ISC-India Sanitation Coalition

What ISC-India Sanitation Coalition does

ISC-India Sanitation Coalition is a non-profit coalition platform housed within FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry) that convenes government, corporate, and civil-society stakeholders to advance India's Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) agenda. Founded in 2015 by the late Rashid Kidwai and Naina Lal Kidwai, it is headquartered at FICCI Federation House, New Delhi, and operates exclusively in India with a lean team of approximately 15 employees.

ISC's product surface comprises a portfolio of flagship programs rather than discrete commercial products: The Lighthouse Initiative (rural sanitation, scaled from 75 gram panchayats to 4,000 villages in Phase II), the ISC-FICCI Sanitation Awards and RAKIS (sector recognition platforms), the SWACH Accelerator (sanitation startup incubation with Innovation Mission Punjab and IIT Ropar), the Credit Finance in WASH program (with Water.org and Sa-Dhan), the Saucha and TARA behavior-change-communication platforms, and newer adjacencies including Climate Resilient Coastal Cities, Plastic Circular Cities (with Godrej Consumer Products), and Solid Waste Management.

The business model is a coalition/CSR-funded platform rather than a commercial enterprise: revenue flows from corporate CSR contributions, government program grants (notably the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation), and multilateral partnerships (Water.org). Member organizations span large Indian corporates (ITC, Tata Trusts, Hindalco, HCL Foundation, Vedanta, Nayara Energy), international foundations (Aga Khan Foundation), knowledge institutions (IIT Bombay/SINE, DISQ), and field implementers (FINISH Society, CDD India, S M Sehgal Foundation, WINMIN). There are no product fees or SaaS-style pricing tiers; value capture is reputational, policy-influencing, and convening-based.

Name

ISC-India Sanitation Coalition

Legal name

India Sanitation Coalition

Website

https://indiasanitationcoalition.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ISC is a FICCI-housed non-profit coalition that convenes government, corporate, and civil-society stakeholders to advance India's Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene agenda through flagship programs including the Lighthouse Initiative, Sanitation Awards, SWACH Accelerator, and Credit Finance in WASH partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

WASH Sector Coalition and Sanitation Convening Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (813990)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) Solutions (BPAGALAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) (BPAGABAC), WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) Organizations (HLAJAKAI), Public Health Governance, Interagency Coordination & Partnerships (HLAJAMAD), WASH & Public Health (Water, Sanitation, Hygiene) (BPADAIAG)

Keywords

• WASH sector coalition
• Sanitation public-private partnerships
• CSR facilitation services
• Sanitation recognition awards
• WASH financing facilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

New Delhi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate CSR Partnerships: ISC facilitates corporate social responsibility investments in WASH projects through partnerships with companies implementing sanitation initiatives. Corporates engage through the coalition to develop and market sanitation-related products and services.
2. WASH Financing Facilitation: Unlocking funding for WASH infrastructure including construction, retrofitting, and maintenance of water supply systems, sewerage systems, and latrines through private sector participation and government funding.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

India Sanitation Coalition is a non-profit coalition platform that facilitates integrated Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) solutions in India by convening government bodies, corporate organizations, NGOs, and financial institutions. Its core offerings center on multi-stakeholder program management — public-private partnership (PPP) sanitation interventions like the Lighthouse Initiative, sector recognition via the ISC-FICCI Sanitation Awards, startup acceleration through the SWACH Accelerator, behavior-change programs such as Saucha and Swachhta Doots, and WASH financing facilitation via the Credit Finance in WASH initiative. The organization does not sell commercial software or products; it delivers convening, program design, awards administration, and field-level implementation support for its members and partners.

Product overview

ISC is a coalition platform (not a single product) that facilitates integrated solutions through WASH initiatives by connecting government, private sector, NGOs, and community stakeholders. The portfolio includes award programs (ISC-FICCI Sanitation Awards, RAKIS), implementation initiatives (The Lighthouse Initiative, Saucha, Solid Waste Management, Climate Resilient Coastal Cities), accelerator programs (SWACH Accelerator, Knowledge Fellowship), and financing programs (Credit Finance in WASH). These programs work together to advance sustainable sanitation practices across India through partnerships, recognition, and direct implementation support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ISC-FICCI Sanitation Awards Flagship annual awards program that recognizes excellence in sanitation and hygiene across corporate houses, NGOs, social enterprises, and government bodies in India. Has acknowledged more than fifty corporate houses since inception in 2017 and is supported by MoHUA and the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
• Rashid Kidwai Innovation in Sanitation Awards (RAKIS) Innovation awards and recognition program that spotlights and rewards entrepreneurs and startups driving innovation in the WASH sector, including WASH finance. Conceived with DISQ and SINE, IIT Bombay, and offering private sector sponsorship pathways to support sanitation entrepreneurship.
• The Lighthouse Initiative (LHI) Sanitation ecosystem intervention commissioned by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti and implemented in public-private partnership (PPP) mode across Indian Gram Panchayats. Built on the principle of Inclusive Sanitation and Leaving No One Behind, it has piloted in 75 GPs/villages across fifteen states and is scaling toward 4,000 villages.
• SWACH Accelerator Accelerator program for startups innovating in the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene sector, providing cohort-based support. Conducted in partnership with Innovation Mission Punjab and IIT Ropar Technology Innovation Foundation (AWaDH) to propel WASH startups.
• Credit Finance in WASH Financing-facilitation initiative delivered with Water.org and Sa-Dhan to enhance water-sanitation financial accessibility and bring more financial institutions into the WASH space through credit, impact investing, and corporate social impact bonds.
• Saucha (Behavior Change Communication) Behavior Change Communication model that requires anchor organizations to train corporate employees as Swachhata Saathis, who disseminate WASH messaging to target groups in coordination with the local Gram Panchayat.
• Knowledge Fellowship Fellowship program dedicated to building sector-specialist knowledge in the WASH domain through research and on-the-job learning.

