Accelerating Leadership Development for a Sustainable and Vibrant Civil Society in India
DRIVING CHANGE | CULTIVATING LEADERS | TRANSFORMING SOCIETY
Evolution and State of the Voluntary Sector
India’s civil society has historically benefited from visionary leaders who dedicated their lives and expertise to driving social change. The progress achieved so far is a testament to their passion, insight, and resilience in tackling complex societal issues. Today, however, the sector stands at a pivotal juncture. Rapidly evolving challenges demand adaptive, capable leadership, but the emergence of a robust next generation of leaders has not kept pace. Many organizations continue to rely heavily on a small group of senior leaders, with leadership development remaining largely informal and unstructured.
Without deliberate efforts to cultivate emerging leaders, the sector risks weakening its capacity to engage communities, respond effectively, and influence policy and public discourse. Addressing this leadership gap is essential not only for organizational sustainability but for the continued vitality of India’s development sector. While leadership development is widely recognized as a strategic priority, the need of the hour is a collaborative, systemic approach, one that nurtures emerging leaders through visibility, access to resources, and meaningful professional growth opportunities.
Program at a Glance
The “Accelerating Leadership Development for a Sustainable and Vibrant Civil Society” program is a structured response to the urgent leadership challenges within India’s non-profit sector. Designed to identify, develop, and support emerging leaders, the program aims to build a robust leadership pipeline that ensures sustainability, innovation, and long-term impact across the sector. Through a combination of mentorship, peer learning, experiential training, and strategic visibility, the program creates a nurturing ecosystem where emerging leaders are equipped to step into roles of greater responsibility. It also supports organizations in institutionalizing leadership development practices that are often overlooked.
Learning Approach
The program is delivered in a thoughtfully designed hybrid format, balancing the flexibility of online engagement with the richness of in-person connection. Participants engage through live discussions, immersive sessions, field-based exposure, and curated peer learning circles. This format ensures that insights are exchanged and grounded in lived experience, shared leadership challenges, and real-time reflection.
Through expert-led sessions, interactive webinars, and peer collaboration, participants explore global best practices contextualized for the Indian civil society landscape. Case studies and practical examples help bridge the gap between theory and real-world application. A key strength of the program is the opportunity to learn directly from diverse and experienced sector leaders.
This intensive 9-month leadership journey equips emerging leaders with essential skills, mindset, and tools to excel in their careers and make a meaningful impact. Through a unique blend of mentorship and masterclass learning, the program provides a holistic approach to leadership development, focusing on both technical expertise and personal growth.
For complete program details, please click on the brochure before applying.
“Leaders are not born, they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work.”
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
