GDi Partners

📌Masterclass Highlights The Policy Hackathon at the India Conference at Harvard 2025 brought together experts to discuss critical issues in sustainable agriculture and policy innovation. 📅 11 Jan 2025 – Vijaya Kumar K , Manager, GDi Partners, led a masterclass on reaching last-mile farmers through extension management. He highlighted innovative models like Kisan Khidmat Gharr and Rythu Bharosa Kendrams, demonstrating how technology and policy can strengthen agricultural outreach and support systems. 📅 12 Jan 2025 – Shweta Saini, CEO, Arcus Policy Research, provided valuable insights into institutional credit delivery for small-scale farmers. She emphasised the importance of financial inclusion, policy reforms, and innovative approaches to bridging financial gaps in agriculture. A huge thank you to the speakers for their expertise and contributions. Their insights continue to shape discussions on policy-driven agricultural advancements. Watch this space for updates from the Policy Hackathon at India Conference at Harvard, organised in collaboration with Indian School of Business and GDi Partners. 📢 #PolicyHackathon #PublicPolicy #Agriculture #Sustainability #Harvard #RuralDevelopment #ICH2025

Stepping Into 2025 – A Year of Purpose and Possibilities 2024 was a year of milestones for GDi Partners shaping the future of nation-building, but we’re just getting started. Our latest newsletter dives into what’s next: bold opportunities in rural digital education, innovative air quality programs, and stories of young leaders driving systemic change. It’s a glimpse into the world of impact consulting for a more inclusive and sustainable future. Don’t miss out on GDi stories that inspire action. Subscribe now and join us on this journey of growth, innovation, and lasting impact. https://lnkd.in/gHECv9E8 #GDiNewsletter #NationBuilding #Innovation

Transforming India's youth into a united force for nation building. India’s youth is its greatest strength, with over 65% of the population under the age of 35 (according to the 2011 Census of India). But this strength needs to be nurtured and supported for India to progress. Youth unemployment remains a serious challenge, hitting urban areas particularly hard. For women, the gap is even wider—labor force participation rates lag far behind global averages. Globally, women’s labor force participation is around fifty percent, while men’s is around eighty percent as reported by the World Bank. In Jammu & Kashmir, these challenges take on a unique dimension. While labor force participation is high, unemployment among the region’s youth is alarmingly so. The numbers tell a story of untapped potential, waiting for the right opportunities to come along. GDi Partners in partnership with the @Government of Jammu & Kashmir has launched Mission YUVA (Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyaan)—an ambitious program designed to spark entrepreneurship as a way to create livelihood opportunities. Over the next five years, Mission YUVA will aim to create 1,37,000 new businesses and generate 4,25,000 jobs across the region. The program starts with a massive effort to understand the needs and aspirations of young people. A baseline survey covering 1.5 crore households is underway, already reaching 28 lakh+ individuals. This data will shape how we tackle challenges and unlock opportunities for every community. We are also working on national level promotion of skilling, employment and volunteering opportunities for youth, On National Youth Day, which also marks the birth anniversary of the nation’s icon Swami Vivekananda, we’re reminded of why GDi Partner’s work with the youth matters and how it gives wings to the millions of aspirations that shape our tomorrow. #NationalYouthDay #MissionYUVA #EmpoweringYouth #FutureForward #nationbuilding

📚 #PolicyBookshelf: New Year, New Reading Resolutions! Is your New Year's resolution to read more books? We’ve got you covered! The latest edition of our #PolicyBookshelf brings together unputdownable titles to think critically about the world of policy and governance. What’s on your reading list this year? Let’s swap notes and kickstart the year with a shared library of inspiration. Drop your recommendations below! 📖 #ReadingRecommendations #NewYearReads #BooksToRead #KnowledgeInAction #NationBuilding Penguin Random House India | HarperCollins Publishers India | Anupam Manur | Pranay Kotasthane | The Takshashila Institution | T.V. Paul | Kallol Bhattacherjee