Quantifiable outcome

• 75 GPs/villages reached in first phase of Lighthouse Initiative across 15 states
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and minor.

• Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal ShakticoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Government partner commissioning the Lighthouse Initiative - an intervention for sanitation ecosystem implemented in PPP mode. ISC works in partnership with the government to push water, sanitation, and hygiene agenda of the country.
• Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting ministry for ISC-FICCI Sanitation Awards 2025, enhancing credibility and impact of the flagship awards event.
• Water.orgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered to bring more financial institutions into water-sanitation space and enhance WSS financial accessibility.
• Sa-DhancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with ISC to enhance WSS financial accessibility and bring more financial institutions into water-sanitation space.
• Digital Impact Square (DISQ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-conceiver of Rashid Kidwai Innovation in Sanitation Awards (RAKIS) - exclusive platform for private sector sponsors to support sanitation entrepreneurs.
• Society for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (SINE), IIT BombaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-conceiver of RAKIS awards to address challenges in sanitation space by creating platform for private sector sponsors to support entrepreneurs innovating in sector.
• Innovation Mission PunjabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with IIT Ropar TIF AWaDH and India Sanitation Coalition to propel 10 WASH startups with SWACH Accelerator Program.
• IIT Ropar Technology Innovation Foundation AWaDHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology partner for SWACH Accelerator Program supporting innovation in water, sanitation, and hygiene startups.
• HindalcokeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner supporting Lighthouse Initiative implementation, particularly in Odisha districts of Kalahandi and Rayagada.
• Godrej Consumer ProductskeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoined forces to pioneer Plastic Circular Cities Initiative driving solid waste management transformation in cities like Vasai-Virar.
• Tata TrustskeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterventions under Lighthouse Initiative, particularly in Veerwara gram panchayat in Rajasthan's Sirohi district and Assam's Paschim Chhaygaon.
• Aga Khan FoundationkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting Government of Uttar Pradesh to transform Gram Panchayats including Akbarpur Talhu and Pure Adhari into model villages under Lighthouse Initiative.
• FINISH SocietykeyImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerImplementing partner for Nayara Energy, driving success of WASH initiatives in Rajasthan through collaborative efforts.
• Nayara EnergykeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing plastic waste management project in Mithoi village through CSR Trust for SDG in India, creating waste value chain.
• CDD IndiakeyImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner for Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP) development including Devanahalli project and K-100 Koramangala drain rejuvenation with IIT Bombay.
• IIT BombaykeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating on FSTP projects including Devanahalli and K-100 Koramangala initiatives for decentralized wastewater treatment.
• HCL FoundationkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting transformation of Gram Panchayats of Purwa and Akbarpur in Hardoi district of Uttar Pradesh into clean and green model villages.
• FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry)coreOthersISC operates as a coalition under FICCI, using the federation's extensive network of corporate members and industry connections to advance WASH initiatives.
• VedantakeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeam visited Veerwara gram panchayat in Rajasthan's Sirohi district to assess developmental initiatives under Lighthouse Initiative.
• WINMINminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSHG federation empowering households with loans and technical support for toilet construction, won Best SHG Model in Livelihood for WASH at 2024 awards.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Water.org: Global non-profit focused on water and sanitation access through microfinance partnerships; explicitly a strategic partner of ISC on Credit Finance in WASH. Closely comparable mission and intervention model, operating internationally versus ISC's India focus.
• Toilet Board Coalition: Global non-profit coalition accelerating business-led sanitation solutions. Direct peer to ISC's mandate of mobilizing private-sector participation in sanitation, although with global rather than India-only footprint.
• S M Sehgal Foundation: Indian rural development NGO active in WASH, water conservation, and agriculture; won 2024 ISC-FICCI Sanitation Award. Operates rural India WASH programs that overlap with ISC's Lighthouse Initiative geographies.
• FINISH Society: India-based non-profit implementing WASH and public-health programs, working with corporates like Nayara Energy (also an ISC partner). Comparable on-the-ground WASH implementation and corporate-CSR mobilization in India.
• IRC WASH: Global think-and-do tank on WASH systems, focused on governance, finance, and programming. Comparable to ISC's knowledge, advocacy and capacity-building verticals in WASH.
• CDD India (Centre for Data-Driven Development): Works on FSTPs and decentralized wastewater treatment in partnership with IIT Bombay—an ISC collaborator. Closely comparable on FSSM and urban WASH infrastructure programming.
• WaterAid India: International NGO focused on WASH in India, running campaigns, advocacy, and on-ground programs. Directly comparable to ISC as a WASH-mission organization operating across India with government and civil-society partnerships.

Broad incumbents

• CII (Confederation of Indian Industry): Peer industry chamber running CSR programs, awards, and convening platforms on development themes including WASH. Directly comparable as an institutional CSR-mobilization peer, but broader mandate than ISC.
• FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry): Parent organization of ISC and India's largest industry chamber. Comparable as a convening platform for corporates on CSR/development issues, but operates across many sectors while ISC specializes in WASH.

Regional players

• UNICEF India (WASH programme): Multilateral working on WASH outcomes for children and communities in India. Comparable WASH mission; brings larger budgets and international mandate versus ISC's coalition/CSR-led model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/isc-india-sanitation-coalition

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about ISC-India Sanitation Coalition