Saamuhika Shakti

Through the Saamuhika Shakti collective impact initiative, six partners—BBC Media Action, Circular Apparel Innovation Factory (CAIF), Enviu, Hasiru Dala, Sambhav Foundation and Social Alpha—are working collaboratively across the textile waste value chain, bringing together diverse expertise to build a more inclusive circular textile ecosystem. A key example is the Textile Recovery Facility (TRF) in Bengaluru, India’s first and only Textile Recovery Facility owned and operated by waste pickers. The TRF demonstrates what a just transition can look like when informal waste workers are not positioned only as beneficiaries of the circular economy, but as entrepreneurs and leaders within it. As Soumitra Mandal, Partner and Head (Delhi/NCR & North) at Sattva Consulting, shared following his recent interaction with the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, at #BharatTex2026 in New Delhi, the recognition of the TRF model and the interest in scaling similar approaches across Indian cities are encouraging signals for the future of inclusive textile circularity. Read Soumitra’s post here: https://lnkd.in/gz666ri2 The conversation is gaining momentum, but the work ahead is equally important: ensuring that efforts to scale textile waste management also centre the knowledge, livelihoods, ownership and leadership of the workers who have long kept materials in circulation. At Saamuhika Shakti, we are learning that no single organisation can address the complexity of post-consumer textile waste alone. It requires partners working across the value chain and connecting waste collection, aggregation, sorting, upcycling, innovation, livelihoods and market linkages. We are proud to see Saamuhika Shakti’s collective approach and the waste-picker-owned TRF contributing to this growing national conversation. Maria Bystedt | H&M Foundation | Aarti Mohan | Arjun Bahadur | Shruti Venkatesan | Mansha Balecha | Divya Puramshetty | Zibi Jamal | Ekta Sawant | Shantanu Dubey | Jehosh Paul | Nimmi S

Recently participated in a rich discussion on measurement in a collective setting. I shared learnings from our ongoing evaluation of the Saamuhika Shakti initiative, a collective impact initiative aimed at improving the lives of waste-picker households in Bangalore. Thanks to Arjun, Shantanu, and Marianne for sharing their insights on embedding data systems and generating evidence in multi-partner collective initiatives. Here are five key points that emerged from the discussion: 1. Co-create learning agendas early with partners, backbone organizations, and funders, and embed them in implementation. 2. Invest in MEL, communications, and trust-building to enable collective learning and support a shared agenda. 3. Measure both system-level change and the relationships and collaboration that drive it. 4. Capture qualitative changes, such as collaboration, alignment and trust, alongside quantitative outcomes. 5. Adapt evidence and learning priorities as the collective evolves, focusing on the decisions that need to be made. International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie) Saamuhika Shakti Link to the discussion: https://lnkd.in/g4MSdDT6

In a recent Bangalore Mirror - India article, “The power of suggestion”, journalist Y Maheswara Reddy explores how Saamuhika Shakti partner Sparsha Trust’s suggestion boxes are creating spaces where children can be heard. Students’ suggestions are reviewed by teachers, prioritised and translated into action. From snacks during after-school classes and greater support for learning English to access to computers, small notes have led to meaningful changes in students’ everyday school experiences. But the impact goes beyond addressing individual concerns. As one student shared, after her suggestion led to computers being installed at her school, the experience gave her the confidence to raise other concerns too. When children see their voices being heard and their suggestions acted upon, they gain the confidence to speak up, participate in decisions and raise issues that matter to them. These spaces can nurture communication, leadership and a stronger sense of agency from an early age. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gPxZD673 Gopinath R | Dr Neelima Modugula | Darshana Somashekar | Revathi Krishnan

Congratulations to Udhyam Learning Foundation on receiving the Federation of Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FKCCI) Global CSR & Sustainability Award 2026 for Excellence in Livelihood and Poverty Alleviation for its work as part of Saamuhika Shakti! 🎉 This recognition celebrates the journeys of women nano-entrepreneurs from Bengaluru’s informal waste picker community who are building and strengthening their businesses with determination, resilience and ambition. Through Udhyam Vyapaar, Udhyam Learning Foundation has engaged with close to 175 entrepreneurs across more than 15 diverse business segments, including fruit and vegetable vending, cloth retail, crochet, food services, metal craft, balloon vending, candle making, wire basket weaving, garland making and kirana stores. The programme supports entrepreneurs in strengthening their businesses through improved market access, cost-effective sourcing, product and service innovation, business process improvements, behavioural training and mentoring. So far, the initiative has enabled over 120 nano-entrepreneurs to generate meaningful additional income. From a baseline of ₹4,600 per month, entrepreneurs are now earning an additional ₹4,000 on average, representing an 85% increase in income. Together, this has generated ₹30 lakh in incremental income so far. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gDXxZKrs Beyond these economic outcomes, the journey has also contributed to deeper shifts in confidence, self-efficacy and aspiration. A cohort of emerging role models, predominantly women, demonstrates how sustained support can strengthen not only businesses but also the agency to make informed decisions, take risks and shape their own economic futures. For women from waste picker families, entrepreneurship is about more than increasing income. It is about expanding choices, building resilience and creating pathways towards greater economic independence. We are proud to celebrate this recognition and the women nano-entrepreneurs whose determination, ambition and growth continue to drive this work. Congratulations to the Udhyam Learning Foundation team, its field teams and the entrepreneurs at the heart of this journey! ❤️ Priya Chandrasekar | Krishnan Ranganathan | Mekin Maheshwari | Shruti Anand | Hima Nandan | Anusuya Ravikumar | Kiran B |

