09.03.26

From Rights to Markets: BIPP–ISB and District Collector Office, Nandurbar, Join Hands for Tribal Forest Livelihoods in Maharashtra

On 6 March 2026, the Initiative on the Forest Economy (IoFE), housed within the Bharti Institute of Public Policy (BIPP) at the Indian School of Business (ISB), signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the District Collector Office, Nandurbar — marking a significant step in institutionalising government-research collaboration for tribal forest livelihoods in Maharashtra.

Nandurbar is a predominantly tribal district in northern Maharashtra, where Community Forest Resource (CFR) rights have opened pathways for communities to govern and benefit from their forests. At the centre of this partnership are tribal women-owned Producer Companies — community enterprises that aggregate, process, and trade Seasonal Forest Products (SFPs) sourced from CFR lands. These include bamboo, harra (harad), beheda, and amla — products with significant market potential that remain undervalued due to fragmented supply chains and limited institutional support.

A Structured, Multi-Pronged Collaboration

The three-year MoU defines a concrete scope of work across six intervention areas:

Market Linkages and Supply Chain Strengthening — IoFE will facilitate connections between Producer Companies and industrial buyers, support fair and transparent procurement, and work to diversify markets for forest-based commodities. The DC Office will coordinate with relevant line departments to enable market access for bamboo and other forest produce sourced from CFR lands.

Capacity Building and Training — Joint training programmes, workshops, and orientation sessions will be co-organised ahead of each forest produce season, covering quality standards, grading, packaging, and sustainable harvesting practices — equipping women leaders of Producer Companies and CFRMCs with practical skills.

Institutional Support for Community Enterprises — The collaboration will build institutional mechanisms to ensure transparent trade and efficient operations across the value chain, while the DC Office facilitates meetings between CFRMCs, Producer Companies, and market buyers.

Technology and Mechanisation — IoFE will assist Producer Companies in scaling operations through appropriate technologies and mechanisation solutions, with the DC Office supporting enabling infrastructure for primary and secondary processing of forest products.

Research, Documentation, and Knowledge Sharing — IoFE will map the distribution and abundance of selected SFPs to guide planning and market readiness, and publish reports, case studies, and policy briefs capturing best practices and measurable impacts. All knowledge products will be co-branded between the two institutions as equal partners.

Sustainability and Impact Measurement — Both parties will co-develop frameworks for monitoring, sustainability, and impact measurement at the Producer Company and community levels, with quarterly progress reviews and monthly inter-departmental coordination meetings convened by the DC Office.

The MoU clearly delineates responsibilities. IoFE leads on technical expertise — mapping SFP resources, facilitating market linkages, developing training modules, monitoring progress, and producing knowledge products. The DC Office brings administrative authority — coordinating across government departments, nominating a nodal officer for day-to-day liaison, facilitating capacity-building initiatives, and supporting infrastructure development. Together, they constitute a model of shared accountability between a research institution and district administration.

Building on Demonstrated Impact

This MoU builds on IoFE's longstanding work in Nandurbar — including supporting Maharashtra's first bamboo sale through a tribal women-owned Producer Company in the Legapani CFR area — and signals a new phase of institutionalised partnership to unlock the full potential of India's forest economy. By embedding research and evidence generation within a government-backed operational framework, the collaboration aims to create replicable models for how forest rights can be translated into lasting, dignified livelihoods for tribal communities.