Collaborations and Partnerships
Building Partnerships that Shape Knowledge and Inspire Change
At the Sundar Singh Institute of South Asian Studies, we hold a simple conviction: knowledge thrives in community. The most compelling scholarship and the most practical policy solutions are rarely born in isolation. They emerge where people — researchers, policymakers, and practitioners — come together to exchange ideas, challenge assumptions, and learn from one another.
This spirit of collaboration guides our partnerships across the globe. Working alongside leading universities, think tanks, non-governmental organizations, and international agencies, we expand both the reach of our research and the depth of its impact. Together, we tackle some of South Asia’s most pressing and complex challenges — from governance and health equity to cultural preservation and climate resilience. Our alliances embody our commitment not only to rigorous scholarship but also to meaningful change.
Strategic Collaborations
Oxford Centre for South Asian Studies
In partnership with the Oxford Centre for South Asian Studies, we have launched a multi-year research project, Tracing Governance from Colony to Republic. This initiative explores how colonial governance legacies continue to shape political systems across South Asia today. Through joint publications, scholarly exchanges, and policy briefings, this collaboration has generated new insights into the complex relationships between history, power, and governance in postcolonial contexts.
United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
Our longstanding collaboration with the UNDP focuses on advancing sustainable development across rural South Asia. The Rural Resilience and Sustainability Initiative — co-developed with UNDP — promotes agricultural innovation, resource stewardship, and economic empowerment in vulnerable communities. The project’s findings have already informed national development strategies across the region, strengthening local resilience against climate-induced challenges.
National Institute of Public Health, New Delhi
Partnering with India’s National Institute of Public Health, we lead the Health Equity and Access Project, a pioneering study into healthcare disparities across underserved regions of South Asia. This collaboration has yielded actionable recommendations for expanding healthcare access, particularly through telemedicine and mobile health services. Several state governments have since adopted new healthcare delivery models inspired by this work, improving equity in public health systems.
Regional and Global Engagements
Asia Foundation for Cultural Heritage Preservation
Together with the Asia Foundation for Cultural Heritage Preservation, we champion efforts to safeguard South Asia’s rich cultural heritage. Through our Enduring Legacies Project, we conduct field research, archival studies, and policy advocacy to protect heritage sites threatened by urbanization and climate change. This partnership has fostered renewed attention to cultural conservation within policy circles, encouraging approaches that balance development with heritage preservation.
Center for Sustainable Policy Solutions, Seoul
Our collaboration with the Center for Sustainable Policy Solutions in Seoul has deepened research into the nexus of climate policy and socio-economic development in Asia. As part of the Transnational Climate Policy Forum, we explore adaptive strategies sensitive to the unique social and economic realities of South Asia. The joint publications and policy dialogues emerging from this partnership continue to inform climate action in both South and East Asia.
Council for South Asia – European Union Engagement
To strengthen diplomatic and academic ties between South Asia and the European Union, the Sundar Singh Institute works closely with the Council for South Asia – European Union Engagement. Our Bilateral Engagement and Policy Innovation Program facilitates dialogue on critical shared challenges such as migration, trade governance, and digital policy. Through annual summits, policy roundtables, and scholarly exchanges, this partnership fosters mutual understanding and promotes equitable development across both regions.
A Vision for Collaborative Impact
Our partnerships lie at the heart of our mission: to advance knowledge and catalyze positive change across South Asia. Through these collaborations, we amplify our research, sharpen our policy insights, and build networks committed to shaping a more just, inclusive, and sustainable future.
We are honored to work alongside our partners — institutions and individuals whose expertise, creativity, and dedication inspire us daily. Together, we will continue to build bridges of understanding, shape informed policy, and contribute to a South Asia that thrives — not only for today but for generations to come.