Arghyam: A praxis on regenerating a groundwater civilisation

Arghyam, which started as a funding organisation, has evolved into an influential voice in the water ecosystem. At present, it works with a network of organisations on water security solutions across the country. Through exploring Arghyam’s shifts in its strategic approach, this case study engages with the challenges of dealing with the complexity of the water sector in India and what it takes for philanthropy to sustain commitment to a singular cause.

Arghyam’s most recent pivot commenced in 2018, when it decided to focus on supporting strategic levers of scale that could significantly benefit from digital technology use. This pivot was based on its past experience but nonetheless required realignment within the organisation with new modes of engagement, enhanced operational capabilities and talent requirements. While Arghyam recognises the need for strengthening scalable solutions, organisationally it continues to remain compact and lean.

This case study shows that the most complex of problems do not necessarily demand the biggest of organisational resources: they require thoughtful and timely deployment of limited resources. This demands a level of intentionality and strategic agility that can test the mettle of any organisation, least of all a philanthropic one.

The document focuses on how Arghyam has transitioned from being a funding organisation to becoming a prominent player in the water ecosystem. Arghyam made several strategic shifts to establish itself as a prominent player in the water ecosystem:

• Focus on "small water": Arghyam chose to involve itself in water security as it related to the domestic lives of people and communities, rather than large-scale industrial or agricultural water issues. It focused specifically on nurturing groundwater rather than surface water security.
• Intelligence-gathering and partnership building: In its early years, Arghyam focused on understanding the water issues in different communities and identifying potential partners (civil society organisations) to fund. It gathered data and intelligence to assess funding proposals and engage partners where they could have the greatest impact.
• Facilitating role: Arghyam evolved from solely providing funding resources to playing a facilitating role. It brought together various actors, supported them in their solutioning efforts, and joined voices on policy with government bodies and other funders.
• Emphasis on community-based groundwater projects: Arghyam sharpened its profile by placing added emphasis on community-based groundwater projects. This further differentiated it as the only domestic philanthropic organisation focused exclusively on water.
• Adoption of a stance: Arghyam transitioned from being neutral to having a stance. It developed a strong point of view and started supporting certain types of solutions. Considerations of scale, digital technology, and community ownership and participation influenced its choices of partners and projects.
• Embracing digital technology: Arghyam embraced digital technology as a means to facilitate and embed a common-pool resource view in the management and governance of the water sector. It aimed to establish a "data commons" that would provide open-source data access to all in the sector.

These strategic shifts allowed Arghyam to establish itself as a prominent player in the water ecosystem, with a focus on groundwater management, community engagement, and leveraging technology for data-driven solutions.

Arghyam supports scalable solutions in the water sector by leveraging digital technology such as participatory digital attestation (PDA). Arghyam uses the PDA platform provided by Socion to build a "digital footprint" for work done in the water sector. This platform allows detailed records to be kept of each interaction within a particular field program, such as participants, trainers, experts, and content created. This data and content can then be accessed and reused in similar contexts, enabling scalability and knowledge sharing.

Arghyam supports the use of Composite Landscape and Restoration Tool (CLART), a Geographic Information System (GIS) tool available on the Android mobile platform. CLART helps rural communities design measures for groundwater recharge, taking into account regional hydrogeological characteristics. The platform empowers communities to plan and manage groundwater themselves, without relying solely on experts or government officials.

Arghyam is reimagining and updating the India Water Portal to make it more accessible and compatible with modern digital technologies, particularly smartphones. The portal serves as a resource for water-related information and knowledge sharing, extending its reach beyond the research community.

These digital tools and platforms enable Arghyam to achieve scale by converging efforts in the water sector, facilitating knowledge sharing, empowering communities, and promoting participatory approaches to water management.

Arghyam has tried to solve complex problems through the use of limited resources. One example is their work in implementing the Participatory Groundwater Management (PGWM) program. Through this program, Arghyam funded and supported over 500 installations in communities facing groundwater challenges. They used data, science, and community engagement to make the invisible water resources visible and help communities manage their water effectively. This intervention required extensive knowledge exchange, technical expertise, and long-term support, all of which Arghyam provided with limited resources.

Another example is Arghyam's efforts to advocate for better groundwater management and participatory approaches at the local, state, and national levels. They have influenced decision-making and promoted good practices through their advocacy work. Despite limited resources, Arghyam has been able to make an impact in the policy space and contribute to the design and implementation of government schemes aimed at improving groundwater management.

These examples demonstrate Arghyam's ability to address complex water issues and make a difference with their limited resources.

The case study is available here

Citation: Menon, S., Pandey, A., Merchant, K. (2023), Arghyam: A Praxis on Regenerating a Groundwater Civilisation. Case study. Talent Management in the Indian Social Sector. ISDM case Centre. Noida.

About the authors

Shantanu Menon is a consultant at the Indian School of Development Management (ISDM), Noida.

Aruna Pandey is the former director of the Knowledge and Research Centre (KRC), Noida.

Kushagra Merchant is a consultant at the Indian School of Development Management (ISDM), Noida.