Knowledge Management @ Villgro
Villgro’s Knowledge Management was started in 2008. KM Program was started in the context of knowledge generated by social entrepreneurs not captured by themselves and practitioners resulting in little information for decision making, on problems and lessons which are unique to India, and for local and national advocacy. Without local and national advocacy, policy makers will continue to lack appreciation for this sector. In other words, the missing elements are research and courses on social enterprises based on taking innovative products and services to rural India, and social enterprises that assess and demonstrate their impact. By supporting the capture of Indian experience in the innovation and social enterprise sector, both by practitioners themselves (including us) and by academics, and by creating channels to disseminate this knowledge, KM program will enable better decision making, the identification of context- specific problems and lessons, and local and national advocacy.
The IDRC partnership
International Development Research Centre(IDRC) has given a 3- year grant to Villgro to undertake a research project entitled “Learning from low-income market-driven innovations and social entrepreneurship in India”. The overall objective of the project is to systematize knowledge and learning on innovations and social enterprises that benefit small and marginal farming communities in India.
The CSIE partnership
"Centre for Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CSIE)" was established on April 1, 2010 as a sponsored research project under Centre for IC&SR, IIT Madras. CSIE at IIT-Madras focuses on teaching and research related to social enterprise in India. Villgro has entered into a partnership with CSIE for a project entitled “Research & Education in Social Entrepreneurship”. The overall objective of the project is to increase the knowledge and skill levels in the social entrepreneurship sector through research, education and capacity building of various stake-holders in the eco-system.
More information about CSIE at http://csie.iitm.ac.in/AboutCSIE.html or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Selection Proposal process
To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, Villgro will, call for original proposals to undertake primary research in the areas of social entrepreneurship. The proposals are subject to a rigorous screening process with the help of faculty and practitioners in the social enterprise sector. The shortlisted applicants are placed before a Research Advisory Committee(RAC) constituted by Villgro for final selection and approval. The RAC comprises of Mr. Rathin Roy, Chairman of the Board, Villgro, Ms. Veena Ravichandran, IDRC, Ms. Bindu Ananth, IFMR Trust, Mr.Paul Basil, Villgro, Prof. R.Nagarajan, IIT-M and Prof.Madhukar Shukla, XIM-B.
Selected projects for 2011-12
Following research partners have been selected to undertake research project:
- Centre for World Solidarity, Hyderabad
CWS will undertake a project titled, “Assessing social enterprises: The need for new parameters”. The purpose of this research project is to bring ideas in the field, including practitioner’s perspectives, on the measurement of social impact and see if these could be compared and dialogued with existing literature and emerging industry practice.
More info about CWS at http://www.cwsy.org/ - Intellecap Capital Advisory Services Pvt Ltd, Mumbai
Intellecap will undertake a project titled,” Scaling up Social Enterprises – Drivers and Challenges”. The research will identify the drivers of growth and understand their relative importance in the success of the social enterprises.
More info about Intellecap at http://www.intellecap.com - Indian Institute of Management Bangalore
IIM-B will undertake a project titled, “Inclusive Business Models – Prospects and Challenges”. The purpose of the project is to identify the challenges confronted by organizations when they try to address the needs of the poor in a financially sustainable manner.
More info about IIM-B at http://www.iimb.ernet.in/ - Centre for Development Finance, Institute for Financial Management Research, Chennai
CDF –IFMR will undertake a research project titled, “Understanding the adoption dynamics of new products among people living in rural India”. The objective of the project is to enumerate and analyze factors, socio-economic or others, responsible for the adoption of improved cook stoves among the rural household.
More info about CDF-IFMR at http://cdf.ifmr.ac.in/ - Dasra, Mumbai
Dasra will undertake a research project titled, “How Can Early Stage Social Businesses be taken to the Next Level”. The project will understand the role of intermediation in bringing early stage entrepreneurs and investors closer to one another.
More info about Dasra at http://www.dasra.org/
