LIVING ROOTS FOUNDATION
About Us
The Living Roots Foundation established the Centre for Policy to advance inclusive and people‑centred development in Meghalaya, India.
It partners and collaborates with a broad range of stakeholders to drive impact through policy engagement, strategic advocacy, and partnerships focused on people, peace, and the planet.
The Foundation is a non‑profit registered in Meghalaya under the Meghalaya Societies Registration Act, 1983.
Mission
01
Empower grassroots communities:
We build capacities, nurture leadership, and strengthen agency among community stakeholders so they can shape the policies that affect their lives.
02
Strengthen social protection:
We work in partnership with multilateral institutions, regional agencies, civil society, and academia to promote systems that secure rights, safeguard livelihoods, and ensure equitable access for all.
03
Support partners for healthy environments:
We collaborate to bridge gaps and create conditions in which every person in Meghalaya can live a healthy, safe, and dignified life.
Approach
The Foundations works from the ground up, placing affected communities at the heart of design and delivery.
We engage directly with those most impacted: whether supporting internally displaced children and mothers in conflict zones, building inclusive processes for youth leadership in climate and community action, or equipping journalists to serve as stronger community actors.
By involving stakeholders in every stage of the process, we ensure that solutions are co‑created, evidence‑based, and responsive to local realities. This participatory approach strengthens ownership, builds resilience, and translates grassroots experience into policy and practice that can drive lasting change.
How We Work
We achieve our mission by combining technical expertise with community‑driven engagement
Provide technical support
We work hand‑in‑hand with governments, multilateral organisations, and public agencies to build platforms and strengthen systems that serve all people equitably.
Conduct research
We ensure our work is rooted in evidence from communities in Meghalaya, so that policies and programmes reflect lived realities rather than imposing external assumptions.
Host workshops and dialogues
We convene workshops, dialogues, and conferences on our focus areas, creating spaces for shared learning and collective action.
Our Home
The Foundation's work focuses on our home: Meghalaya, a state known for its rich cultural heritage and unique ecological landscapes.
We work closely with communities across the state to ensure that local realities shape our programmes and partnerships.
Being grounded in Meghalaya allows us to connect grassroots evidence with national and international platforms, while staying true to the lived experiences of the people we serve.
Our presence here reflects our commitment to building solutions that emerge from the ground up and resonate far beyond the region.
Financial Transparency
Credibility begins with clarity. As an implementation partner of the United Nations, the Living Roots Foundation maintains robust financial transparency across all its operations. Our accounts are independently audited and reported to our partner institutions in line with international standards, ensuring that every resource entrusted to us is traceable and accountable.
As a matter of organisational policy, the Foundation currently does not accept grants or donations from government agencies or private companies. This principle safeguards our independence and reinforces our commitment to people‑centred action. By relying on partnerships with multilateral institutions, civil society, and community stakeholders, we ensure that our work remains grounded in integrity and free from undue influence.
Leadership
Meet the team behind the Foundation
Founder
Jade Jeremiah Lyngdoh
Jade is a community organiser, lawyer, writer, and public policy professional with a record of bridging grassroots voices and institutional platforms.
Director
Grazeldiz Eamon Lyngdoh
Grazel is a development practitioner with experience leading a World Bank–funded project and engaging senior public representatives, civil servants, frontline workers, and communities to drive inclusive outcomes.
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.