Grassroots Research and Advocacy Movement

What Grassroots Research and Advocacy Movement does

Grassroots Research and Advocacy Movement (GRAAM) is a private, nonprofit development research and public policy organization founded in 2015 and headquartered in Mysuru, Karnataka, India, with additional regional offices in Bengaluru and New Delhi. GRAAM operates across six interconnected service lines: Social Impact Assessment & Evaluation (program evaluations, tracer studies, and M&E frameworks for government and corporate CSR clients), Impact Innovation and Knowledge Consulting (IIKCON) (strategic consulting for policy development, vision documents, and organizational development), Community Consultation (grassroots perspective capture through qualitative methods), Policy Engagement (multi-stakeholder policy advocacy), Academic Programs (capacity-building workshops including the 3PE workshop with Cornell University, the IPP program with RMP/IIDL, and the Youth for Governance Fellowship), and Development Research (mixed-methods, participatory action research). The organization's revenue is generated through commissioned professional services contracts — including project-based evaluation studies, CSR consultation, policy documents, and training program fees — sourced from central and state government bodies (NITI Aayog/DMEO, Government of Karnataka, NABARD, KEA, NHSRC), international organizations (WHO, UNICEF, Gates Foundation, Jhpiego), corporate CSR divisions (Titan, Toyota, KPMG, PAGE Industries, ABB, Asian Paints, ABFRL), and academic institutions (Cornell, Azim Premji University, McGill). GRAAM's go-to-market is enterprise field sales: it acquires work through tenders, partnership referrals, and active engagement in development-sector networks including its National Coordinator role in the G20-C20 Working Group on Delivering Democracy during India's 2023 G20 presidency, under which it organized over 30 events. The technology foundation is methodological rather than platform-based — proprietary mixed-methods research frameworks, participatory community engagement models, and academic partnerships — with no disclosed software products, APIs, or AI capabilities.

Name

Grassroots Research and Advocacy Movement

Legal name

Grassroots Research and Advocacy Movement

Website

https://graam.org.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

GRAAM is a Karnataka-based nonprofit research and policy organization offering program evaluation, CSR consulting, policy engagement, community consultation, and academic training across 18+ Indian states for government, multilateral, corporate, and academic clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Policy Research & Consulting

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAHAFAO

Compliance Technology, GRC Platforms & Controls Automation Advisory

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Risk, Compliance & Governance Advisory

Keywords

• Public policy research
• Social impact assessment
• Program evaluation services
• Community consultation research
• Development research consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Bengaluru

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Research and Evaluation Consulting: GRAAM generates revenue through commissioned research studies, evaluation projects, and impact assessments for government bodies, corporate entities, and development organizations. Projects include program evaluations, policy research, social impact assessments, and development research engagements.
2. Academic and Training Programs: Revenue from conducting capacity building programs, workshops (like 3PE and IPP), certificate courses, and internship facilitation for postgraduates and research scholars pursuing development studies.
3. Policy Engagement Services: Consulting services for policy development, vision documents, strategic frameworks, guidelines, and action plans for government and corporate clients.
4. CSR Consultation: Strategic consultation and community need assessments for corporate social responsibility initiatives, including designing CSR policies and strategies for leading corporates.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

GRAAM is a development research and public policy engagement organization that delivers evidence-based research, program evaluations, social impact assessments, and policy consulting services. It operates six interconnected service lines covering social impact assessment, strategic consulting (IIKCON), community consultation, policy engagement, academic training programs, and development research for government bodies, corporate CSR divisions, academic institutions, and international organizations across India.

