South Asia

What We Do

Systems change work requires local depth and global reach, and our organizational structure matches that. We are a network of locally-run and independently-managed global partners with a shared vision and mission. The partners work together to build knowledge and capacity in our incubation services, and our team often collaborates across partners in their support of initiatives.

At GDI South Asia, we collaborate widely to seed, build, and scale ideas and development ventures that shift complex social systems and transform the lives of the most vulnerable communities. We have a deep understanding of the long-term, systemic issues faced by the South Asian region. We also believe that real change requires an unequivocal shift in the status quo.

We partner with diverse local and global leaders – national and state governments, entrepreneurs/innovators, domestic and global donors, corporates, civil society, and academia – towards ecosystem-wide solutions that work for everyone. Within our unique regional context, this is not a simple task. Therefore, we work closely over 12 to 36 months to design fit-for-purpose strategies, support operations, learn what works and what doesn’t, and help our ventures adapt.

Our Focus Areas

Climate: South Asia sits at the forefront of experiencing climate change. Its people, resources, and ecosystems must adapt.

GDI South Asia is incubating critical multi-stakeholder ventures to support vulnerable communities in India, Bangladesh, and beyond to tackle pressing problems of waste, water, rising temperature, and more.

We are actively investing in discovery stage opportunities in Circularity/Waste Financing Facility, Bamboo Value-Chain, and Climate Resilient Agriculture.

Health: South Asian countries are at risk of replicating the structural and functional flaws of health systems in their high-income peers and reaching unsustainable budget demands without proportionately improving the health of their citizens. As these countries work towards Universal Health Coverage, this becomes even more important. 

GDI South Asia is collaborating with the health systems to chart a different trajectory to better health outcomes and costs. 

Livelihoods: 92.4% of India’s labour force is informal – women and youth across the country are disproportionately affected by systemic barriers to dignified employment, and this is coupled with the lack of access to the appropriate services and support to enter and stay in the workforce. 65% of the country’s population lives in rural areas – where the working age population far outnumbers available local opportunities.

GDI South Asia is working to create place-based, local economic opportunities for young people, as well as supporting safe pathways for those who migrate in search of work.

Others: Intersections of health, livelihoods, and climate are interesting cutting-edge problems that GDI South Asia actively seeks to tackle. If you have promising ideas in any other social impact sector, we would love to hear more!