PRIA

01/06/2026

from Dr. Rajesh Tandon, Founder-President of Pria India and Co-Chair of Unesco Chair in CBR & Social Responsibility in Higher Education for the month of June 2026.

Do read on - https://pria.org/blog/random-reflections/47

International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) Unnati ICMR-NIREH Bhopal Indian School of Development Management - ISDM Sido Kanhu Murmu University, Dumka Swayam Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs NIRDPR-National Institute of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action - YUVA IMPRI Impact and Policy Research Institute

30/05/2026

People Powered along with its India Lead partner, Pria India, are inviting applications for the Climate Democracy Accelerator — a six-month, practice-oriented fellowship supporting changemakers to build , participatory climate transition programs rooted in people’s voices and local realities.

The fellowship will support 30 participants working on:
* Regenerative agriculture
* Renewable energy

Selected fellows will receive:
✅ Access to participation playbooks & online learning tools
✅ Live workshops and hands-on training
✅ Country-based peer learning groups
✅ Localised case studies & resources
✅ A $10,000 USD implementation grant

🏆 The top five action plans in each cohort will also receive an additional $15,000 award.

If you are passionate about climate justice, participatory governance, and co-creating solutions with communities, this is an opportunity worth exploring.

Application deadline: June 26, 2026

Learn more - https://www.peoplepowered.org/climate-democracy-accelerator

Apply here - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeopCSbl6l8H6pF0lwRxS_JtHSyyMKHQIOU2_FkJ6Zrrl85lg/viewform?usp=send_form



SHE Changes Climate Centre for Urban and Regional Excellence Centre for Heritage, Environment & Development Samarthan - Center for Development Support Unnati CIVIC Bangalore Pradan

26/05/2026

Applications Open: The Rohini Nayyar Prize 2026

The Rohini Nayyar Prize for Outstanding Contribution to Rural Development in India honours young who are transforming lives and strengthening communities across India.

Instituted in memory of the eminent economist-administrator Dr. Rohini Nayyar, the prize celebrates impactful leadership, innovation, and long-term commitment towards rural development.

Award Includes:
• ₹10 Lakh Cash Prize
• Citation & Trophy

Eligibility:
• Age 40 years or below
• Minimum 5 years of work in rural development

Last Date to Apply: 31st May 2026

Click Here to Apply: https://rohininayyarprize.org/nomination-form-2026/

If you know individuals creating meaningful in rural India — working with , , , , sustainability, or — encourage them to apply!

PRIA International Academy | Transform Rural India | People's Institute of Rural Development - PIRD | Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies | Community For Social Change And Development | WRI India | Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Urban Livelihoods Mission | Earth Ideas Foundation | Trust Community Livelihoods | Swayam | Unnati | Rural Development and Panchayat Raj - Karnataka | The Hunger Project

25/05/2026

As Indian cities continue to grow, urban water bodies — lakes, ponds, tanks, and wetlands are disappearing under the pressures of rapid , , , and fragmented governance.
Yet, across India and globally, communities are demonstrating that sustainable water governance is only possible when people are placed at the centre of decision-making.

Join Us for an Online Dialogue -
Integrating in the Management of Urban Water Bodies
Register here - https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Vyg0UWiHQduYXO6vm70ZPw #/registration

The discussion will explore:
* Role of communities in sustaining urban water bodies
* Participatory models that move beyond consultation
* Challenges and enabling conditions for scaling community engagement
* Pathways to institutionalising participation within urban planning and governance

Speakers
* Mr. Parag Talankar, Director Planning & Mobilisation, SEEDS India
* Ms. Sowmia Philip, Program Officer, PRIA India
* Ms. Anjali Sharma, Forum Mysuru
* Dr. Uday Bhonde, Senior Program Specialist, Water & Environment, National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA)
* Er Garima Rathore – Assistant Engineer and Sub-Divisional Officer, Public Health Engineering Department Rajasthan

Moderator – Dr. Anshuman Karol, Lead- Governance and Climate Action, Pria India

Concluding Remarks – Dr. Rajesh Tandon, Founder President, Pria India

As India confronts an escalating , making water management participatory, , and community-led is no longer optional, it is essential.

Join the dialogue to explore pathways towards collaborative and climate-resilient urban water governance.

WRI India Unesco Chair in CBR & Social Responsibility in Higher Education Unnati International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) Centre for Science and Environment Centre for Advocacy & Research - CFAR Council on Energy, Environment and Water International Climate Change Development Initiative National Institute of Urban Affairs

13/05/2026

“Drawing the line means being able to say ‘No,’ because as women we have a choice.” — Dr. Martha Farrell

Today, as we remember Dr. Martha Farrell, we honour a visionary who transformed the way institutions and communities approached , participation, and learning.

