In a world where development challenges are increasingly interconnected, spaces that enable collaboration and fresh thinking are essential.

The Dialogues on Development Management (DoDM) is one such space. In 2024, it brought together over 1,100 participants from 470+ purpose-driven organisations.

In 2025, it's set to be even bigger and more action-driven. Expect immersive sessions, live polls, and networking breaks to stay engaged and energised throughout the day.

Looking Back: What Made DoDM 2024 So Impactful?

DoDM 2024 wasn't just a conference; it was a space to question, co-create, and reimagine how we build systems that truly serve.

Here's a glimpse of sessions:

• Storytelling for the Development Sector
• Data for Better Intervention Design
• A Gender-Inclusive Approach to Organisational Development
• Strengthening Compliance through Effective Governance
• New Age Communication for Social Impact

Participants left with:

• Hacks to communicate impact more effectively using analogies, credible data, and visuals
• Hands-on experience with the DataSights platform to extract actionable insights
• Strategies to build resilient organisations
• Compliance insights on the Income Tax Act, 1961, and FCRA

Voices of the Participants

We reached out to participants to hear how the experience resonated with them. Here is what they had to say.

"What stood out for me was the design and execution of the event, which were deeply rooted in the collaborative spirit of sector leaders."

"I deeply appreciate the platform that ISDM has created to bring attention to the critical field of Development Management."

"Got deep insights into using data as evidence and influencing decisions through data. While implementation is crucial for any project, communicating evidence must be aligned with the stakeholders' agenda."

"What stayed with me is the importance of identifying the right people and utilising data effectively."

What's Coming in 2025: New Ideas, Immersion and More

• Kick-off with a plenary on Viksit Bharat @2047 and the role of SPOs
• Dive into four immersive tracks on decentralised decision-making, managing intergenerational teams, building finance, and scaling impact
• Attend immersive masterclasses and engage with changemakers across the country
• Explore grassroots insights through research presentations
• Connect with peers, leaders, and innovators from the development space

DoDM 2025 promises a dynamic mix of learning, reflection, and meaningful dialogue.

Whether you are part of the social sector or passionate about change, DoDM 2025 invites you to join and strengthen Development Management.

Don't miss your chance to shape what's next. Register now for DoDM 2025.

Register now

Social sector organisations often struggle to sustain themselves due to compliance hurdles, financial instability, and weak governance.

Many, despite their bold missions to address poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation, falter not from lack of intent but due to critical management gaps.

Dialogues on Development Management (DoDM) 2024 brought together leaders, funders, and practitioners to reimagine how the sector is managed and led.

It emerged as a vibrant platform for collaboration across the three key pillars—Samaaj (society), Sarkaar (government), and Bazaar (market).

A glimpse of the four DoDM 2024 tracks

There were four thematic tracks in DoDM 2024. The conference focused on strengthening development management frameworks to tackle global and local challenges, such as water scarcity, hunger, inequity, and access to essential resources.

Track 1: Building the Sector of the Future
This track explored how impact measurement, philanthropic innovation, and collaborative ecosystems can build a stronger, future-ready social sector.

Track 2: Building Resilient Organisations
With a focus on long-term sustainability, this track explored what it takes to build organisational resilience, be it through financial stability, talent strategies, culture, or operations.

Track 3: Building a Voice for the Sector
The social sector often does the work but lacks visibility. This track tackled how to elevate its voice, attract new talent, and expand its influence across policy and public discourse.

Track 4: Research Paper Presentations
A dedicated research track brought together academics, development professionals, and social entrepreneurs to present 12 research papers.

They presented themes like organisational resilience, community-led sustainability, data and tech for social impact, and the evolving roles of Samaaj, Sarkaar, and Bazaar.

Key takeaways from the Dialogue:

• Governance and market systems must align with societal values to ensure equitable development.
• Samaaj must take ownership of governance, collaborating with Sarkaar and Bazaar to develop systems that reflect cultural values.
• Nonprofits and corporates can add local context to government initiatives, maintaining diversity while achieving scalability and inclusivity.
• Trust-based partnerships among all three are critical for sustainable impact.
• Nonprofits must strengthen governance and compliance to gain the confidence of Sarkaar and Bazaar.
• Open, strategic communication enables cross-sector collaboration.
• Civil society plays a crucial role in amplifying grassroots voices and shaping inclusive policy.

