Development Alternatives Group

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Development Alternatives Group 40 years of delivering EcoSolutions. www.devalt.org

The mission of the Development Alternatives Group is to promote inclusive, equitable and resilient national development, through the creation of sustainable livelihoods on a large scale. Through clean technology packages, micro-enterprise solutions and collaborative institutional ecosystems, we bridge practice and policy, and work with partners to mobilise widespread action to eradicate poverty and regenerate the environment. DA's work addresses the three poly-crises of our times - Jobs, Resources and Climate - through impact in three areas: Livelihood Security & Inclusive Entrepreneurship, Resource Efficiency & Circular Economy and Climate Change & Ecosystem Restoration. The organisation has built up a strong capacity to identify priority issues confronting the nation and devise effective ways to solve them. It brings together over 120 professionals with a wide range of skills and backgrounds but a common, spirited commitment to excellence and teamwork.

Meet the voices bringing community-led restoration to the centre of the water security conversation.As we gear up for th...
24/09/2026

Meet the voices bringing community-led restoration to the centre of the water security conversation.

As we gear up for the 9th 2026, we are pleased to introduce the panelists for “Community-led Restoration for Water Security & Sustainable Development.”

Moderated by Dr. Santanu Basu, Project Director, HCLFoundation, the conversation will feature Mr. Chetan Jha, Director, Thematic Engagement & Innovations, Foundation for Ecological Security (FES); Dr. Shiraz Wajih, President, Gorakhpur Environmental Action Group (GEAG); Mr. Manu Bhatnagar, Principal Director, Natural Heritage Division, INTACH; and Mr. V. Venkatesan, Program Leader, DHAN Foundation.

Drawing on decades of work with communities and ecosystems, the panel will explore how community-led restoration can strengthen water security, build resilience and create pathways towards sustainable development.

25 September 2026 | 11:45 AM – 1:15 PM
Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi

Meet the panel. Join the conversation.

The voices are set. The stage is ready.We are delighted to introduce the distinguished panelists joining us for Panel 1:...
23/09/2026

The voices are set. The stage is ready.

We are delighted to introduce the distinguished panelists joining us for Panel 1: “Wetlands for Climate Resilience: Policy and Planning” at the 9th India International Water Week 2026.

Bringing together perspectives from government, policy, academia and the development sector, our panelists will unpack what it takes to place wetlands firmly within India’s climate resilience and water security agenda.

Meet the minds who will lead the conversation.

25 September 2026
11:45 AM – 1:15 PM
Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi

Stay tuned as we introduce the experts joining us for Panel 2.

| How do we build systems that listen better, learn faster and respond to what communities are telling us?That is the ...
22/09/2026

| How do we build systems that listen better, learn faster and respond to what communities are telling us?

That is the question bringing us together this morning at Listening Better, Acting Faster, our UNGA side event at The Yale Club in New York.

Bringing together perspectives from philanthropy, social innovation, investment and development, today’s conversation will explore what it takes to move from collaboration as an intention to collaboration that can respond to change on the ground.

The morning will look at the shift from systems thinking to intelligence-driven systems, the potential of AI to accelerate learning and adaptability, and how we can build ecosystems that continuously learn, adapt and respond.

Across these conversations, we will explore how technology, community intelligence and cross-sector collaboration can help institutions understand emerging needs, learn from what is happening on the ground and translate those insights into action.

Because listening better matters when it helps us act better and act faster.

AIForSocialImpact ListeningBetterActingFaster

It was an inspiring experience to see the World Circular Economy Forum ( ) hosted in India for the very first time! Whil...
21/09/2026

It was an inspiring experience to see the World Circular Economy Forum ( ) hosted in India for the very first time!

While it was encouraging to witness the energy at WCEF, much of the conversation focused heavily on end-of-pipe solutions like recycling and waste management. While critical, recycling is only one piece of the puzzle.

To drive a true transition from a linear to a circular economy, we must activate both the big and small loops of circularity and entrepreneurship sits at the very core of this shift.

Micro-entrepreneurs and MSMEs are pivotal in making circularity practical, viable, and scalable. At Development Alternatives, enabling circular business models to emerge and scale at the grassroots is one of our key priority-

Initiating new work around the repair business models, adding to our ongoing push in Energy Transition and Biomass.

Enabling MSMEs to turn underutilised resources and waste streams into localised economic value.

The path to circularity isn't just about managing waste & resources, it's about empowering entrepreneurs to build sustainable, resilient businesses from the ground up.

We look forward to bringing circular businesses to the grassroots and driving systemic change together and would love to have you partner with us!

Meet the voices joining us in New York for “Listening Better, Acting Faster.”On 22 September, we will bring together lea...
18/09/2026

Meet the voices joining us in New York for “Listening Better, Acting Faster.”

On 22 September, we will bring together leaders from philanthropy, multilateral institutions, academia and civil society for a conversation on how technology and collaborative action can help us build more responsive systems and improve community outcomes.

We’re pleased to be joined by:

H.R.H. the Infanta Cristina — Director of the International Area, “la Caixa” Foundation

Juan Carlos Gómez Villegas — President, Fundación Grupo Social

Gorka Espiau — Director at Agirre Lehendakaria Center and Scientific Director of Work4Progress

Lyana Latorre Sabogal — Vice President, Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), The Rockefeller Foundation

Abishkar Shrestha — Head of Investments, Visa Foundation

Shrashant Patara — Chief Executive, Development Alternatives and IMEDF

Paola Ximena Silva Cortés — Chief Territorial Transformation Officer, Fundación Grupo Social

Alan Robbins — Co-Founder and Executive Vice President, Devex, who will moderate the conversation.

