What SIGMA Foundation does

SIGMA Foundation (Support for Improvement of Governance and Monitoring Advancement Foundation) is a not-for-profit society registered in Kolkata, West Bengal in 2017 under the West Bengal Societies Registration Act, 1961, with operational roots dating to 2014 as a social enterprise. The organization provides research, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), third-party evaluations, policy research, and capacity building services to state government departments (notably PHEDs in Assam, Maharashtra, West Bengal), UN agencies (UNICEF in multiple states), international NGOs (WaterAid, CRS, Heifer, Landesa, Water For People, Save the Children), and multilateral bodies (ADB). Its core service portfolio spans WASH and behavior change communication, child rights and protection, public health and nutrition, local governance and decentralized planning, solid and liquid waste management, women empowerment and livelihoods, and environment and climate change.

The technology layer includes ICT-driven real-time monitoring solutions such as the Digital Water Supply Monitoring System (DWSMS), an IoT-based platform tracking pressure, residual chlorine, pH, TDS, turbidity, and iron with a consumer grievance redressal app; GIS applications for geo-tagging and field data collection; satellite image processing for land use, forest cover, and groundwater potential zone delineation; and the Membrane Filtration Technique (MFT) and Good Lab Practice Model (GLPM) for water quality surveillance. The organization obtained FCRA registration in January 2024, enabling direct receipt of foreign contributions alongside existing 12AA and 80G tax-exempt certifications.

Revenue mechanics are project-based professional services contracts won through competitive bidding, direct government commissioning, and partnership agreements with institutional donors. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. SIGMA Foundation has delivered 103 projects across 262 districts in 22 Indian states over nine years and lists 58 partner organizations. The organization is led by Dr. M.N. Roy, former Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of West Bengal, with a 36-person multidisciplinary team spanning engineering, social science, bioscience, and economics. The head office is in Kolkata with a branch office in Aurangabad, Maharashtra.

Name

SIGMA Foundation

Legal name

SIGMA Foundation

Website

https://sigma.foundation

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SIGMA Foundation is a Kolkata-based not-for-profit research and consultancy organization delivering monitoring, evaluation, policy research, and technology-enabled real-time monitoring services to Indian state governments, UNICEF, ADB, and international NGOs across WASH, child rights, public health, governance, and climate sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Development Consulting

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Health Systems Strengthening & Global Health Technical Assistance (BPADAEAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Global Health Research, Evidence & Technical Assistance Organizations (HLAJAKAN)

Keywords

• Monitoring and evaluation
• Development consultancy services
• Policy research services
• Capacity building training
• Water and sanitation consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Kolkata

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Consultancy Services: Provides consultancy for project designing, implementation support, and third-party evaluations including baseline and endline evaluations, impact assessments, and situation analyses for government and development sector clients.
2. Research & Evaluation Contracts: Conducts research for policy/strategy making, data analysis & interpretation, and third-party evaluations commissioned by government agencies, UN organizations, and international NGOs.
3. Capacity Building & Training: Provides training services using participatory approaches with training materials including case studies and video clips, conducted at own facilities or hired venues.
4. International Grants: Receives funding support from international organizations including Sign of Hope (Germany), UNICEF, and other bilateral/multilateral agencies for implementing development projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SIGMA Foundation is a not-for-profit research and consultancy organization that provides monitoring & evaluation (M&E), third-party evaluations, policy and strategic research, data analysis, and capacity building services to government agencies, UN organizations, and NGOs across India. It complements these services with technology-driven real-time monitoring solutions—including IoT, GIS, and satellite image processing—for development-sector programs in areas such as WASH, livelihoods, and public health.

Product overview

SIGMA Foundation is a not-for-profit research and consultancy organization offering a portfolio of professional services rather than a commercial product. Its core offerings comprise consultancy for project design and implementation, policy research, third-party evaluations, data analysis, and capacity building. Technology-enabled services include real-time monitoring systems using ICT, IoT sensors, and GIS applications. The organization specializes in WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), child rights, public health, local governance, waste management, and climate change sectors, working with government agencies, UN organizations, and NGOs across India.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 13000 FHTCs provided under supervision for Jal Jeevan Mission implementation
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, strategic and minor.

• UNICEFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership with UNICEF offices in multiple states including Maharashtra, Odisha, West Bengal, and Assam. SIGMA Foundation serves as implementing partner for monitoring, evaluation, and capacity building activities in WASH and child protection sectors.
• Sign of Hope (Hoffnungszeichen e.V.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman-based development organization providing funding and support for climate adaptation projects in Sundarbans, greywater recycling initiatives, and water security planning in Jangipara GP.
• Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) - Multiple StatescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerState government departments responsible for drinking water supply engaged SIGMA Foundation as Implementation Support Agency (ISA) for Jal Jeevan Mission in Maharashtra, West Bengal, and other states.
• Water For PeoplemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational NGO working in WASH sector partnered for post implementation monitoring and baseline surveys in Bihar and West Bengal.
• Catholic Relief Services (CRS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned studies on vector-borne diseases landscape in India, child trafficking in North-Eastern states, and project Suraksha baseline assessments.
• LandesamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organization working on land rights partnered for research on women and tribal land rights in Jharkhand and tribal women land literacy programme in West Bengal.
• Asian Development Bank (ADB)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngaged as NGO contractor for West Bengal Drinking Water Sector Improvement Project (WBDWSIP) in Bankura district under ADB financing.
• Kailash Satyarthi Children's Foundation (KSCF)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConducted impact documentation study of Bal Mitra Gram programme on child rights protection in mica mining districts of Jharkhand and Bihar.
• WaterAid India / Jal Seva Charitable FoundationmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThird-party evaluation partner for WASH facilities implemented across select districts of Odisha and West Bengal.
• Heifer International / Passing Gifts Pvt. Ltd.majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCommissioned as third party for outcome monitoring survey of Bihar Sustainable Livelihood Development project targeting 70,000 households through goat rearing and climate smart agriculture.
• IIEST Shibpur - ADDCWES CentrestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-financial partnership with Arun and Dhriti Deb Centre for Water and Environmental Studies at IIEST Shibpur for pilot rainwater harvesting project in Jhalda I block, Purulia.
• Government of West Bengal - Finance DepartmentstrategicImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerJoint partnership with BDO LLP India to establish Project Management Unit under World Bank-supported project for women empowerment and social protection.
• Save the ChildrenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed partner organization for child rights and protection initiatives.
• TDH (Terre des Hommes)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean child rights organization listed as partner.
• Oxfam IndiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment organization listed as partner for potential collaborations.
• Aga Khan FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational development organization listed as partner.
• Centre for Advocacy and Research (CFAR)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDocumentation partner for climate resilient urban WASH practices in Bhubaneswar and Jaipur.
• Foundation to Educate Girls GloballyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCommissioned landscape study on education, skilling, and employment of young women in Maharashtra.
• American India Foundation TrustminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner for Digital Equalizer programme preparing baseline reports in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Chandigarh, and Uttar Pradesh.
• Room to ReadminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCommissioned landscape study for gender integration in foundational literacy across six states.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• DAI (Development Alternatives Inc.): Global development consultancy delivering program implementation, M&E, and policy advisory for USAID, FCDO, ADB, and UN agencies. Directly comparable in service portfolio (M&E, governance, WASH, health systems strengthening) and donor-driven revenue model.
• Oxford Policy Management: International development research and policy firm providing rigorous M&E, impact evaluation, and technical assistance to governments and donors across WASH, governance, and social sectors. Directly comparable in evidence-generation and evaluation methodology.
• MicroSave Consulting: Development consulting firm working with governments, multilaterals, and INGOs on inclusive finance, governance, and program evaluation across Asia and Africa. Comparable in evidence-driven consulting model serving donor and government clients.
• Palladium: International development firm delivering implementation, M&E, and impact advisory across health, WASH, and governance for USAID, DFAT, and foundations. Comparable in integrated design-M&E-implementation model for donor-funded programs.
• Sattva Knowledge Consulting: India-based social impact advisory and research firm working with foundations, NGOs, and government on program design, evaluation, and sector studies. Comparable in scale, mission orientation, and social-sector client mix.
• IPE Global: Indian development consultancy delivering advisory, M&E, and implementation support across WASH, health, education, and governance for bilateral/multilateral clients. Operates as Implementation Support Agency on similar programs to SIGMA Foundation.
• Sambodhi Research and Communications: India-based M&E, research, and learning organization serving governments, multilaterals, and INGOs. Closely comparable to SIGMA Foundation in sectoral coverage (WASH, health, governance) and client mix (UNICEF, World Bank, state governments).
• ICF International: Global consulting firm with a dedicated international development division providing research, M&E, and technical assistance to USAID, World Bank, and UN agencies. Comparable in survey/evaluation capability and donor-driven project mix.

Broad incumbents

• Deloitte India (Development Sector Advisory): Global consulting firm with India-based development advisory serving multilateral and state government clients on PMU, M&E, and policy. Larger portfolio and balance sheet position it as an incumbent competitor for the same high-value tenders SIGMA Foundation targets.
• PwC India (Development Advisory): Large professional services firm with a development sector advisory practice in India, serving World Bank, ADB, and state governments on PMU setup, M&E, and governance. Competes for similar government/World Bank PMU mandates (e.g., West Bengal Finance Dept PMU).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sigmafoundation

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about SIGMA Foundation