Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Organisations/NGOs working in Water and Sanitation
This guide lists out the organisations/ NGOs in the Water and Sanitation sector, across the country. Please click on a topic to view more detailed information.
- What is an NGO?
- What are their main characteristics?
- Is there a way by which there can be a partnership between the government and NGOs?
- Is there a list of international funding agencies that support NGOs working in water conservation?
- Is there a list of names of international foundations and programmes in the water & sanitation sector?
- Which institutions and research organizations undertake water conservation projects in partnership with NGOs?
- Which are the organisations in the water and sanitation sector that work in the following states/ UT?
Voluntary organizations (VOs) / Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) include organizations engaged in public service, based on ethical, cultural, social, economic, political, religious, spiritual, philanthropic or scientific & technological considerations. VOs include formal as well as informal groups such as: community-based organizations (CBOs); non-governmental development organizations (NGDOs); charitable organizations; support organizations; networks or federations of such organizations; as well as professional membership associations.
VOs / NGOs should broadly have the following characteristics:
- They are private, i.e., separate from the Government
- They do not return profits generated to their owners or directors
- They are self-governing, i.e., not controlled by Government
- They are registered organizations or informal groups, with defined aims and objectives
In India a Voluntary Organization / Non Governmental Organization can be registered as Trusts, Societies, or a private limited nonprofit company, under section-25 Company of the Indian Companies Act, 1956.
The NGO Partnership System (NGO-PS) is a platform of interface between Voluntary Organization (VO) / Non Governmental Organization (NGO) and key Ministries / Departments / Government Bodies. Later it is proposed to cover all Central Ministries / Departments / Government Bodies.
The key Ministries/Departments/ Government Bodies in the first phase are
- M/o Culture
- M/o Health & Family Welfare
- M/o Social Justice & Empowerment
- M/o Tribal Affairs, M/o Women & Child Development
- D/o Higher Education
- D/o School Education & Literacy
- Council for Advancement of People's Action and Rural Technology (CAPART)
- National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO)
- Central Social Welfare Board (CSWB)
This is a free facility offered by the Planning Commission in association with the National Informatics Centre to bring about a greater partnership between the government & voluntary sector and foster better transparency, efficiency and accountability.
South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP) : An informal network of individuals and groups concerned with issues related to dams,rivers and other related topics
- Address: 86-D, AD Block, Shalimar Bagh, Delhi 110088
- Phone: 91-11-27484654
India WASH Forum : Operates as a voluntary coalition for advocacy in the WASH sector, also engaged with the operationalisation of the Global Sanitation Fund in India
- Address: K-U, 6 Pitampura, Delhi 110034
- Phone: 91-9711178181
The Energy Research Institute (TERI) : Works in collaboration with several NGOs across India, on issues of sustainable development including water resources
- Address: Darbari Seth Block, IHC Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110003
- Phone: 91-11-24682100
- E mail: mailbox@teri.res.in
Centre for Science and Environment: A public interest research and advocacy organisation
- Address:41, Tughlakabad Institutional Area, New Delhi 110062
- Phone: 91-11-29955124
- E mail: cse@cseindia.org https://www.cseindia.org/
World Wide Fund for Nature : A conservation organization dedicated to building a healthy living planet for future generations
- Address: 172 B, Lodhi Estate, New Delhi 110003
- Phone:91-11-41504815
- E mail: rmishra@wwfindia.net
WaterAid India : Works with networks of women SHGs and NGOs to develop successful models for successful sanitation coverage, mostly for women and girls
- Address: 403,CNI Bhawan, 16,Pandit Pant Marg, Connaught Place, Delhi - 110001
- Phone: +(91)-11-46084400
- E mail:wai@wateraid.org
Action for Food Production (AFP): Supports community-based groundwater management practices, including integrated watershed development programmes
- Address:25/1-A Pankha Road, D-Block, Janakpuri, New Delhi 110058
- Phone:91-11-28525452
- E mail: afprodel@afpro.org
Himalaya Seva Sangh (HSS):Works in the field of water conservation
- Address:15, Rajghat Colony, Gandhi Smarak Nidhi Complex, New Delhi-110002
- Phone: 011 – 23319685
- E mail: manojhss@gmail.com
Society for Natural Resource Management and Community Development: NGO working on issues of soil and water conservation and forestry
- Address: C-30, Divine Park View Apartment, Abhaykhand-III, Indirapuram, Ghaziabad
- Phone:91-120-4160161
- E mail: snrmcd@gmail.com
FORCE (Forum for Organised Resource Conservation and Enhancement):
To create awareness about natural resources– their use, misuse, current status and future scenario and to ensure adoption of measures to prevent their depletion.
