National, November 23, 2020: Shell and Tata Trusts, under the India2022 Coalition, powered by Xynteo, today launched the “Stages of Development (SoD) Framework’, a data-driven tool that aids start-ups, philanthropists and investors working in the rural development space to make informed decisions, identify relevant solutions and maximise social impact through an integrated, collaborative approach.
The (SoD) framework is a data-driven planning framework that reduces the lab to market journey for start-ups and helps them identify partnerships that will aid in integrated rural development. A tool for donors, philanthropists, and investors to design rural development programs and allocate funding and investments for maximum impact and social returns. According to the SoD Framework, a village is classified based on its performance against the socio-economic development indicators, into one of the four categories: Underserved, Nascent, Advancing and Rurban. Based on the stage in which the target village/area lies, the framework puts forth solutions and delivery models best suited to the target area, as well as synergies amongst the eight core sectors: Agriculture and livelihoods; water and sanitation; healthcare and nutrition; energy; finance; education and skill development; communication and digital inclusion; people and goods movement.
The Framework has been developed by Shell and Tata Trusts under the India2022 Coalition, set up by Xynteo. This multi-stakeholder partnership has been created in line with/keeping in mind the UN Sustainable Development Goals and supporting the Government of India’s strategic priorities.
Nitin Prasad, Chairman, Shell Companies in India, highlighted, “Access to reliable and affordable energy is critical to help unlock development across multiple sectors in Rural India. Similarly, access to finance, both for consumers and enterprises, can increase the uptake of several interventions, across different sectors. We are proud to be part of this collaboration with an aim to ensure that decentralised, fit-for-purpose and low carbon energy solutions are made available to all rural households and rural enterprises.”
Mr. Ganesh Neelam, Head – Central and East North Zone, Tata Trusts and Executive Director, Collectives for Integrated Livelihood Initiatives, highlighted that "Rural and tribal villages need an overall development approach to make them resilient. The framework allows matching of needs of communities with appropriate interventions, based on a cross-sector approach, from all required stakeholders. We are happy to have contributed in the development of this framework basis Tata Trusts’ extensive understanding of the sector and hope it helps align stakeholders towards a common goal for the good of the community-at-large.”
The SoD framework could potentially be used by any stakeholder interested in understanding rural market needs and viable solutions. The major users and their potential objectives of using the SoD are outlined below:
- Private sector solution providers: Weigh various solutions required by the rural community. identify feasible delivery models; and find synergies with other solution providers. Includes start-ups, large sector players, and conglomerates
- Local Non-Profits/NGOs: Assess the interventions/solutions required at a rural community level and prioritise grant-based and market-based interventions
- Government bodies: Get better insights into the current state of economic development and the immediate socio-economic development needs of the rural area
- Social Enterprises: Identify the set of villages, where the product-market fit would work best for their solution and equally importantly, help in identifying criteria and reasons for not entering a particular rural area
- Philanthropy: Align with other stakeholders on the socio-economic need for the development of a village. This tool will allow them to use their philanthropic capital to leverage and unlock private capital, so that more beneficiaries can be positively impacted
About Shell
Shell is one of the most diversified international energy company in India with over 8500 employees and presence across upstream, integrated gas, downstream, renewable energy, and deep capabilities in R&D, digitalization and business operations. With a retail presence across six states – Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Assam Shell is expanding its network of fuel stations across the country. It has the entire Lubricants end-to-end value chain in India, from conceptualization and development, to production and distribution. This includes a world class lubricant oil blending plant with a capacity of more than 115 million litres, a distributor network of more than 185 and over 60,000 retailers across the country. The company also fully owns and operates an LNG re-gasification terminal at Hazira. Through its subsidiary, BG Exploration and Production India Limited, Shell holds a 30% interest in, and is joint operator of the Panna - Mukta oil and gas fields. With a focus on digitization and future ready sustainable solutions, the company is nurturing a vibrant ecosystem in India to accelerate energy innovations with Shell E4 for start-ups, Shell Eco-marathon and investments in new energy companies like Husk Power and Cleantech Solar. Shell also remains committed to making positive contributions to the communities in which it operates through programmes like NXplorers, Access to Energy and Road Safety across India. Follow @shell_India @makethefuture @shell_ecomar to know how it is redefining the energy space.
Royal Dutch Shell plc
Royal Dutch Shell plc is incorporated in England and Wales, has its headquarters in The Hague and is listed on the London, Amsterdam, and New York stock exchanges. Shell companies have operations in more than 70 countries and territories with businesses including oil and gas exploration and production; production and marketing of liquefied natural gas and gas to liquids; manufacturing, marketing and shipping of oil products and chemicals and renewable energy projects. For further information, visit www.shell.com.
About Tata Trusts
Since inception in 1892, Tata Trusts, India’s oldest philanthropic organisation, has played a pioneering role in bringing about an enduring difference in the lives of the communities it serves. Guided by the principles and the vision of proactive philanthropy of the Founder, Jamsetji Tata, the Trusts’ purpose is to catalyse development in the areas of health, nutrition, education, water, sanitation and hygiene, livelihood, digital transformation, migration and urban habitat, social justice and inclusion, environment and energy, skill development, sports, and arts and culture. The Trusts’ programmes, achieved through direct implementation, partnerships and grant making, are marked by innovations, relevant to the country. For more information, please visit
LinkedIn: Tata Trusts Twitter: @tatatrusts Facebook: Tata Trusts Instagram: tata_trusts
About Xynteo
Xynteo works with a community of visionary business leaders, equipping them and their organisations to transform the systems in which they operate. We provide advisory services for strategy, innovation, engagement, learning; and build cross-sector collaborations, including the Xynteo Exchange, Leadership Vanguard, India2022 and Europe Delivers.
Founded in Norway, Xynteo has offices in Oslo, London, Mumbai and New Delhi.
India2022, powered by Xynteo, is a business-led coalition that was conceptualised in late 2016 and launched in March 2017, with the support of its founding partners Aditya Birla Group (Hindalco), Cyient, Hindustan Unilever Limited, Shell, Tata Trusts, TechnipFMC, and WPP. It aims to leverage the power of collaboration to unlock a new kind of growth in India.
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