Product overview

GRAAM is a development research and public policy engagement organization offering six interconnected service lines: Social Impact Assessment & Evaluation (providing evaluation studies and monitoring frameworks for CSR and government programs), Impact Innovation and Knowledge Consulting (IIKCON for strategic policy development), Community Consultation (grassroots perspective capture), Policy Engagement (evidence-based collaborative policy change), Academic Programs (capacity building including the 3PE workshop with Cornell University and Youth for Governance Fellowship), and Development Research (mixed-methods participatory research). The organization operates as a unified service portfolio unified by its focus on evidence-based public policy and grassroots-informed research, working with government, corporate, and civil society stakeholders across India.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Public Policy and Program Evaluation (3PE): A two-week full-time, in-person program conducted in collaboration with Cornell University, USA, equipping participants with skills in public policy analysis and program evaluation.
• International Public Policy (IPP)
• Youth for Governance (Y4G)
• Impact Innovation and Knowledge Consulting (IIK-CON)
• Swasthya Swaraj

Products and services

• Social Impact Assessment & Evaluation Provides evaluation studies, impact assessments, and monitoring and evaluation frameworks for CSR projects, government programs, and corporate social responsibility initiatives. Includes tracer studies, feasibility studies, and baseline/KAP surveys.
• Impact Innovation and Knowledge Consulting (IIKCON) Strategic consulting service that helps government, non-government, and corporate clients develop policies, vision documents, strategic frameworks, guidelines, action plans, and organizational development solutions.
• Community Consultation Community-focused consultation services that capture grassroots perspectives through qualitative tools and techniques, understanding people's problems, awareness on social programs and entitlements, and reflections on ongoing development interventions.
• Policy Engagement Evidence-based policy engagement service that works collaboratively with academia, civil society organizations, media, and government at all levels to bring policy and programme changes through networking and creating platforms to capture voices of change.
• Academic Programs Capacity building programs including the Public Policy and Program Evaluation (3PE) workshop in partnership with Cornell University, International Public Policy (IPP) program with Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini, and Youth for Governance Fellowship. Also offers internships for postgraduate and research scholars.
• Development Research Research service following mixed methods and community-focused research principles, incorporating grassroots perspectives and ensuring community engagement from inception to conclusion. Supports participatory action research projects and evidence-based policy planning.

Quantifiable outcome

• Decennial milestone achieved with comprehensive overview of key achievements and strategic insights documented in Decennial Report
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Hanns Seidel FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Partnership for Youth for Governance Fellowship program and G20-C20 Delivery Democracy Working Group coordination during India's G20 presidency in 2023.
• Cornell UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014International academic partnership for the Public Policy and Program Evaluation (3PE) workshop, a two-week in-person program. Dr. Basavaraju served as visiting fellow at Cornell University's Employment and Disability Institute. Joint research on disability and employment studies.
• UNICEFmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on development of State of 21st Century Skills Sector Report and Project Samvarthana for child survival and development.
• World Health Organisation (WHO)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple research collaborations including studies on nomadic tribes in J&K, NCD service delivery assessment, and civil society participation in pandemic response.
• Government of KarnatakacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExtensive partnership for policy development, Karnataka Vision 2025 documents, skill policy, district development planning, health mission evaluations, and various government schemes.
• NITI Aayog / DMEOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for evaluation of National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) and development of monitoring and evaluation frameworks.
• Azim Premji UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research project on nutrition among tribes in Karnataka, conducted in H D Kote taluk.
• Bill & Melinda Gates FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding partner for Swasthya Swaraj project focusing on community health governance strengthening.
• NABARDmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for developing roadmap of social enterprise ecosystem as precursor for viable Social Stock Exchange in India.
• Titan Company LimitedmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCSR consulting including development of monitoring and evaluation framework, evaluation of skill development programs and Nanhi Kali program.
• Toyota Kirloskar MotorsmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCSR consultation including health need assessments in selected gram panchayats and school toilet requirement studies.
• PAGE Industries Limited (Jockey)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLong-standing CSR partnership including social impact assessments, school mapping studies, Sugamya Shiksha initiative, and human capital development strategy.
• Quality Council of IndiamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Certificate Program: Introduction to Public Policy.
• Karnataka Skill Development CorporationmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership for skill gap studies, CMKKY and PMKVY impact evaluations, and tracer studies for ITI graduates.
• JhpiegomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for NISHTHA project on transforming comprehensive healthcare in India.
• Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini (RMP)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for International Public Policy (IPP) program through Indian Institute of Development Leadership (IIDL).
• Piramal SwasthyamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration on tribal traditional healers and health systems across different states of India.
• The/Nudge InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for evaluation of graduation approach implementation in North Karnataka.
• NR FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic consultation for establishment of PwD Skill and Employment Facilitation Centre, and midline evaluation of Prerepana project.
• National Commission for Scheduled TribesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership for study of tribal livelihood in Karnataka.
• Karnataka Evaluation Authority (KEA)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership for tracer studies, evaluation of Samagra Shikshana Karnataka, and various scheme evaluations.
• National Health System Resource Centre (NHSRC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for assessment of Ayushmaan Bharat Health and Wellness Centres implementation in India.
• McGill UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational academic institution partnership.
• Manipal Academy of Higher EducationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution partnership for internships and research.
• Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited (ABFRL)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFormative evaluation of CSR programs supported across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra.
• Asian Paints LimitedminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCommunity need assessment for CSR intervention.
• ABBminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCSR strategy consultation services.
• KPMGminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership for Karnataka Vision 2025 Employment and Skill Development and Rural Development documents.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• RTI International: A large US-based independent research institute delivering policy research, evaluation, and technical assistance to governments and international donors globally. Comparable to GRAAM in mixed-methods programme evaluation, government and donor engagement, and thematic breadth across development sectors.
• World Resources Institute India (WRI India): The India affiliate of the global WRI, conducting large-scale research and policy engagement on sustainability, climate, and urban development. Comparable in mission-driven research and high-level government engagement, but with substantially larger scale and a global brand.