- Address:
C-8/8035, Vasant Kunj, Delhi - 110070 - Phone: +91-11-26893502,46018754
- E mail: jyoti@force.org.in
Nav Bharat Jagriti Kendra: Aims at facilitating a just and egalitarian society through an integrated development approach, with special emphasis on the most vulnerable and disadvantaged sections of society
- Address: At-Bahera, PO-Brindavan, Via-Chouparan, District-Hazaribag
- Phone: 9431140508, 9431141147, 9835208925
- E mail: satishgirija@gmail.com. nbjkco@gmail.com, anand.nbjk@gmail.com
Rashtriya Jal Biradari: A network set up in 1990, it comprises of grassroots workers involved in water conservation and NGOs from all over India
- Address:Tarun Ashram, Bheekampura Kishori, Thanagazi, Alwar, Rajasthan
- Phone: 91-1465-225043
- E mail: rajendra@tarunbharatsangh.org
Samvedna : A Society For Global Concerns
- Address: 60,Nayagaon Housing Society, Jabalpur
- Phone: 91-9424955700
- E mail: chitra.shrivastav@gmail.com
Dhas Gramin Vikas: Engaged in mobilisation of rights and community development.
- Address: 74, Krishnodayanagar, Khandwanaka, Indore 452001, Madhya Pradesh
- Phone: 91-94259-43023
- E mail:aarohini@rediffmail.com
SAMARTHAN: Strives to address the challenges of poverty and underdevelopment through strengthening grassroots civil society groups.
- Address:36, Green Avenue, Chuna Bhatti, Kolar Road,Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
- Phone: 91-755-2467625,91-9893563713
- E mail:info@samarthan.org
Manthan Adhyayan Kendra : A centre to monitor, analyse and research water and energy related issues
- Address: Dusshera Maidan Road,
Barwani (MP) India - 451551 - Phone: +91 - 7290 - 222857
- E mail: manthan.kendra@gmail.com
Andhra Pradesh Farmer Managed Groundwater System (APFAMGS): A network with NGOs and farmers for implementing demand-side groundwater management concepts
- Address:Block No. A-2(c), First Floor, Huda Commercial Complex, Tarnaka Hyderabad 500007
- Phone: 91-40-27014730
- E mail:info@apfamgs.org
SaciWATERs-CapNet Network (SCaN): A platform for partnership towards capacity building in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) across the South Asian region
- Address: B- 87, 3rd Avenue, Sainikpuri, Secunderabad - 500 094, Andhra Pradesh
- Phone: +91 40 27116721
- e mail: scan@saciwaters.org
Administrative Staff College of India: The college for practicing managers that pioneered post-experience management education in India, has conducted projects on water management
- Address: Bella Vista, Raj Bhavan Road, Khairatabad, Hyderabad 500082
- Phone:91-40-66533000
- E mail: skrao@asci.org.in
Rural Reconstruction and Development Society (RRDS): Works on issues of urban slum sanitation, and migration in the state of Andhra Pradesh
- Address: Maruthinagar, Nellaturu (V) & (P), Gudur Mandal - 524103, Nellore District, Andhra Pradesh
- Phone:91-8624-222589
- E mail: rrds111@gmail.com
Chand Minority Welfare Association: Engaged in water related projects in north-eastern parts of Andhra Pradesh with a focus on the rural sector
- Address: H.No.41-419A, Kotha Peta, Kurnool 518001, Andhra Pradesh
- Phone:91-9441612957
- E mail:cmwa_association@yahoo.com Is
Rural Economic and Educational Development Society (REEDS): Works on water systems both in villages and urban municipalities in Andhra Pradesh
- Address: 27-99, Gandhinagar, Yellamanchili 531055, Dt. Visakhapatnam
- Phone:91-40-23397141,09441612957
- E mail: 1 inforeeds@gmail.com
Freshwater Action Network South Asia (FANSA)
:
Works to improve water policy and practice by strengthening local voices in decision-making- Address: C/o. Modern Architects for Rural India (MARI),
H.No.2-127/4, Plot No.4, East Kalyanpuri Uppal,
Hyderabad-500 039 (AP) - Phone: 977-9851097910
- E mail: mailto:convenor@fansasia.net
Visakha Jilla Nava Nirmana Samithi (VJNNS): To develop holistic perspective on sustainable development of human beings’ living conditions by designing mechanisms those are self-manageable by the communities.
