We act as a sub-continent think tank for safely-managed services and the systems approach, serving India, its States and surrounding Nations.
IRC in India at a glance The IRC team in South Asia is led by Ingeborg Krukkert. The team in India by country coordinator Ruchika Shiva.
2 staff in India
1 staff in Bangladesh
1 staff in The Netherlands
8 projects
5 donors
22 partners, collaborations or working groups
€ 120 thousand invested (2021)
$ 6,504 Gross Domestic Product per capita PPP
#131 Human Development Index ranking
1,413 m3 Renewable water resource per capita
Chatrapur block in Ganjam district
“Panchayati Raj Institutions (rural local governments) play an important role in ensuring water, sanitation, and hygiene services, more so after the 15th Finance Commission guidelines (that recommend 60% of the rural local government funds to be spent on water and sanitation supply). It is, therefore, crucial that their capacities are developed to strengthen WASH systems.”
"The knowledge on local level planning and budgets has improved my capacity to engage better with the community.
“Finance is one of the basic building blocks of the WASH system. Adequate and effective utilisation of public finances for sustainable WASH services at all the three tiers of the government is vital.”
Trisha Agarwala, Senior Research Consultant, Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability
In India, national and state level government are committed to ensuring water and sanitation services for everyone. The national government's flagship scheme - the Schwachh Bharat Mission - is geared to deliver safe sanitation. While the Jal Jeevan Mission scheme and the Odisha state scheme are aimed at providing safe water.
IRC in India is shifting from a district-based model to a market driven approach that will be tested in India, Bangladesh and South Asia more broadly. We aim to play a role as a sub-continent think tank, influencing and supporting states and countries to move faster in achieving safely managed water and sanitation services through systems thinking and approaches.
We will focus on finance and institutions, planning and monitoring, gender and build alliances with sectors beyond water and sanitation, including those organising around young people, women, climate, health and education.
