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ANNUAL REPORT 2023-24 TRANSFORM RURAL INDIA

As a knowledge partner, DIU collaborated with These partnerships are critical for Leap’s growth,
governments, social enterprises, academia, and facilitating various initiatives, enhancing its partner
other organizations to provide data-driven network, and developing its advisory board.
insights and analysis. DIU’s commitment to public
data for the public good helped bridge important Significant projects under Leap’s banner involve
data gaps, contributing to a more informed rural innovative health delivery models in
development dialogue. Chhattisgarh’s tribal areas, support for
governance in Jharkhand, and advising on
Leap Design (https://www.leapdesign.org/) inclusive rural development strategies.
Educational efforts include training programs for
In 2023, the Transforming Rural India Foundation
(TRI) initiated Leap, a catalyst entity aimed at senior bureaucrats across four ministries and
enhancing design capabilities and tapping into international collaborations with institutions like
the potential of existing networks to promote the IIT Institute of Design and the Albert Einstein
global well-being. Originating from collaborative Hospital in Brazil.
efforts at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public
Health's Design Laboratory (D-Lab) and funded Furthermore, Leap’s leadership focuses on
by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Leap nurturing relationships with academic and
seeks to integrate multidisciplinary professional bodies across India, including Flame
methodologies developed in India. University and the Indian Institute of Sustainable
Development. It also engages in thought
leadership with design firms and international
Leap's inaugural year featured the establishment
of five key Memorandums of Understanding entities, leveraging design for social
(MOUs) with diverse organizations including the transformation in both the U.S. and India.
Capacity Building Commission, the Department of This comprehensive approach is supported by
Health, and the Planning Commission of new funding from the Godrej Foundation,
Chhattisgarh, Mindescapes, and the Indian emphasizing Leap's pivotal role in rural economic
Institute for Public Administration. development. PPiA Praxis Residency programme They also contribute academically through
(https://www.ppiapraxis.in/) rigorous research and papers, addressing

The Public Policy in Action (PPiA) Praxis complex challenges in public service delivery.
Residency Programme, which embeds young Monthly Praxis Seminars further enrich learning,
professionals within government agencies, featuring experts like Ms. Sarojini Ganju Thakur on
commenced with the inaugural cohort of 20 gender in public policy and Professor Soledad
fellows in October 2021. This initiative enhances Artiz Prillaman on democracy and administration.
public administration by integrating fresh
perspectives and skills into government settings This program not only promotes the professional
to improve service delivery in resource-starved and personal development of its participants but
regions. The program marries academic rigor with also aims to significantly improve the quality of
practical experience, emphasizing qualitative and life in rural areas. By fostering a robust
quantitative research methods, public policy, and understanding of governance and policy impact,
leadership theories to foster innovative solutions the PPiA Praxis Residency Programme
and effective implementation. establishes a new paradigm for public
administration in India, crucial for advancing
Supported by nudge units for technical guidance transformative actions for rural India and
and evidence generation units for policy impact enhancing societal well-being. A second cohort
assessments, the fellows completed a of 21 motivated change-makers is prepared to
comprehensive three-week bootcamp covering continue this transformative work, with their
critical academic concepts from adaptive training starting in July 2024.
leadership to sociology.

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