Adaptive Strategies & Approaches for Organisational Mission

Focus on designing and implementing strategies and approaches to achieve an organisation’s vision and mission based on institutional design principles.

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Fellowship 2025 Final Showcase (Digital Open Solutions (DOS) for Social Impact)Blog

1 April 2025

Fellowship 2025 Final Showcase (Digital Open Solutions (DOS) for Social Impact)

The CDSSI Fellowship Brochure 2025 details the fellowship program at the Centre for Digital Social Sector Initiatives (CDSSI), highlighting its objective to support professionals in developing innovative Digital Open Solutions (DOS) that address critical challenges in the social sector. The brochure outlines the fellowship structure, including mentorship, capacity building, and collaboration opportunities. It emphasizes the final outputs of the fellowship—scalable and replicable DOS developed by the fellows—aimed at driving digital transformation and social impact in diverse thematic areas.

U&I: Nurturing Empathy for EffectivenessCase Study

2 March 2022

U&I: Nurturing Empathy for Effectiveness

U&I is a volunteer-driven charitable organization based in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. It provides non-formal education to underprivileged children in 25 cities around India, through a network of over 2,300 volunteers. The casestudy engages with the ways in which conscious design can nurture structures, spaces and processes that enable the integration of an organization’s mission and volunteer model with the leadership’s core principles of empathetic care and authentic relationships. It provides an opportunity for learners to reflect on how designing for empathy can produce tangible programmatic impact, develop in-house leadership and build a self-sustaining organizational culture and volunteer ecosystem.

A Typology of Organisations in the Indian Social SectorPaper / Report

2 August 2022

A Typology of Organisations in the Indian Social Sector

The Indian social sector is vast and growing, but existing typologies fail to capture its diversity. Most research focuses on Western economies, where social enterprises differ in structure and demands. To address this gap, we first review existing typologies of social sector enterprises. Then, we propose a hierarchical typology tailored to India, considering multiple characteristics. Finally, we identify key factors for applying this framework. This approach aims to enhance understanding of India’s unique social sector landscape.

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Case Study
  • 2 January 2020

Esg, Sri, and Impact Investing: a Primer for Decision-making

This primer aims to clarify the often-confusing terminology surrounding Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investing, Socially Responsible Investing (SRI), and Impact Investing for institutional investors. It emphasizes that ESG investing is not a separate asset class but a set of considerations that can be integrated into investment strategies. The authors provide a practical framework for investors to evaluate different approaches based on their goals, beliefs, resources, and circumstances. The paper discusses various forms of ESG integration, active ownership, portfolio screening, and targeted impact investments, aiding informed decision-making in this evolving landscape.
Case Study
  • 1 January 2019

Is Blended Finance Trending in the Ldcs? Perspectives From the Ground

This paper synthesizes findings from four country studies in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to assess the state of blended finance. It reveals that while blended finance is gaining traction for SDG implementation, it has yet to be fully mainstreamed in LDCs due to lack of awareness, definitional consensus, institutional challenges, and capacity deficits. The report highlights existing blended operations, primarily public-private partnerships in infrastructure, and offers policy recommendations for LDCs to leverage its potential while mitigating risks.
Case Study
  • 1 January 2021

What is Driving the Growth of Green and Social Finance?

This blog explores the rapid growth of green and social finance from private sources, driven by both environmental and social goals and increasing financial motives. It highlights how these financing mechanisms contribute to a green and inclusive recovery, especially in the context of large investments needed post-COVID-19. The piece emphasizes the real environmental and social benefits, such as improved environmental performance by firms issuing green bonds, and the crucial role of engaged public policy in nurturing this sector through regulatory frameworks and integrated sustainability risks.
Case Study
  • 2 January 2020

Environmental, Social, and Governance Investment: Opportunities and Risks for Asia

This report explores the opportunities and risks associated with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investment in Asia. It highlights the increasing global trend of sustainable investing, particularly in green bonds, and its growing adoption in Asian markets. The paper suggests that ESG investment can mitigate risks, encourage private sector and regulatory engagement with ESG issues, boost corporate values, improve growth potential, and strengthen financial resilience. It argues that ESG investment bridges the gap between traditional capitalism and a new paradigm of shared economic and social value, fostering sustainable development in the region.
Case Study
  • 1 January 2012

Impact Investing: Will Hype Stall Its Emergence as an Asset Class?