What lies ahead: DoDM 2025

DoDM 2024 reinforced the need for strong management, effective leadership, and sector-wide collaboration. The 2025 edition brings bold ideas and immersive sessions.

There will be four tracks combining research, discussions, and masterclasses, building a shared body of knowledge.

Track 1: The Art and Science of Decision Making
Track 2: Strengthening the Core for Social Change
Track 3: Financing the Future of Social Change
Track 4: Delivering Social Impact at Scale

Building on the DoDM 2024, we now look forward to DoDM 2025. It will offer practical insights, new perspectives, and connections to amplify your impact.

Join us at DoDM 2025. Registration is now open

Register now

DoDM is India’s leading conference on Development Management. A collaborative space where purpose-driven organisations come together to ideate, co-create, and develop strategies to create impact at scale.

Over time, it has become a significant convening for India’s social impact community.

Last year, in November 2024, at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi, we welcomed over 1100 participants from across the country, along with 27 international contributors who submitted research papers.

People joined us from social impact organisations, consulting firms, government departments, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) units, for-profit enterprises, universities, and think tanks.

Curious about what DoDM 2024 was all about?

At DoDM 2024, Samaaj (society), Sarkaar (government), and Bazaar (market) came together to question, collaborate, and co-create the future of Development Management in India.

The dialogue spotlighted the urgent need to rethink management frameworks to drive effective interventions around water scarcity, hunger, inequality, etc.

With 100+ speakers, from grassroots leaders to philanthropy, policy, and education researchers, it was a day of bold ideas, reflection, and insights ready for action.

People attended from global foundations like the Ford Foundation, the NASSCOM Foundation, PRADAN, Magic Bus, Quest Alliance, and more.

Key highlights from DoDM 2024:

• Thought leaders such as Aamir Khan, Amit Chandra, Pramath Raj Sinha, and Dr. Shamika Ravi shared powerful perspectives on the development scale and impact.
• Launched the Outcomes Readiness Framework, a self-assessment tech tool designed to help nonprofits evaluate their readiness for outcomes-based work.
• Announced Code4Change 2, an initiative that sought to empower the Social Purpose Organisations (SPOs) ecosystem to leverage data science for enhanced operations, efficiency, and impact.
• Introduced a first-of-its-kind research track connecting academics and practitioners through 12 paper presentations.

What lies ahead: DoDM 2025

DoDM 2024 brought together people from across the development sector. It highlighted the need for sustainability, inclusion, and data-driven decisions.

The 2025 edition goes further, with new voices, bold ideas, and immersive sessions. You will leave with practical insights to strengthen management practices in social sector interventions and amplify your impact.

You will explore the science of decision making, strategies to manage intergenerational teams, practices to manage working capital, and build financial resilience, etc.

Whether you’re with a nonprofit, CSR, government organisation, funding organisation, or any social purpose organisation, or someone passionate about the social sector, DoDM 2025 is for you.

Register now

Save your spot at DoDM 2025 and build the future of Development Management together.

By Jayant, Koumari and Malaika , PGP-DM, Batch 08 | Published: 22 April, 2025

Once we returned from our eye-opening experience with Realizing India (RI), our classrooms felt different. This time, we weren’t just sitting at desks with notebooks; we were encouraged to bring the world outside into our learning. In Term 3, we embarked on a journey that would change how we viewed development and its role in society. We were introduced to three important courses: Systems Design, Intervention Design, and Development Monitoring and Evaluation.

We kicked things off with Systems Design, where we applied the principles of Systems Thinking to our RI projects. We had the freedom to choose topics related to the districts we had visited, which was both exciting and empowering. As we explored these topics, we were challenged to question our assumptions. Looking at our chosen issues through a Systems lens helped us see the connections between seemingly unrelated events. It was fascinating to discover how one problem could affect many aspects of a community in ways we hadn’t considered before.

Next, we moved on to Intervention Design. This course introduced us to Purposeful Program Theory (PPT), which built on what we learned in Systems Design by emphasizing clarity and intention. We started by clearly defining the problems we wanted to tackle, then identified specific focus areas, and carefully mapped out a logical chain of outcomes leading to our goals. Throughout this process, we kept in mind both the factors that could help us and those that might hold us back. Our quest to understand the root causes of issues pushed us to dig deeper until we got to the heart of the problems. This structured approach showed us how logical thinking could help us address complex social challenges.