22 September 2026
8:00 AM – 11:00 AM ET
The Yale Club, New York

Only a few days to go! If you’ll be in New York for UNGA Week and haven’t registered yet, we’d love to have you join us.

Register your interest here: https://luma.com/88srl195

On 15 September, Dr. Nabaneeta R., Senior Programme Director, Development Alternatives, joined the session “Women for Ri...
17/09/2026

On 15 September, Dr. Nabaneeta R., Senior Programme Director, Development Alternatives, joined the session “Women for Rivers, Water Bodies & Ecosystem Restoration” at the National Consultation on Women for Water, organised by Parmarth Samaj Sevi Sansthan.

Panellists included Amit Saha; Dr. Faiyaz A. Khudsar, In-charge Scientist, Biodiversity Parks Program, CEMDE, University of Delhi; M.P. Sinha, Secretary, Janhit Vikas Kendra, Bihar; and Ms. Rekha and Ms. Gayatri, Jal Sahelis from Babina and Jhansi.

Dr. Rudra emphasised a landscape approach to rejuvenation, aligned with government schemes and rooted in community participation. As primary water users and close observers, women are well placed to lead restoration.

Moving from volunteerism to recognised custodianship requires institutional standing, defined water user group roles, access to information and budgets, and authority to address and escalate dumping and encroachment.

Women’s institutional presence and authority in water governance are essential for equity, sustainable ecosystem services and resilient rivers and commons.

REGISTRATION LINES ARE NOW CLOSEDThank you to everyone who registered for “Wetlands for Climate Resilience: Community-le...
17/09/2026

REGISTRATION LINES ARE NOW CLOSED

Thank you to everyone who registered for “Wetlands for Climate Resilience: Community-led Restoration for Water Security and Sustainable Development,” organised by Development Alternatives in partnership with HCLFoundation under our जलConnect campaign during the 9th India International Water Week 2026.

We look forward to welcoming policymakers, practitioners, researchers and development partners for a dialogue on how community-led wetland restoration can strengthen India’s water security and climate resilience.

25 September 2026
11:45 a.m.–1:15 p.m.
Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi

Stay connected as we bring you insights from the dialogue.

15/09/2026

The foundation of lifelong growth, immunity, and learning is built in the earliest years of childhood.

Continuing ’s (An initiative by Development Alternatives) series, our focus shifts to the nutritional care of children aged 0 to 6 years.

Dr Vandana Shrivastava from Niwari Hospital addresses common feeding myths and shares practical, home-based nutrition practices, emphasizing wholesome, accessible everyday foods that support healthy early development.

Through this series, Radio Bundelkhand brings expert guidance closer to communities, helping families make informed choices for better nutrition and health at every stage of life.

What happens when a forgotten waterbody becomes a shared responsibility again?In Sidipur, Gautam Buddha Nagar, the rejuv...
10/09/2026

What happens when a forgotten waterbody becomes a shared responsibility again?

In Sidipur, Gautam Buddha Nagar, the rejuvenation of two village ponds went beyond restoring water. It brought together ecological restoration, water quality monitoring, community engagement and local stewardship to build a pathway towards long-term water security.

Today, community members are maintaining floating islands and plantations, testing water quality, using pond water for irrigation, and reclaiming the ponds as shared village spaces.

As part of , Development Alternatives and HCLFoundation are bringing stories and lessons from the ground into the larger conversation on community-led restoration, water security and climate resilience.

A conversation we will carry forward at India International Water Week 2026 this September.

To register for the session, click here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfQZSAO7KZIrdwSbQ5wTUD1vRMdULfJjuZ3lXsUgPULrECPmg/viewform

Explore the Sidipur story through the QR code in the carousel.

We keep asking how to get energy to a village. The sharper question, and the one WRI India put on the table at , is wha...
10/09/2026

We keep asking how to get energy to a village. The sharper question, and the one WRI India put on the table at , is what that energy is for once it arrives, and how it ties into water, food, livelihoods and local governance.

Captain Ashish Jacob, Vice President, Development Alternatives Group, joined the roundtable on rural energy systems transformation, and spoke from what four decades of work in landscapes like Bundelkhand have taught us.

Two points he offered the room.

First, the institutions that make integration possible mostly already exist. In our work it is often the Urja Mandala, a women's enterprise collective that quietly holds energy, water, food and livelihood together, because those are the same women managing all four in the household economy every day.

It is a model that sits in deep alignment with the REST framework that Dr. Arundhita Bhanjdeo set out for the room. The work ahead is convergence, fewer and more capable institutions rather than more of them.

Second, we have to move from scheme-based to place-based delivery. Seeding one model village per district is a real start, but it gives us a lighthouse, not a district that is lit up. The next step is energy planned into the village's own development plan, a district-level table that convenes across departments and brings the DISCOM to the assets already on the ground, and financing that backs the plan rather than the panel.

Development Alternatives extends its sincere gratitude to Bharath Jairaj for setting the context with such clarity and insight, and to Lanvin Concessao for moderating an engaging and thought-provoking exchange, one that left us wishing we had a few more hours to continue the conversation.

We also thank the WRI India Energy team and our fellow panellists for contributing to such an open, candid and enriching dialogue.

It was a conversation marked by diverse perspectives, meaningful insights and a shared commitment to advancing the discourse. We look forward to carrying it forward.

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