This article argues that while impact investing has gained mainstream recognition since its coinage five years prior, its development lags behind its full potential, hindering its emergence as a distinct asset class. The author contends that despite increased awareness, the field needs further maturation to overcome challenges and fully realise its promise as a significant force in finance.
Case Study
  • 1 January 2020

Beyond Profit Vs. Purpose: Transactional-relational Practices in Impact Investing

This study explores how impact investors manage the inherent tension between generating financial profit and achieving social purpose. Moving beyond a simplistic dualism, it investigates the “transactional-relational” practices that firms use to embed their social mission within their investment processes. Through qualitative research, the paper reveals how investors build deep relationships, conduct purpose-aligned due diligence, and provide post-investment support to ensure both financial viability and social impact are achieved. It highlights that integrating profit and purpose is a dynamic, ongoing process of negotiation and practice within the investment relationship.
Case Study
  • 1 January 2022

How Impact Investing Firms are Responding to Sustain and Grow Social Economy Enterprises in Light of the Covid-19 Pandemic

This article investigates how impact investing firms adapted their strategies to sustain and grow social economy enterprises amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. It explores the challenges faced by these enterprises and the innovative responses from impact investors, including adjustments to the impact-return trade-off. The authors highlight the critical role of the social impact ecosystem in providing support and fostering resilience, offering insights into the evolving dynamics of impact investing during times of crisis.
Case Study
  • 1 January 2020

What Next for Sustainable Finance in India?

This paper explores the future trajectory of sustainable finance in India, analysing its potential to drive economic growth while mitigating environmental and social risks. It draws insights from research on the influence of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors on financial entities in India. The study highlights the importance of sustainable finance practices, bond markets, and ESG integration for achieving long-term economic prosperity and addressing climate targets.
Case Study
  • 1 August 2016

A Policy Framework for Social Entrepreneurship in India

This paper maps the nascent state of social entrepreneurship in India and proposes a policy framework to strengthen the ecosystem. It reviews current policy deficiencies and recommends institutional capacity building, fiscal incentives, legal recognition, academic integration, and ecosystem coordination to support social enterprise growth. The study aims to provide a conceptual framework for social entrepreneurship policy development in India, acknowledging its role in socio-economic development despite theoretical inconsistencies.
Case Study
  • 1 January 2022

Why Banks Need to Embed Environmental, Social, and Governance (esg) Factors Into Their Strategy?

This article explains why banks must integrate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors into their core strategy. It argues that ESG is no longer merely about compliance but is crucial for driving revenue, growth, and long-term sustainability in the financial sector. The piece highlights how embedding ESG enhances risk management, attracts conscious investors, builds customer loyalty, and aligns banking operations with global sustainability goals, emphasizing its transformative potential for the industry.
Blog
  • 2 January 2024

Creativity and Complexity in Development Management

This article explores the role of creativity in navigating the inherent complexity of development management. It discusses how innovative approaches can help organizations tackle multifaceted social challenges, streamline processes, and drive effective change. The post provides examples and theoretical insights to demonstrate that embracing complexity and fostering creative problem-solving are essential for transformative, sustainable development.
Media Article
  • 1 September 2024

The Role Of Collaborative Innovation In The Social Sector

In the heart of India’s vibrant and complex social landscape, a quiet but powerful revolution is underway. Traditional approaches to tackling deep-rooted issues like poverty, inequality, and health care disparities have often yielded incremental progress. However, a new wave of initiatives is proving that evidence-based solutions, fueled by collaboration and open-source technologies, can redefine the narrative of social impact.
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