Finally, we explored Development Monitoring and Evaluation (DME). This course highlighted the importance of monitoring and evaluation as tools for learning, making decisions, and adapting our strategies. We realized that every development practitioner needs to be skilled in DME. Knowing how we’re performing and identifying areas for improvement is crucial for effective practice. We learned that evaluation isn’t just a formality; it’s a continuous cycle of reflection and growth.

As we wrapped up our final assignments for the DME course, a sense of accomplishment filled the room. We had navigated a rich landscape of learning, and now it was time for a well-deserved winter break. This pause allowed us to rest, reflect on the valuable insights we had gained, and prepare for the upcoming jury presentations—both individual and group—that awaited us in the first week of January. The thought of sharing our work and insights with others filled us with excitement and a renewed sense of purpose. We were ready to take what we had learned in the classroom and apply it to the real world, equipped with the tools to make a meaningful impact.

A Night to Remember: Celebrating Prom at ISDM

At ISDM, we all know how intense and demanding our curriculum can be. With back-to-back lectures, assignments, and discussions, our schedules often leave little room for anything else. But amidst the rigor, there exists a side of ISDM that is equally enriching—one that allows us to pause, celebrate, and create memories together.

December brought with it one such occasion: Prom Night, or as some called it, the Christmas Carnival. It was a night unlike any other, filled with music, laughter, and the joy of togetherness. What made it special was the inclusivity—it wasn’t just about bringing a “date.” You could attend with a friend, a group, or even as a trio; the idea was to enjoy and be yourself.The heart of our celebration was Majlis, a space where we usually immerse ourselves in learning. But on this night, it transformed completely. The room was decorated in red, blue, and white, setting the perfect backdrop for the evening. A red carpet welcomed us at the entrance, accompanied by a beautiful song playing in the background, making everyone feel special as they stepped in. The event kicked off with awards, where each cohort member received a title—some funny, some heartwarming, but all deeply relatable. It was a way to ensure that no one felt left out, reinforcing the strong sense of community we have built over time. As the night progressed, the dance floor came alive with a DJ night featuring an eclectic mix of Bollywood, Punjabi, Marathi, and regional music. The energy was contagious— everyone danced, laughed, and let loose, momentarily forgetting the stress of deadlines and coursework.

Looking back, Prom Night was more than just an event—it was an experience. It reflected the spirit of ISDM, where learning and celebration go hand in hand. Just as our curriculum challenges conventional norms, the way we come together to celebrate is equally unique. This night was a reminder that ISDM is not just about academics; it is about people, emotions, and memories that make the journey worthwhile.

Special Highlights

One of the most enriching aspects of ISDM’s curriculum is Realizing India (RI)—a unique 15-day immersion program where students travel to different districts across the country. This journey is not just about exploration but about deeply understanding the people, their culture, and the real-world challenges they face. It is an experience of stepping into their shoes, seeing life through their lens, and building narratives that reflect their realities.

Upon returning, we had the incredible opportunity to showcase our learnings and experiences at the RI Mela, held at the beautiful Rose Garden of the India International Centre. The event was more than just an exhibition; it was a space where each group brought their district’s identity to life through stories, products, and artifacts. But what made it even more special was the interaction with CSR heads, global leaders, industry experts, CEOs of NGOs, and key players in the social impact space. Their insights, advice, and encouragement broadened our perspectives, deepened our understanding, and reinforced our commitment to driving meaningful change. The event was not just about presenting; it was about learning, networking, and co-creating knowledge with people who have spent years in this sector.

The energy carried forward into the very next day, November 21, 2024, with the Dialogues on Development Management (DoDM)—a pioneering national conference that took place at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, Delhi. Launched in 2023, this initiative aims to bring together diverse voices from the development sector, including Social Purpose Organizations (SPOs), consultancies, financial institutions, and CSR leaders. This year, we were privileged to have Aamir Khan—not as an actor, but as the CEO of Paani Foundation—as our chief guest. His presence and insights were a testament to the power of using influence for social good.

DoDM was a day of intense discussions, thought-provoking workshops, and meaningful dialogues. It provided us, as ISDM students, a golden opportunity to engage with experts, hear firsthand accounts of their experiences, and reflect on the complexities of development management. More than just an event, it was a moment of realization—of the work that lies ahead, of the potential we hold, and of the collective effort needed to create lasting impact.