LIVING ROOTS FOUNDATION
ABOUT
Who we are
The Centre for Policy is a non-profit and independent think‑and‑do tank based in Shillong.
We partner and collaborate with a broad range of stakeholders to drive impact through policy engagement, strategic advocacy, and partnerships focused on people, peace, and the planet.
The Centre is an initiative of the Living Roots Foundation, a non‑profit registered in Meghalaya under the Meghalaya Societies Registration Act, 1983.
The Foundation is an implementation partner of the United Nations and is listed on NITI Aayog’s DARPAN.
Why we exist
Everyday challenges in the towns and hills of the region: livelihood insecurity, fragile peace processes, rapid ecological change, and threats to freedom of expression, are often overlooked by distant policy processes.
The Centre was founded to close that gap by listening closely to communities, producing actionable research, and supporting implementation that reflects local realities.
Approach
We work from the ground up. That means placing affected communities at the centre of design and delivery, whether working with internally displaced communities in conflict zones, building processes for youth engagement in climate action, or training journalists to become stronger democratic actors.
Mission
01
Translate evidence into action — convert rigorous research into practical, locally led solutions that drive measurable impact.
02
Empower grassroots actors — build capacities, leadership, and agency among community stakeholders to shape policies that affect their lives.
03
Strengthen social protection — support inclusive systems that secure rights, livelihoods and equitable access to services.
04
Conserve ecosystems — protect and sustainably manage the region’s environment through collaborative partnerships and stewardship-led approaches.
Partnerships for Impact
Our partnerships with a broad range of stakeholders let us surface grassroots evidence to national and international decision makers and bring technical resources back into the places that need them most.
WHAT WE DO
01
Legislative drafting and legal design — We help produce clear, implementable statutes, model rules and compliance frameworks for governments
02
Research for legal and human rights processes — We conduct rigorous research and translate findings into formal inputs for legislative bodies, courts and international human rights mechanisms.
03
Capacity building and convening — We design workshops, training and multi‑stakeholder processes that strengthen institutional practice and civic participation.
04
Communications and public engagement — We translate technical material into accessible formats for media, communities and decision‑makers to improve uptake and oversight.
05
Partnerships for impact — We collaborate with local communities, government departments, international agencies and academic partners to pilot, scale and institutionalise solutions.
06
Policy research and advisory — Combine qualitative fieldwork with legal analysis to surface context‑sensitive recommendations that policymakers can adopt quickly.