporate leaders recommend fortified social security provisions for gig economy workers.

Financial literacy has long been recognized as a key driver of economic growth and prosperity. This blog delves into the

  India’s informal sector makes up a significant portion of the country’s workforce ~43% and provides employment opportunities for millions,

Samhita-CGF & FCDO undertook a study that analysed the pandemic experiences of women workers and entrepreneurs across professions in India.

REVIVE Diaries

In the pursuit of comprehensive financial inclusion innovations, Samhita-CGF’s pioneering network alliance is steadfastly working towards addressing the credit gap

To push towards sustainable development goals, the voice and agency of women are catalysts for change and progress. Recognizing this,

In a world striving for new innovations in pursuing holistic financial inclusion, Samhita-CGF takes a bold step forward with its

Artisan: Salma Ben Rajanpur, Gujarat Supported by STFC’s sewing training 44-year-old Salma Ben comes from the Rajanpur area of Gujarat.

“During these tough times  I was struggling, distressed and did not have any stable source of income. This is when

“It’s almost like this rickshaw is currently our caretaker. It’s the sole reason we’re able to survive.” When the pandemic

Skilling

STFC adopted an impact lens for the same sector their financial products and services are aimed at - transportation and
What companies need to keep in mind to ensure that their skilling programs are effective and impactful.
A look at how companies can align their CSR strategies to the Government’s Skill India Mission.

In India, the need for skilling initiatives is paramount, as they hold the key to equipping individuals with the essential

Through this partnership, Samhita - CGF will enable livelihood linkages of 50,000 women to manufacturing units of large corporate houses, and support

There are more than five million full-time sanitation workers of which two million are directly engaged in high-risk tasks such

Stories of Change

Daud Shaikh, who loves his family and constantly travels across State lines to spend time with them, recently realised how
Ibrahim wants to earn more money, get a better job, and have a family, but the COVID-19 pandemic has made
Sudam Kumar, who recently received his PAN card, is looking forward to the benefits and support the identity document will
Sonu Kumari, a single mother who works as a construction worker in Uttar Pradesh, discovered that understanding her government scheme
Change is often hard to measure through statistics and numbers. Here, stories of change bring light to the real lives
Construction worker Kundan Prasad is thankful to have had a labour card before the onset of the pandemic, because it

WASH

Samhita & Collective Good Foundation partnered with Reckitt Benckiser to launched the Dettol School Hygiene Education Programme in the Indian
The Bridgespan Group and WHO emphasise that community participation is the key to implement any COVID-19 preventive interventions in the
Building synergistic collaboration between multiple stakeholders from the Private, Development and Government Sectors.
Samhita talks to Ravi Bhatnagar, Manager External Affairs, Reckitt Benckiser
Looking beyond toilets to achieve the primary objective of Swachh Bharat mission and end open-defecation in India.
How RB took a shared value approach and unlocked advantages for both business and society

Women Empowerment

To push towards sustainable development goals, the voice and agency of women are catalysts for change and progress. Recognizing this,

When it comes to keeping up with the digital age, women in India face several challenges, which have a significant

  In this series, we delve on the key lessons from the Samhita -Collective Good Foundation (Samhita-CGF) and Microsoft Project

oal of reproductive health for all by 2015. Although universal agendas set the tone for progress in the allied areas,

Improving sexual and family health and well-being within communities starts with engaging both females and males. Traditionally, females have been

VID-19 pandemic challenged the planning capacity, efficiency, effectiveness, and preparedness of the global public health systems. With increased socio-economic insecurities

Women @ Work

To push towards sustainable development goals, the voice and agency of women are catalysts for change and progress. Recognizing this,

Samhita-CGF & FCDO undertook a study that analysed the pandemic experiences of women workers and entrepreneurs across professions in India.

https://dev.samhita.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Research-Report_Study-of-Women-at-Work-compressed-1-1-1.pdf

Through this partnership, Samhita - CGF will enable livelihood linkages of 50,000 women to manufacturing units of large corporate houses, and support
Women@Work is a coalition — of businesses, philanthropies, social organisations and other stakeholders — to drive economic recovery and resilience
USAID Administrator Samantha Power announced the U.S.-India Alliance for Women’s Economic Empowerment and its first initiative: Women@Work.

Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: Unveiling the Women Economic Empowerment Index

To push towards sustainable development goals, the voice and agency of women are catalysts for change and progress. Recognizing this, Samhita-CGF has taken a bold step towards quantifying and fostering women’s economic empowerment through an […]

Our Private Healthcare System’s COVID-19 response can make or break India’s future

Experts stress the importance of organising and fortifying the private healthcare system’s response to the COVID-19 crisis.

Can the Microcredit Model Be Improved?

Can we modify or extend certain aspects of the microfinance model to achieve better outcomes for recipients?

Enabling Stakeholders to Take Purposeful Action for Large-Scale Social Impact

CSR Mandate spoke with the firm’s CEO & Founder, Priya Naik to gain a better understanding of the collaborations, projects and the Samhita Model of combating COVID-19.

Freedom to earn a livelihood with dignity

Private companies need to adopt policies and practices that take responsibility for a critical element in their functioning—migrant workers – – By Priya Naik Click here to read the entire article

The most vulnerable dictate the strength of our value chains

While we take a fresh look at how we innovate in value chains, they need to be understood from the perspective of the most vulnerable.

Are healthcare facilities accessible to India’s tribals?

Reasons for the lack of reduction of health challenges in tribal areas.

Innovative lending practices can improve traditional microfinance

Research on the traditional microfinance model reveals the alterations that can be made to further small businesses and welfare gains.

The key to COVID-19 prevention in slums

The Bridgespan Group and WHO emphasise that community participation is the key to implement any COVID-19 preventive interventions in the slums.

Coronavirus impact: Time for employers to up skill employees

For the quantum growth of the economy, investments in education and skilling of informal workers are key, especially because a huge share of population has very little skills Click here to read the article

How will India’s informal sector emerge from the pandemic?

The Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns have upended India’s informal job market. But are there positives from the crisis?

Protecting human capital to emerge from the crisis

Corporate leaders recommend fortified social security provisions for gig economy workers.