About the Nation Builders Series by The Logical Indian
The Nation Builders series by The Logical Indian is dedicated to spotlighting visionary organizations and trailblazing individuals whose innovative initiatives drive sustainable socio-economic growth across India. This esteemed series delves deep into the strategies, impacts, and inspirational stories that shape the nation’s development landscape. In this edition, we honor The/Nudge Institute, a transformative entity committed to eradicating poverty and fostering inclusive growth through education, livelihoods, and social innovation. By showcasing The/Nudge Institute’s multifaceted approach, the series aims to inspire replicable models and galvanize collective action towards a more equitable and prosperous India.
About The/Nudge Institute
Founded in 2015 by Atul Satija, The/Nudge is an action institute working towards a poverty-free India, within our lifetime. It partners with governments, markets, and civil society to build resilient livelihoods for all through grassroots engagement and systemic interventions to enable sustainable and scalable impact.
The institute works with women, farmers, tribals, and youth on rural development, agriculture, skilling and economic inclusion, along with 15+ central and state government partners. It has been set up with support from 100+ eminent philanthropists, 40+ corporates and 15+ foundations.
The/Nudge Institute’s Contribution to Nation-Building
The/Nudge Institute’s holistic approach to nation-building ensures that every initiative not only addresses immediate needs but also contributes to long-term sustainability. By focusing on creating sustainable livelihoods, enhancing employability, and driving impactful social entrepreneurship, The/Nudge Institute fosters an ecosystem where communities can thrive independently. Their strategic partnerships with government bodies, the private sector, and civil society organizations amplify their reach and effectiveness, aligning closely with India’s broader development goals.
Details of Key Programs and Impact
1. Economic Inclusion Program – Building Resilient Livelihoods
Focus: Enabling the most excluded households to take advantage of economic opportunities and thrive
Details: Based on the globally recognized ‘graduation model of poverty alleviation’, this program combines consumption grants, productive asset transfers, and financial literacy training to help families escape extreme poverty. Participants receive tailored support over 36 months. Supporting the National Rural Livelihood Mission and State/UT Rural Livelihood Missions that already do intensive work in this space, the institute focuses on enabling economic inclusion for the most vulnerable, particularly to help marginalized households and women build the capacity and confidence to take advantage of the economic opportunities already existing through government welfare schemes. It also supports them with livelihood planning, grants, consumption support, coaching, and more to help them find sustainable and diversified livelihoods, become food secure, and beyond.
Impact: The/Nudge Institute is already supporting central and state governments for economic inclusion of over 3.5 lakh households across 8 states.
Region: Jharkhand, Tripura, Assam, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Gujarat, Karnataka
2. Asha Kiran Program – Revitalizing Rural Livelihoods
Focus: Enabling sustainable livelihoods for women
Details: This initiative collaborates with the UP State Rural Livelihood Mission to promote backyard poultry and goatery as sustainable and supplementary sources of income for women.
Impact: Reached 40,000 families across ten districts in Uttar Pradesh so far
Region: Uttar Pradesh
3. The/Nudge Prize – Scaling Social Innovation
Focus: Advancing social entrepreneurship solutions.
Details: Supported by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser and partners, The/Nudge Prize is a series of grand challenges designed to inspire social entrepreneurship solutions for some of the most pressing yet underrepresented issues crucial to the nation’s progress. Each challenge and problem statement addresses a unique focus area. So far, there have been four challenges spanning areas such as agriculture, water, and digital microwork opportunities for women. Once a cohort is selected from the applicant pool, they kickstart a 20-month journey to develop and test their idea, during which they access support from investors, research, and implementation partners, advisors, academia, and policymakers.
Impact: Completed 4 grand challenges (including one in the finalist stage currently and another, with Mphasis, recently launched)
Region: Nationwide
4. Social Entrepreneurship – Empowering Problem Solvers
Focus: Catalysing early-stage social entrepreneurs working on some of the most challenging problems faced in the livelihood sector & accelerating livelihood-focused non-profits.
Details: Creating a thriving livelihoods ecosystem and addressing barriers and bottlenecks to unlock the systems’ potential for large-scale transformations
The/Nudge incubator was started in 2017 to make the nonprofit sector aspirational and welcoming for committed and capable entrepreneurs, and to provide the early-stage support needed to build high-scale, high-impact nonprofits. The/Nudge Accelerator, started in 2019, nurtures growth-stage nonprofit founders to achieve impact at scale.
Impact: Supported over 200 social entrepreneurs over five years.
Region: Nationwide
5. Indian Administrative Fellowship
Focus: Shaping the nation and careers through technology-led innovation of public systems
Details: The IAF program connects socially conscious, tech-savvy leaders from the corporate sector with visionary civil servants and bureaucrats at central & state levels in a rigorous 18-month program. Through this collaboration, these groups can collectively work on solving pressing challenges facing India’s underserved communities and create sustained impact.
Impact: The IAF program has been run successfully with several state and central governments.
Region: Nationwide, including Karnataka, Jharkhand, Punjab, and central ministry
Annual CSR Spend and Allocation
The Nudge Institute’s funding mix is 60 per cent CSR, 30 per cent Foundations, and 10 per cent philanthropy.
Overview of ESG Initiatives and Impact
The/Nudge Institute integrates Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into its core mission of eradicating poverty within a generation. Its ESG framework ensures that all programs are designed to create sustainable impact while promoting equity, inclusivity, and ethical governance.
1. Environmental Commitments: The/Nudge Institute prioritizes environmental sustainability by embedding eco-friendly practices into its initiatives. Programs like climate-resilient farming and regenerative agriculture address environmental degradation while improving rural livelihoods. Efforts to promote water conservation, renewable energy, and sustainable waste management further exemplify its dedication to ecological stewardship.
2. Social Impact: Social equity is central to The/Nudge Institute’s mission. Through programs like the Economic Inclusion Program, The/Nudge Prize, and more, the institute supports and uplifts marginalized communities with a focus on building resilient livelihoods for all.
3. Governance: The/Nudge Institute adheres to global best practices in transparency and accountability, ensuring ethical allocation of resources.
By integrating ESG principles into its operations, The/Nudge Institute demonstrates a holistic and scalable model for sustainable development, aligning closely with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including poverty alleviation (SDG 1), decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), and reduced inequalities (SDG 10).
The Logical Indian’s Perspective on The/Nudge Institute
The/Nudge Institute exemplifies the transformative power of collaboration and innovation in nation-building. From empowering rural families to enabling urban youth, their multifaceted programs reflect a deep commitment to inclusive growth. By leveraging systemic change, The/Nudge ensures every individual can achieve their aspirations.
Critical Suggestions: To enhance its impact, The/Nudge Institute could expand its footprint through regional collaborations and introduce interactive dashboards showcasing real-time progress. This transparency would deepen stakeholder trust and engagement.
Sources
- https://www.thenudge.org
- The/Nudge Institute Annual Reports (FY 23-24; FY 22-23)
- Voices from the Field: Smallholder Farmers & Climate Change (2023)
Disclaimer: This is an editorial post produced by the News Desk with no commercial involvement. Information is sourced from publicly available records and disclosures, with efforts made to ensure accuracy. For changes or collaboration inquiries, email partner@thelogicalindian.com.
