Why we matter The success of India's Jal Jeevan Mission, where grassroots advocacy helped provide clean water to over 60 million households by 2024, shows the power of community involvement. Should we rethink our approach and start creating solutions with grassroots wisdom, rather than solely relying on government intervention? # According to the UN’s 2020 Global Report on Local Development, 70% of successful development initiatives in low-income regions were driven by grassroots movements. Could it be that these movements hold the power to reshape entire communities rather than being the "small" actors they are often perceived to be? # With the World Bank reporting that development projects lacking local community engagement have a 30-50% higher failure rate, and indigenous groups managing 80% of the world's biodiversity, can we really afford to exclude grassroots and tribal perspectives from social development efforts? # Research by Oxfam indicates that over 50% of successful land reforms in South Asia were led by grassroots movements. Is it possible that the change we seek will never fully materialize unless we let grassroots voices lead the way? # The Stanford Social Innovation Review finds that mission-driven programs are three times more likely to produce sustained impacts compared to short-term projects. Should we therefore prioritize mission-driven approaches to ensure lasting solutions to social development challenges? #
