India Leaders for Social Sector, EkStep Foundation join hands to accelerate digital capacity in social sector

India Leaders for Social Sector (ILSS) has joined hands with EkStep Foundation to expand and enhance the Koita Centre for Digital Transformation at ILSS.

Started in collaboration with Koita Foundation, the centre aims to empower non-profits with the digital skills and tools necessary to amplify impact and foster innovation, according to a press release.

The initiative aims to bridge the digital divide in the development ecosystem by offering structured leadership training, practical toolkits, and a vibrant ecosystem that enables mission-driven organisations to adopt technology and data more effectively, the release added.

Koita Centre for Digital Transformation (KCDT), housed within ILSS, has been operating since early 2025 under the leadership of Anirban Chaudhury, serving as a hub for experimentation, co-creation, and capacity-building for non-profits across the country.

A cornerstone of the partnership is the Digital Transformation for Social Impact programme, an immersive learning experience designed to help non-profit leaders enhance their digital strategies and execution. Building on this is the soon-to-be-launched Digital Toolbook for Social Impact, an open-access resource offering practical frameworks, real-world case studies, and actionable tools to integrate digital solutions into operations, programme delivery, fundraising, and impact assessment.

“This partnership with EkStep Foundation and Koita Foundation through KCDT is our collective response to a deeply felt need across the ecosystem—non-profits need support, not just with tools, but with the mindset and skillsets to lead digital transformation meaningfully,” said Anu Prasad, Founder and CEO of ILSS.

“Through KCDT, we are creating a space that enables social impact organisations to learn, adapt, and innovate using digital means—without losing sight of the human mission at the core. We believe the digital transformation of the sector must be inclusive, intentional, and guided by real-world insights from changemakers on the ground,” said Anirban Chaudhury, Head of KCDT.

“At Koita Foundation, we are committed to enabling long-term capacity in the sector by supporting initiatives like KCDT that provide structured guidance, peer learning, and real-world application. It’s about building digital confidence, not just digital systems,” said Rekha Koita, Co-founder and Director of Koita Foundation.

“Digital transformation in the social sector isn’t about just digitising existing processes—it’s about reimagining how we learn, interact, work, and deliver value to communities,” said Shankar Maruwada, CEO and Co-founder of EkStep Foundation.