From June 16-20, 2025, representatives from Tata Trusts and SeSTA visited grassroots organisations across Assam, Meghalaya, and Nagaland, engaging with over 20 CSOs to understand on-ground challenges, identify collaboration opportunities, and recognise the impact of local initiatives.
These field visits were followed by a meeting on June 21 in Guwahati with members of North East Together (NET), NoDe, SELCO Foundation, and SeSTA. The discussion focused on strengthening organisational development and building long-term support systems for non-profits in the region. A parallel dialogue with Tata Trusts centered on organisational development support, capacity-building, and leadership transitions. A key outcome was the agreement to evolve NET into a registered entity to drive long-term impact in Northeast India.
On June 4, 2025, a hybrid session was held with Mr. Sudhir Sahni, Director (Partnerships) at PRADAN and Strategic Consultant for SeSTA, who interacted with NoDe CSOs to discuss development and donor challenges in Northeast India. During the session, CSOs highlighted issues such as limited donor outreach, strict eligibility criteria, and compliance hurdles that make access to resources difficult.
Mr. Sahni emphasised the importance of clear communication to showcase impact, building strong CSO networks, and incorporating research and impact assessments into proposals. He also highlighted the role of data-driven storytelling and recommended making research an integral part of program design. The session further underscored the need for partnership-based models and stronger collaboration with government institutions to address regional challenges, such as land rights, and to ensure long-term development outcomes.
On June 4, 2025, representatives from 19 civil society organisations joined a follow-up call to discuss donor outreach after two Mumbai events held in May: The Northeast Edit and Event in Collaboration with The Levers. Several organisations reported initial contact with donors, though responses were limited.
Key challenges included Proposal Development, Identifying aligned Funding Opportunities, particularly for Livelihoods, and Delays in Follow-ups. Support provided included Flexibility around Proposal Timelines, Access to a Legal Helpdesk, and exploration of a multi-year organisational development program for selected CSOs.
Participants also suggested ways to strengthen collaboration and capacity-building, including support with planning, training, and policy development, more regular in-person meetings, and closer networking across all participating organisations to build a connected and supported community. Upcoming activities included a partners’ meeting in June and a brainstorming session planned for later in the year.
On May 5, 2025, The LEVERS, in collaboration with NoDe, SeSTA, hosted a networking event in Mumbai to connect CSOs from Northeast India with High-net-worth Individuals, CSR representatives, and Philanthropists.
The event featured a panel discussion on the region’s development and the crucial role of CSOs, followed by roundtable talks on livelihoods, health, education, youth empowerment, and gender. Highlights included the launch of a coffee table book “Beacons of Hope” showcasing CSO best practices and an exhibition of Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) products from the Northeast states. The gathering provided a platform for meaningful dialogue, partnership-building, and exploring future collaborations to strengthen development efforts across the region.
In November 2024, NoDe set out to map CSOs working across Northeast India. A team of development sector experts joined the effort, traveling to field locations to engage closely with local organisations. Over a period of three months, the team documented 64 CSO profiles and captured examples of good practices, with 45 organisations ultimately featured in a curated repository titled “Beacons of Hope.”
This initiative led to The Northeast Edit, an event held on May 5, 2025, in Mumbai, organised by Axis Bank Foundation (ABF) in collaboration with North East Together (NET). The event brought together 20 CSOs from the Northeast alongside over 50 participants, including Trustees, Donors, CSR representatives, and Philanthropists. It served as a platform for panel discussions, one-on-one conversations, interactive dialogues, and visual showcases, all aimed at exploring development opportunities in the Northeast and nurturing partnerships for long-term impact.
NoDe officially launched its first research product, “Impacts of Climate Change on Rural Communities in Assam and Manipur,” during the NE RCRC Northeast Meet held on August 21 and 22, 2024 in Guwahati, Assam. This study marks the beginning of NoDe’s broader initiative to generate community-led research on sustainable livelihoods, climate adaptation, grassroots governance, and gender justice.
The research began with literature reviews and field visits in Darrang and Goalpara, which helped identify key themes, with climate research as the primary focus. Five NoDe partner organisations are leading data collection across Barpeta, Baksa, and Kokrajhar in Assam, and Bishnupur and Noney in Manipur. Partners have been trained in data collection protocols, using tools such as Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), and Kobo-based surveys.
Fieldwork commenced in mid-June, with active participation from partners and successful visits to multiple locations. The findings will inform Blogs, Videos, and other Digital Content, as well as Workshops for Policymakers, CSOs, and Donors, promoting knowledge sharing and best practices across the region.
NoDe was officially launched on February 24 and 25, 2024, at Don Bosco Institute of Management, Guwahati.
The first day of the event featured the symbolic unveiling of the Tree of Organisation Development along with presentations by SeSTA and Axis Bank Foundation (ABF).
The first cohort of NoDe, comprising 13 civil society organisations (CSOs), was introduced. A panel discussion on building strong organisations was also held, followed by a comprehensive Need Assessment Study where the 13 CSOs were engaged through a detailed questionnaire covering Governance, Finance, Strategy, and Communication.
On the second day, each CSO presented its findings from the study, leading to the creation of action plans tailored to their specific needs.
Key outcomes of the launch event included:
