Partner network
As the range of macro drivers fast outpace the ability of existing systems to cope, there is both a need and opportunity to create societal infrastructure
We bring together a growing network of partners committed to strengthening decentralised and inclusive governance of India’s Commons.
The Collaborative comprises organisations
with deep experience across rural
livelihoods, ecological restoration, public
policy, market innovation, and systems
thinking.
Partners co-create strategies, lead Working Groups, and share mutual accountability for outcomes. While the Collaborative enables tight coordination for implementation, a broader Alliance supports ecosystem-wide shifts through
shared insights, evidence, and engagement across sectors. This structure allows for purposeful collaboration while keeping space for alignment, learning, and adaptation across diverse actors.
Where we work
We began exploring geographies and identified two broad categories with a predominance of Commons:
1
Forest and tribal livelihood landscapes in central India and the northeastern region
2
Pastures and mixed farming systems in the dry peninsular region
Initial efforts were focused in Jharkhand and Odisha, where we began convening partners around landscape-level strategies. In both states, work was directed towards integrating commons-based approaches within existing agricultural, livelihoods, and natural resource programmes.
This included expanding tenure rights recognition under the Forest Rights Act and co-designing next-generation interventions to support ecological restoration, improved local self-governance, and increased rural incomes.
Surveys were initiated in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Meghalaya to deepen understanding of contextual problems, identify key actors, and assess enabling conditions. Future engagements are being explored in Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra,
Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, and Nagaland, guided by interest from partners and the presence of landscape-level opportunities.
Our presence
Click on the states to see where we work, and our partners’ presence. (need to rephrase this)
Odisha
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work in the state.)