🌱Balancing Conservation and Commercialization India has made significant progress in enhancing its green cover, driven by ambitious targets and a strong commitment to environmental sustainability. In accordance with the National Forest Policy, 1988, the country aspires to increase its forest and tree cover to 33% of its geographical area. Currently, the total forest and tree cover as per the latest Indian State of Forest Report 2023 stands at 25.17% (8,27,357 square kilometers), with a modest increase of 1,445 square kilometers since 2021. Alongside this growth, India has achieved an additional carbon sink of 2.29 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent compared to 2005 levels, marking substantial progress toward its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) target of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes by 2030. Agroforestry, which integrates trees and shrubs into agricultural landscapes, has emerged as a key strategy for enhancing biodiversity, improving soil health, and boosting economic benefits for farmers. ISFR 2023 highlights a 28.56% increase in the growing stock under agroforestry over the past decade, with tree cover under agroforestry rising by 20.02% since 2013. With India’s demand for timber projected to exceed 150 million m³ by 2030, agroforestry provides a sustainable solution to meet this demand while enhancing climate resilience and economic security for farmers. However, despite these advancements, India’s forest policies prioritize conservation over commercialization. This approach has undoubtedly contributed to significant increases in forest and tree cover but has limited the potential for sustainable economic benefits. Deregulating the highly restrictive timber market—currently focused only on private lands—could incentivize commercial timber cultivation, reduce reliance on imports (currently costing ₹18,000–20,000 crore annually), and create new income streams for farmers. At GDi Partners, we believe in a balanced approach that integrates conservation with sustainable commercialization. We are currently collaborating with the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, Government of India to strengthen the decision-making capacity of the Forest Policy Division and drive sustainable forest management initiatives. Simplified policies and a market-driven approach can unlock the full potential of India’s forestry sector, enabling agroforestry to thrive, reducing dependency on imports, and fostering a robust timber economy. A thriving forestry sector that harmonizes ecological balance with economic incentives can help India achieve its environmental goals while empowering local livelihoods and driving sustainable growth. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/gtEbc_ac #ISFR2023 #Agroforestry #TimberEconomy #GreenCover #Sustainability

🎉 We ended 2024 on a high at GDI Partners with our final social of the year. From mental wellness talks and workshops to Secret Santa surprises and games — we celebrated learning, connection, and festive cheer together. Here’s to more growth and good vibes in 2025! 💙✨ #GDISocials #TeamGoals #NationBuilding #SecretSanta #CheersTo2025

Webinar Highlight  🖥️ Professor Anjal Prakash’s insightful masterclass on “Optimising Water Access and Efficiency for Sustainable Small-Scale Agriculture” as part of the Policy Hackathon at the India Conference at Harvard 2025 shed light on sustainable water management practices, setting a strong foundation for participants tackling critical policy challenges. As a Lead Author for the IPCC, his insights have influenced key global policy discussions. The session delved into sustainable solutions for small-scale agriculture, shaping the future of policy innovation.  We are deeply thankful to Professor Prakash, who is a Clinical Associate Professor (Research) and Research Director at the Bharti Institute of Public Policy, ISB, and a renowned authority on water policy, climate change, and urban resilience. His time and invaluable perspectives not only enlightened the audience but also inspired innovative thinking for addressing pressing global challenges.  Stay tuned for more updates on the Policy Hackathon organised at India Conference at Harvard, Indian School of Business and GDi Partners. #PolicyHackathon #PublicPolicy #Webinar #Sustainablity #ICH2025

#iAM Say hello to Gulshan Azwa, our newest Associate Consultant at GDi! 🌟 A graduate of Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), and a BSc Data Science and Programming student at Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Gulshan brings a blend of academic excellence and a passion for impact. At SRCC, she led the "Viksit Bharat Initiative – Bharat@2047," represented her college in athletics, and participated in diverse academic and cultural events. With internships at Reliance Foundation and Sciera Inc., Gulshan has developed a strong foundation in data analytics and problem-solving. Outside work, she loves adventurous expeditions, ultimate frisbee, reading, and creating video content. Welcome to the team, Gulshan! Together, let’s create pathways for nation-building. 💡 #NewJoinee #NationBuilding #SocialImpact #iAM

🌟 Project Spotlight: Mission YUVA Baseline Survey 🌟  We are thrilled to share a major milestone in one of our flagship projects—Mission YUVA. On January 1, the Honorable Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir, Shri Atal Dulloo, officially launched the UT-wide baseline survey, a first-of-its-kind initiative in Jammu & Kashmir. This transformative project is a pivotal step towards building a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem in the region.  As part of the initiative, the survey aims to identify 1.37 lakh potential entrepreneurs while capturing insights from 16,000 existing enterprises across the Union Territory. Over the course of the next month, an extraordinary effort will see 18,000 field investigators conducting household surveys, with seamless real-time coordination from control rooms established at district and UT levels.  This initiative goes beyond data collection—it is about laying the groundwork for meaningful change. The insights gained will help shape impactful policies and strategies, bringing us closer to realising the vision of Mission YUVA: empowering communities, fostering innovation, and transforming the entrepreneurial landscape of Jammu & Kashmir.  We are proud to be at the heart of this landmark initiative, driving opportunities and progress for the region.  #MissionYUVA #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #GDiPartners #JammuAndKashmir #NationBuilding

GDi Partners wishes everyone a Happy, Prosperous, and Peaceful New Year! As we prepare for 2025, we want to thank our partners, advisors, friends and well-wishers for their overwhelming support in 2024. Stay tuned for more updates as we embark on another exciting year of impactful work. #HappyNewYear #NewYear2025 #Gratitude #NationBuilding