Collaborate
III. Mobilising resources and building collaborations for the development of northeast
In a region as diverse and complex as Northeast India, collaboration among civil society organisations is not just valuable, it is essential. Geographic isolation, socio-political diversity and limited access to resources continue to challenge grassroots organisations working to support vulnerable communities. In this context, Roots to Branches Foundation remains committed to strengthening networks, promoting dialogue, and building partnerships that can amplify impact and support long-term resilience.
Charcha Café
Beyond formal networks, RBF is invested in fostering open and inclusive dialogue spaces. One such space is the Charcha Café. The last Charcha Cafe event was held on 26 July 2024 at Agora the Space in Guwahati. The evening brought together more than 80 participants from various civil society organisations to celebrate the spirit of volunteerism. It served as an opportunity to connect informally, share stories, and recognise the everyday efforts of those working in the field.
State Level CSO Consultation Meets
Through state-level consultations with civil society organisations across the northeast, RBF creates a platform to reflect on the challenges of sustaining nonprofit work in the region, and to explore pathways for collaboration and mutual support. These consultations build a shared space to understand emerging issues and connect organisations working across the northeastern states.
In 2024, R2B facilitated two state consultations, in Mizoram and Nagaland. In 2025–26, this work deepened, with consultations in Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura bringing together over 130 civil society organisations from across the region. Each consultation was co-organised with local partners who bring deep knowledge of their state's civil society landscape, and supported by the Institutional Strengthening of Roots to Branches Foundation grant under Sir Ratan Tata Trust.
Change can never happen in silos. Thus, this series of consultations in NE India aims to form a web of connections between different stakeholders in the voluntary sector.
Networks
As an active member of various coalitions, RBF continues to engage meaningfully with platforms that support coordination, shared learning and joint action. RBF is a long-standing member of the Inter Agency Group (IAG), Assam, a humanitarian network formed in 2004 to guide coordinated emergency responses and promote the adoption of Sphere Standards across member organisations. Enakshi, a RBF Director currently serves as Chairperson of IAG.
RBF is also a member of the Alliance of Feminist Collectives, Assam, which brings together organisations and individuals advocating for gender equity and feminist approaches to development in the state.
Consultancy & collaboration
Through an initiative centred on child-centric disaster risk reduction (DRR) and shock-responsive social protection in flood-prone Assam, RBF is strengthening flood preparedness at the grassroots level. This work is implemented in close collaboration with the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) and IAG Assam, with support from UNICEF India.
Community-level orientation and feedback sessions on multi-hazard early warning systems were conducted across five districts in Assam — Darrang, Dhemaji, Chirang, Jorhat, and Goalpara; with findings consolidated into a state-level report presented to ASDMA. In collaboration with government officials, DDMAs, line departments, civil society, and academia from each district, RBF also prepared an annual action plan for ASDMA.
A parallel effort extended Panchayat-level Community Facilitation and Resource Centres (CFRCs) — a model piloted in Cachar — to Darrang and Dhemaji. Standard Operating Procedures for CFRCs were officially notified across 20 Gram Panchayats, bringing community-level disaster response hubs into local governance structures.
This initiative aims to bring about a significant shift in how disaster resilience is built at the grassroots level — by making early warning systems inclusive and people-centred, giving communities a structured voice through a standardised feedback mechanism, and bringing disaster management and social protection together under one roof through Panchayat-level CFRCs.
Beyond this, RBF also collaborates and provides consultancy services on need to other Civil Society Organisations on various training workshops, research studies, and resource-building initiatives. In 2024-25 we collaborated with organisations such as the ant, National Foundation for India, Rural Voice Collective, Mobility India, and Jeevan Shiksha on some such initiatives.
Charcha Café
Beyond formal networks, RBF is invested in fostering open and inclusive dialogue spaces. One such space is the Charcha Café. The last Charcha Cafe event was held on 26 July 2024 at Agora the Space in Guwahati. The evening brought together more than 80 participants from various civil society organisations to celebrate the spirit of volunteerism. It served as an opportunity to connect informally, share stories, and recognise the everyday efforts of those working in the field.
State Level CSO Consultation Meets
Through state-level consultations with civil society organisations across the northeast, RBF creates a platform to reflect on the challenges of sustaining nonprofit work in the region, and to explore pathways for collaboration and mutual support. These consultations build a shared space to understand emerging issues and connect organisations working across the northeastern states.
In 2024, R2B facilitated two state consultations, in Mizoram and Nagaland. In 2025–26, this work deepened, with consultations in Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura bringing together over 130 civil society organisations from across the region. Each consultation was co-organised with local partners who bring deep knowledge of their state's civil society landscape, and supported by the Institutional Strengthening of Roots to Branches Foundation grant under Sir Ratan Tata Trust.
Change can never happen in silos. Thus, this series of consultations in NE India aims to form a web of connections between different stakeholders in the voluntary sector.
Networks
As an active member of various coalitions, RBF continues to engage meaningfully with platforms that support coordination, shared learning and joint action. RBF is a long-standing member of the Inter Agency Group (IAG), Assam, a humanitarian network formed in 2004 to guide coordinated emergency responses and promote the adoption of Sphere Standards across member organisations. Enakshi, a RBF Director currently serves as Chairperson of IAG.
RBF is also a member of the Alliance of Feminist Collectives, Assam, which brings together organisations and individuals advocating for gender equity and feminist approaches to development in the state.
Consultancy & collaboration
Through an initiative centred on child-centric disaster risk reduction (DRR) and shock-responsive social protection in flood-prone Assam, RBF is strengthening flood preparedness at the grassroots level. This work is implemented in close collaboration with the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) and IAG Assam, with support from UNICEF India.
Community-level orientation and feedback sessions on multi-hazard early warning systems were conducted across five districts in Assam — Darrang, Dhemaji, Chirang, Jorhat, and Goalpara; with findings consolidated into a state-level report presented to ASDMA. In collaboration with government officials, DDMAs, line departments, civil society, and academia from each district, RBF also prepared an annual action plan for ASDMA.
A parallel effort extended Panchayat-level Community Facilitation and Resource Centres (CFRCs) — a model piloted in Cachar — to Darrang and Dhemaji. Standard Operating Procedures for CFRCs were officially notified across 20 Gram Panchayats, bringing community-level disaster response hubs into local governance structures.
This initiative aims to bring about a significant shift in how disaster resilience is built at the grassroots level — by making early warning systems inclusive and people-centred, giving communities a structured voice through a standardised feedback mechanism, and bringing disaster management and social protection together under one roof through Panchayat-level CFRCs.
Beyond this, RBF also collaborates and provides consultancy services on need to other Civil Society Organisations on various training workshops, research studies, and resource-building initiatives. In 2024-25 we collaborated with organisations such as the ant, National Foundation for India, Rural Voice Collective, Mobility India, and Jeevan Shiksha on some such initiatives.