Collaboration creates opportunities that no single organisation can build alone. A recent work order under the Skills-as-a-Service model demonstrates the strength of partnership within the Saamuhika Shakti collective. A commissioned order for 180 upcycled products, including denim dopp kits, tote bags and dust bags, brought together multiple partners across the value chain. Post-consumer textiles were sourced through Indumathi's Textile Recovery Facility (TRF), supported by Saamuhika Shakti partners Circular Apparel Innovation Factory (CAIF) and Hasiru Dala. Women artisans from waste picker families at our partner Sambhav Foundation's Livelihood Resource Centre then transformed the materials into finished products for Jaggery: Reimagining Waste. Together, the partners successfully fulfilled the order, creating income-generating opportunities for 10 women artisans. Beyond livelihoods, the initiative provided valuable exposure to market-driven production while ensuring that discarded textiles found a second life through upcycling.

Stories are powerful. They become even more so when communities tell them themselves. At Hasiru Habba 2026, a photography exhibition showcased compelling images captured by youth changemakers, offering a glimpse into their communities through their own lens. A collaboration between Hasiru Dala and People's photographers collective, the initiative nurtures young storytellers, creating space for them to document their realities, celebrate their identities and share perspectives that are often overlooked. The impact of this work extends beyond the exhibition. Earlier this year, photographs captured by the young photographers were featured by Scroll.in on World Water Day, highlighting unequal access to water and the realities faced by their communities. Read the story here: https://lnkd.in/g5bUgVDy

We're honoured to share that Udhyam Vyapaar has received the FKCCI Global CSR & Sustainability Award 2026 for 'Excellence in Livelihood and Poverty Alleviation' for the Saamuhika Shakti Project. This recognition belongs to the many women nano-entrepreneurs from Bengaluru's informal waste picker community who continue to build businesses with remarkable determination, resilience, and ambition. It is their journeys that inspire our work every day. At Udhyam Vyapaar, we've learnt that meaningful livelihood transformation is about more than just increasing income. Strengthening businesses, building confidence, enabling informed decision-making, and creating pathways are equally imperative for long-term economic resilience. This award is also a testament to the collective effort of our field teams, partners, and everyone who has contributed to making the Saamuhika Shakti Project what it is today. We're grateful to the Federation of Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) - Global CSR & Sustainability Awards for this recognition and remain committed to supporting more nano-entrepreneurs in building stronger, more sustainable livelihoods. This project supports women nano-entrepreneurs who are a part of the informal waste picker community, as part of the Saamuhika Shakti initiative – a collective effort to create pathways toward dignity, stability, and hope. #FKCCIAwards #Livelihoods #WomenEntrepreneurs #NanoEntrepreneurs #SocialImpact #EconomicEmpowerment #Entrepreneurship #UdhyamVyapaar Krishnan Ranganathan Priya Chandrasekar Hima Nandan

Collective action grows stronger when communities shape it together. In June, members of the Maramma Devi Self-Help Group (SHG) celebrated a significant milestone, completing one year since coming together. Over the past year, the group, supported by our partner Sambhav Foundation, has become a space for mutual support, shared learning and collective aspirations, with members now looking towards building sustainable livelihoods and thriving businesses. Through its work, Sambhav Foundation continues to support women in building collective agency, strengthening livelihoods and creating pathways towards long-term resilience.

Thank you for the recognition FKCCI!! Led by Krishnan Ranganathan my co-founder at Udhyam Learning Foundation - this is an incredible project: working with the waste picker community in Bangalore - and enabling doubling of income in 18 months through micro entrepreneurship!! Super happy to see the recognition!! Kudos Priya Chandrasekar & team!!

⏰ Coming up at 3.30 pm IST! ⚡ Register now and join the session on 'Measuring What Matters'. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gbmT6H9y