- Address: Radha Krishna Mission, Ist Lane , Sarada Nagar, Narasipatnam, Visakha Patnam Dist. 531 116
- Phone: (O) 08932 225285 (R) 08932 225785
- E mail: raghu@vjnns.org, karthik@vjnns.org
The Timbaktu Collective: Work with small holder farmers and agricultural labourer families in an area most affected by chronic drought, land, forest and water degradation, unemployment and poor infrastructural facilities.
- Address: Timbaktu Collective, Chennekothapalli Village, Anantapur District, Andhra Pradesh 515101
- Phone: +91-(0)8559-240149,240335,240339
- E mail: info@timbaktu.org
PRAVAH: A network which advocates for people-centered decentralized inclusive systems in drinking water and sanitation
- Address: 27/B, Green Park, Society, Near Kabadi Market, Behrampura, Ahmedabad 380022, Gujarat
- Phone:91-79-25351943
- E mail: amee.mankad@gmail.com
Arid Communities and Technologies : Has created a database on geohydrological characteristics of the Kutch area including thematic mapping e.g. geology, geomorphology, watershed, landuse, etc.
- Address:26, Banker's Colony, Near Jubilee Ground, Bhuj-Kachchh 651531
- Phone:91-9979850931
- E mail:act.pgwm@gmail.com
Lokvikas: A community-based volunteer organisation working towards conservation of groundwater resources
- Address: Saket House, 1, Panchsheel Society, Usmanpura, Ahmedabad 380013
- Phone: 91-79-7551931
- E mail: teamleader@lokvikas.org
Environmental Sanitation Institute (ESI): Strives to provide a better quality of life to rural peoples and the urban poor of India by improving their sanitation situation
- Address: Gandhi Ashram,Ashram Road, Ahmedabad - 390027
- Phone: 91-079-27557702, 27556247
- E mail: esi.sughad@gmail.com
Biome Environmental Solutions: Their major groundwater related works are primarily to do with groundwater recharge and assessment
- Address: 1022, 6th Block, 1st Floor, HMT Layout, Vidyaranyapura Main Road, Vidyaranyapura, Bangalore 560097, Karnataka
- Phone: 91-80-41672790
- E mail:contact@biome-solutions.com
Arghyam : Supports the India Water Portal and the Forum for Policy Dialogue on Water Conflicts, both of which are networks working on water and sanitation
- Address: Number 599, 12th Main, HAL 2nd Stage, Indiranagar, Bangalore 560008, Karnataka
- Phone: 91-80-41698941
- E mail: info@arghyam.org http://www.arghyam.org/ASHWAS
Parishudh Initiative: An initiative towards increasing sanitation levels
- Address: C/o KBBS Community College, Aiwan E Shahi Road,Gulbarga 585102
- E mail: parisudh.in@gmail.com
Consortium for DEWATS Dissemination (CDD): A network organisation which looks to collaborations and networking for meeting the Millennium Development Goals
- Address:621, 5th Main Road, OMBR Layout, Banaswadi Post, Bangalore 560043,
- Phone: Karnataka 91-80-25452804
- E mail:bangalore@cddindia.org
Peer Water Exchange : Is a combination of process, technology, and a human network designed to India's water and sanitation issues
- Adress: 163, Laughing Waters, Varthur Road, Ramagondanahalli, Bangalore 560066
- Phone:1-510-3384538
- E mail: info@blueplanetnetwork.org
Society for Natural Resource Management and Community Development: NGO working on issues of soil and water conservation and forestry
- Address: C-30, Divine Park View Apartment, Abhaykhand-III, Indirapuram, Ghaziabad
- Phone:91-120-4160161
- E mail: snrmcd@gmail.com
Pan Himalayan Grassroots Development Foundation: Has been involved with the restoration of river basin hydrology for two decades in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh
- Address: Post Bag # 3, Ranikhet 263645, Almora District, Uttarakhand
- Phone: 91-5966-221516, 240430
- E mail: kpaul@grassrootsindia.com