Direct peers

• Centre for Policy Research (CPR): One of India's most established public policy research think tanks, conducting rigorous policy research and advocacy across governance, economic, and social policy. Highly comparable to GRAAM's policy research, evaluation, and government engagement model, though operating at a much larger scale and longer tenure.
• Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER): A leading policy think tank producing research on economic policy, trade, and governance with strong donor and government relationships. Comparable to GRAAM in policy research and advisory services to government and multilateral institutions, with a stronger international economics orientation.
• National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER): India's oldest and largest economic and policy research institute, producing large-scale household surveys, policy analyses, and impact evaluations for government and international clients. Direct peer to GRAAM in government-commissioned research and survey methodology, though with substantially more resources and brand recognition.
• PRIA (Participatory Research in Asia): A civil society organisation focused on participatory research, governance, and citizen engagement — and an existing GRAAM partner through the Youth for Governance Fellowship. Closely comparable in grassroots research methodology, community consultation, and civic engagement focus.
• Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW): One of South Asia's leading policy research institutions, conducting policy research and advisory work on energy, environment, and sustainable development with strong government and CSR partnerships. Directly comparable to GRAAM in mission-driven research, government engagement, and CSR-funded evaluation work.
• The/Nudge Institute: A non-profit focused on poverty alleviation through the graduation approach and skill development — GRAAM has been engaged as its evaluation partner for North Karnataka programmes. Highly comparable in mission, donor base, and impact-evaluation focus.
• Development Alternatives: A pioneering Indian sustainable development NGO conducting research, design, and field implementation in livelihoods, energy, and habitat. Comparable in its integration of grassroots research with policy advocacy and donor-funded programme evaluation.
• Accountability Initiative (AI), Centre for Policy Research: A research initiative focused on governance, public finance accountability, and programme evaluation with government and donor partners. Closely comparable to GRAAM's evidence-based monitoring and evaluation work, particularly with government departments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/graamresearch
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@graamfordevelopment
• Facebookfacebook.com/GRAAMIndia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/grassroots-research-and-advocacy-movement
• Instagraminstagram.com/graamindia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Grassroots Research and Advocacy Movement