Sangam Collaborative launches in India as philanthropic initiative for health, education, nutrition

The Gates Foundation, Piramal Foundation, Adalaj Textile Engineering (ATE). Chandra Foundation, Dhanam Foundation, Surgo Foundation and Children’s Investment Fund Foundation have launched the Sangam Collaborative in India. The launch was announced at the AVPN Global Conference 2026 at Bharat Mandapam on August 25, 2026.

This philanthropic initiative will improve health, education and nutrition outcomes across Jharkhand, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Bihar. The initiative will offer support to states where around 70 million people are estimated to face poverty. Sangam Collaborative will improve the delivery of essential services, mainly for communities with limited access to resources.

The initiative will combine philanthropic support with implementation capabilities and technical expertise to narrow down gaps in service delivery. The event was attended by Ajay Piramal, Piramal Foundation chairperson, Mark Suzman, Gates Foundation CEO and Amit Chandra, ATE Chandra Foundation co-founder.

Talking about the public systems, Ajay Piramal said, “Lasting change comes when we touch people’s everyday lives. By convening these capabilities across five priority states, home to 70 million people experiencing multidimensional poverty, we hope to contribute to a stronger, more inclusive and more prosperous Viksit Bharat.”

The other leaders highlighted the need for governments, philanthropies and civil society organisations that can work together to address poverty at a large scale.

Stronger public systems, service delivery

Sangam Collaborative will work with local experts and partners to improve how essential services, such as healthcare and education, are delivered. The major focus will be on areas that include leadership, institutional capacity, talent, processes and data systems.

The initiative will make public services more accessible and inclusive while making sure that improvements can be sustained and expanded across states. One example is Bihar, where partnerships between the state government, Gates Foundation, Piramal Foundation and others have helped towards the improvement of public health facilities, frontline services and data systems in the state.

Stating the remarkable progress of India, Mark Suzman, CEO, Gates Foundation, said, “This progress reflects the reach and effectiveness of government-led programs, consistent improvements in public delivery systems, and thoughtful application of technology and innovation at scale. The Gates Foundation remains committed to our longstanding partnership in India and to supporting the country’s continued development progress through initiatives such as the Sangam Collaborative.”