Dr. Farrell’s legacy lives on through the thousands of grassroots women leaders and professionals she trained on citizen engagement, gender mainstreaming, and the prevention of . She believed that learning should not only inform, but also empower people to lead change in their own communities.

A trailblazer in and feminist leadership, she led PRIA’s distance education initiatives and founded PRIA International Academy to make learning more accessible, participatory, and transformative. Her work continues to inspire efforts toward safer, more , and equitable workplaces and learning spaces.

Today marks 11 years since we lost Dr. Farrell in a terrorist attack in Kabul, Afghanistan. Her courage, compassion, and commitment continue to guide countless practitioners, educators, and changemakers across the world.
Remembering Dr. Martha Farrell with gratitude and resolve.
Her voice, vision, and values remain more relevant than ever.

06/05/2026

📢 Internship Opportunity at Pria India’s Knowledge Resource Centre (Mini-Library) 📢

We’re looking for enthusiastic interns to support ongoing work at our Centre.
Tasks include
- Collating and Digitising Pria India's Knowledge material
- Categorising Institutional and Knowledge Documents

Who we’re looking for:
- Graduate Degree in Social Sciences and Library Sciences (preferred)
- Excellent writing skills in English and Hindi.
- Administrative Knowledge & Organisational Skills
- Minimum designing skills

📍Location - PRIA, New Delhi
✉️ Mail at [email protected]

If you're keen to work on meaningful projects in a dynamic and resource-rich environment, we'd love to hear from you!

Rajesh Tandon Unesco Chair in CBR & Social Responsibility in Higher Education PRIA International Academy KISS - Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences International Climate Change Development Initiative University of Delhi Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University Lovely Professional University - LPU University Grants Commission

01/05/2026

from Dr. Rajesh Tandon, Founder-President of PRIA and Co-Chair of Unesco Chair in CBR & Social Responsibility in Higher Education for the month of May 2026.

Do read on - https://pria.org/blog/random-reflections/content/191

International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) Unnati ICMR-NIREH Bhopal Indian School of Development Management - ISDM The Policy Edge Sido Kanhu Murmu University, Dumka Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs NIRDPR-National Institute of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action - YUVA IMPRI Impact and Policy Research Institute

30/04/2026

PRIA and National Institute of Urban Affairs have signed an MoU to work together at the intersection of , , and .

The partnership will focus on co-creating knowledge around , while also building capacities across . This includes jointly designing research initiatives, undertaking monitoring and impact assessments, and creating for dialogue through seminars, workshops, and webinars.

At its core, the collaboration aims to bridge grassroots insights with policy thinking and bringing into the heart of urban decision-making.

PRIA International Academy Unesco Chair in CBR & Social Responsibility in Higher Education Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) Rajesh Tandon University Grants Commission Sido Kanhu Murmu University, Dumka

24/04/2026

On this , it is important to reflect on the journey of decentralised democracy in India—anchored in the vision of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, which recognised as institutions of local self-governance and strengthened the role of the .

PRIA’s long-standing work in this space offers valuable insights into how this vision has been translated into practice. The report, Joint Intervention Towards Strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutions (1999),https://tinyurl.com/panchayati-joint, captures an important phase of this journey—where PRIA, along with a network of partners, worked across multiple states to strengthen as empowered, participatory institutions rather than mere implementers of top-down programmes.

Through 150+ training and orientation programmes, 70+ knowledge resources, and partnerships across 10 states, the initiative directly and indirectly engaged 20,000+ elected representatives. A strong emphasis was placed on building the capacities of , especially and groups, while also fostering bottom-up planning and community participation. The interventions helped bring critical issues—such as financial , women’s leadership, and the functioning of Panchayats—into policy and public discourse.

At a time when governance and education are increasingly interconnected, it is encouraging to see the integration of Panchayati Raj within the National Education Policy framework. Recent Faculty Development Programmes (FDPs) organised by the University Grants Commission have begun incorporating decentralised governance and local institutions into academic discourse—recognising Panchayats as sites of , civic engagement, and participatory development.

This convergence signals an important shift: preparing future practitioners, researchers, and citizens to engage meaningfully with local governance systems. As we move forward, strengthening Panchayats will depend not only on policy and practice, but also on how deeply these ideas are embedded in learning ecosystems.

Rajesh Tandon Martha Farrell Foundation Unesco Chair in CBR & Social Responsibility in Higher Education International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) IMPRI Impact and Policy Research Institute Unnati Unnat Bharat Abhiyan Development Alternatives Group People's Institute of Rural Development - PIRD Transform Rural India NIRDPR-National Institute of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India Panchayat, Rural Development and Social Welfare Department of Madhya Pradesh

15/04/2026