Well & Water Works : Has been working on groundwater issues in urban India since 1985 with its main area of operation being Pune and its surroundings
- Address:1088 A, B1-2, Amritwel Society, Hare Krishna Mandir Path Model Colony, Pune 411016
- Phone: 91-20-25652486
- E mail:contactus@wellwaterworks.com
Forum for Policy Dialogue on Water Conflicts: It is a platform to bring together all those interested in working on issues related to water conflicts in India into a loose network for action and interaction
- Address: 16, Kale Park, Someshwarwadi Road, Pashan, Pune 411008
- Phone: 91-020-25880786
- E mail: waterconflictforum@gmail.com
Society for Promoting Participative Ecosystem Management (SOPPECOM): It functions as the secretariat of the Forum for Policy Dialogue on Water Conflicts in India
- Address: 16, Kale Park, Someshwarwadi Road, Pashan, Pune 411008
- Phone: 91-020-25880786
- E mail:soppecom@gmail.com
World Vision India: WASH is an important component of their approach
- Address: #64, Raja Basanta Roy Rd, 2nd Floor, Southern Avenue/Rashbehari Jn, (Opp. Southern Avenue Allahabad Bank Building/Metro Stn: Kalighat), Kolkata 29
- Phone: 91-33-24197245/6/7/8
- E mail: mahesh_nathan@wvi.org
Aaranyak :Documenting different types of water conflicts in the North East in collaboration with the Forum for Policy Dialogue on Water Conflicts in India
- Address: 50, Samanwoy Path, Survey, P.O. - Beltola, Guwahati 781028, Assam
- Phone:91-361-2230250
- E mail:info@aaranyak.org
Water Initiatives Odisha (WIO): An informal network of civil society, media, researchers and farmers working on issues of water, environment and climate change
- Address:R-3/A-4, J. M. Colony, Budharaja, Sambalpur 768004 Orissa
- Phone: 91-919437050103
- E mail: ranjanpanda@gmail.com
Udyama : Works with various CSOs and networks on issues of water and sanitation, particularly community water resource development
- Address: Plot No. HIG - 283, K-5 Kalinga Vihar, Post. Patrapada Bhubaneswar 751019, Orissa
- Phone: 91-674-2475656
- E mail: udyamapradeep@gmail.com
Gram Vikas: Promote processes which are sustainable, socially inclusive and gender equitable to enable critical masses of poor and marginalized rural people or communities to achieve a dignified quality of life.
- Address: Gram Vikas, Mohuda, Berhampur-760002,Orissa
- Phone: 91-680-2261866 to 2261869
- E mail:info@gramvikas.org
Centre for Environment and Development (CED): A network of nearly 300 organisations working as part of the National Environmental Awareness Campaign of MoEnvironment and Forest, Government of India
- Address:Thozhuvancode, Vattiyoorkavu P.O Thiruvananthapuram 695013
- Phone: 91-471-2369720
- E mail: director@cedindia.org
Gramalaya: A voluntary organisation working for water & sanitation
- Address: C-62 B, 10th cross,Further West extension, Near water tank,Thillainagar, Tiruchirapalli - 620 018,Tamilnadu
- Phone: 91-431-4021563, 2740263
- E mail:sdamodaran63@gmail.com, gramalaya@hotmail.com
SCOPE: Works in the field of sanitation
- Address: 40, Ramalinga Nagar West Extension Part II, Woraiyur,Trichy - 620 003
- Phone: 0431-2774144, 9443167190
- E-mail: scopeagency1986@rediffmail.com, scopeagency1986@gmail.com
Development of Humane Action (DHAN) Foundation: Building people and institutions for development innovations and scaling up to enable the poor communities for poverty reduction and self-reliance
- Address: Kennet Cross Road,Near Seventh Day School
1A, Vaidyanathapuram East Madurai 625 016, Tamil Nadu, INDIA - Phone: +91-452-2610794, 2610805
- E mail: dhanfoundation@dhan.org
EcoPro: contribute to an ecologically sound management of natural resources, primarily of water and soil.
