23.04.26

BIPP–ISB and IIM Sirmaur Collaborate to Strengthen Forest Economies and Women-Owned Enterprises

On 22 April 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 (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Sirmaur.

The collaboration focuses on strengthening research, field engagement, and policy dialogue on forest-based economies, with a particular emphasis on women-owned enterprises, tenure security, and forest-based livelihoods.

Scope of Work

The collaboration will focus on the following areas:

• deepening research on forest economies, with particular attention to women’s economic participation and enterprise development;

• examining tenure systems and institutional frameworks to better understand their role in shaping livelihood outcomes;

• supporting capacity-building initiatives, including training programmes, workshops, and field-based engagement;

• facilitating knowledge exchange between academic institutions, practitioners, and policymakers;

• generating evidence through field research, documentation, and case studies to inform policy and practice; and

• promoting interdisciplinary approaches to address socio-economic, and environmental challenges in forest-dependent regions.

Roles and Responsibilities

BIPP–ISB will contribute to the design and implementation of research initiatives, support field engagement, and lead efforts on documentation and knowledge dissemination. It will also facilitate linkages between stakeholders, including community institutions, practitioners, and policymakers, and co-organise capacity-building programmes and workshops.

IIM Sirmaur will collaborate on research and academic activities, contribute to programme design and delivery, and support knowledge generation through faculty expertise and institutional resources. It will also play a key role in capacity-building efforts, including training for women leaders of Producer Companies, and engage in joint initiatives such as workshops and academic exchanges to strengthen the overall impact of the collaboration.

By bringing together academic expertise, field engagement, and policy insights, the partnership aims to develop scalable, and evidence-based approaches to strengthening forest economies. These efforts are expected to enhance livelihood security, particularly for women-owned enterprises, while contributing to more inclusive, and sustainable development pathways.