- Address: Aurosarjan Complex, Auroshilpam, Auroville – 605101
- Phone: 0413-2622469 and -2906482
- E-mail: ep_office@auroville.org.in and ecopro@auroville.org.in
Leadership through Education and Action Foundation( LEAF Society): Strives to create equal opportunities for the marginalized and vulnerable communities
- Address: 0/134, Trichy Main Road, Periyaveppanatham Village,
Vasnathapuram Post, Namakkal, Tamilnadu, India. - Phone: 00-91-4286-230010
- E mail: leafsociety@gmail.com
Gandhigram Trust : Enhancement of socio-economic status of village community through interventions in Health, Education, Social welfare, Livelihood and Extension services
- Address: Gandhigram Trust, Gandhigram, Dindigul – 624302,Tamilnadu
- Phone: 0451-2452326
- E mail: ggmtrust@sify.com
Scientific Educational Development for Community Organisation (SEDCO): Involved in Watershed development programs, a platform for the organization and empowerment of the voice less marginalized people
- Address: 66, Chidambaranathan Street, Ramavarmapuram Nagercoil – 629 001
- Phone: 04652 – 229199
- E mail: sedcogeorge@yahoo.co.in
Megh Pyne Abhiyan: A campaign involving people around the issue of water and sanitation, and a functional network of grassroots organizations
- Address:A-702, Abhiyant, CGHS, Vasundhra Enclave, Delhi 110009
- Phone:9810307445
- Email: graminunatti@gmail.com
Sehgal Foundation: a public charitable trust working to strengthen community-led development initiatives to achieve positive social, economic, and environmental change across rural India.
- Address: Plot No. 34, Sector 44, Institutional Area, Gurgaon 122003, Haryana
- Phone: +91 124 474 4109
- Fax : 91-124-4744123
- Email : smsf@smsfoundation.org
It includes development banks, multilateral and bilateral organizations and support NGOs in the cause of water conservation
- Asian Development Bank (ADB): It promotes stakeholders participation in the management of water resources at all levels & encourages partnerships between governments, private agencies, NGOs, and communities
- Australian Aid Agency (AUSAID): Delivers aid to India in the sector including water and environmental sanitation
- Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA): Supports policy reform and investment by stimulating bilateral relationships which include private sector, NGO and institutional linkages, and government-to-government co-operation
- Danish International Development Agency(DANIDA): A key area for assistance is water and sanitation, with focus on ground water based rural water supply systems
- Delegation of European Commission: Supports programmes for rural and natural resources development including integrated watershed management
- Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA): Has introduced a NGO related schemes called JICA Partnership Program which aims to encourage a joint effort of the Indian and Japanese NGOs for better services, facilities and welfare to achieve a sustainable livelihood of the communities in India
- German Development Bank (KfW) : Focuses on contributing towards improving living conditions and combating poverty
- German Development Cooperation (GTZ): Provides technical and financial assistance for protection and sustainability of natural resources including watershed protection
- Department for International Development (DfID): One of the priority areas is promoting increased investment in clean water
- Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC): Supports economic infrastructure development, poverty reduction and environmental improvement and protection in India
- Royal Netherlands Embassy: Priority areas include water and sanitation with focus on few states – AP, Kerala and Gujarat
- Swedish Development Cooperation (SIDA): Works with various organizations including NGOs and multilaterals, and focuses on environment and poverty issues especially lack of clean water in select states
- Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC): Promotes human and institutional development and one of the focus areas is sustainable management of water
- United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) : Supports developing and implementing a range of replicable models for water and sanitation sector
- US Agency for International Development (USAID): One of the key focuses is the link between dependable electricity supply and water conservation
- The World Bank: Partners with various organizations to reduce poverty and improve living standards, and among the focus areas is infrastructure development which includes water and sanitation sector
- Aga Khan Foundation (AKF): Involved with rural development programmes in India & majority of its projects are grants to grassroots organisations interested in testing innovative approaches in a variety of settings
- Ford Foundation: Focuses on rural development in India, including assisting efforts to improve the management of both large-and small-scale irrigation facilities using pumped groundwater
- Small Grants Programme of the Global Environment Facility (SGP-GEF): Provides grants to NGOs, CBOs and other for projects that benefit the global environment and promote sustainable livelihoods in local communities, including water conservation projects
- WaterAid : An international charity working on issues related to water and sanitation that also promotes networks among government, NGOs and community groups
- International Water Management Institute (IWMI) : An international organization, which works on different water related issues and through its IWMI-Tata policy program, it collaborates with a range of partners in India to analyze and document relevant water-management approaches
- Action for Food Production (AFPRO) : A socio-technical development NGO working to reduce rural poverty in India, with core competencies in land and water management among others. It provides technical guidance and back-up support to grassroots-level NGOs in implementing its mandate related projects
References
IWP requests users to view the same as a starting point in collating information on this topic, and to add more suggestions, information as responses in this thread.
Lead image source: Sourabh Phadke