SELCO Foundation

SELCO Foundation An open source not-for-profit enterprise creating solutions linking sustainable energy to poverty eradication across urban, rural and tribal areas

A little about us: SELCO Foundation is an open source, not for profit organization that engages in field-based R&D and ecosystem building for deployment of clean energy solutions that alleviate poverty in tribal, rural and urban poor areas. The organization works closely with practitioners in the social sector, energy entrepreneurs and partners from various developmental sectors. www.selcofoundation.org

The craft can stay. The drudgery doesn't have to.This National Handloom Day, we're thinking about what it really means t...
07/08/2026

The craft can stay. The drudgery doesn't have to.

This National Handloom Day, we're thinking about what it really means to preserve a craft.

Handloom carries generations of skill, memory, technique and knowledge. Preserving that heritage matters. But preserving the craft doesn't mean preserving every condition in which it is practiced.

Long hours, physically demanding processes, limited workspaces, unreliable power and weak market linkages can make weaving a difficult livelihood to sustain.

So, at SELCO Foundation, we ask a different question: how can we improve the conditions around the craft without changing the craft itself?

That could mean better tools and workspaces, reliable energy, stronger access to inputs or better connections to markets—so that more value reaches the artisan.

In the Northeast, where weaving often exists alongside farming, forest produce and other seasonal livelihoods, this also means looking at the wider ecosystem that shapes an artisan's livelihood.

Because preserving handloom isn't only about ensuring that a technique survives.

It's about creating the conditions for people to continue choosing it.



| Ashraya Hastha Trust | HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company Limited | LIC India Forever | CDSL - Central Depository Services India Ltd | | IKEA Foundation | | The Lemelson Foundation | Stichting DOEN |

From the Northeast to the Nation Meet the Innovator! Women powering the clean energy transition. In Assam, Saharia Solar...
07/08/2026

From the Northeast to the Nation
Meet the Innovator!

Women powering the clean energy transition.

In Assam, Saharia Solar OPC Pvt. Ltd., founded by Pallabi Deka Saharia, is making clean energy more accessible through locally designed solar solutions. What began as a determination to learn solar technology and serve her community has grown into a woman-led enterprise that delivers affordable, reliable energy solutions tailored to local needs, helping households and small enterprises transition to sustainable power.

By bringing clean energy closer to communities, the enterprise is improving everyday lives, strengthening local livelihoods, and inspiring more women to lead the transition towards resilient and sustainable futures.

This is one of many innovations emerging from the Northeast, where local ingenuity is creating solutions with the potential to transform livelihoods far beyond the region.

Are you a technology solutions provider from the Northeast?

Does it solve someone’s livelihood challenges in agriculture, animal husbandry, microenterprises or craft & textiles?

Join us at Solutions portal! - https://solutionsportal.org/en

A growing network of innovators showcasing climate-smart, energy-efficient technologies in a national digital marketplace. Connect with social enterprises, expand your reach, and scale your impact.

👉 Register your innovation today: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd0-XqweQG3LZxe7D-_q-EAh2BpY2kPAgrG9VSkRvqyBpdLSQ/viewform?usp=header&authuser=0



| Atal Innovation Mission | | Ashraya Hastha Trust | CDSL - Central Depository Services India Ltd | | IKEA Foundation | | The Lemelson Foundation | Stichting DOEN |

From the Northeast to the Nation Meet the Innovator! Energy access is the foundation of resilience. In Assam, Envo Renew...
06/08/2026

From the Northeast to the Nation
Meet the Innovator!

Energy access is the foundation of resilience.

In Assam, Envo Renewable Energy Services Private Limited, founded by Fazle Muztaba, is demonstrating how decentralized renewable energy can become the foundation for resilient communities. Recognizing that energy access is central to development, Fazle established ERES to deliver solar-powered solutions that extend beyond electrification, supporting livelihoods, healthcare, education, and community infrastructure across underserved regions of Northeast India.

By integrating clean energy into essential services and local enterprises, ERES is improving access to reliable energy, creating new livelihood opportunities, and strengthening community resilience through decentralized renewable energy solutions.

This is one of many innovations emerging from the Northeast, where local ingenuity is creating solutions with the potential to transform livelihoods far beyond the region.

Are you a technology solutions provider from the Northeast?

Does it solve someone’s livelihood challenges in agriculture, animal husbandry, microenterprises or craft & textiles?

Join us at Solutions portal! - https://solutionsportal.org/en

A growing network of innovators showcasing climate-smart, energy-efficient technologies in a national digital marketplace. Connect with social enterprises, expand your reach, and scale your impact.

👉 Register your innovation today: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd0-XqweQG3LZxe7D-_q-EAh2BpY2kPAgrG9VSkRvqyBpdLSQ/viewform?usp=header&authuser=0



| Atal Innovation Mission | | Ashraya Hastha Trust | CDSL - Central Depository Services India Ltd | | IKEA Foundation | | The Lemelson Foundation | Stichting DOEN |

What does it take to finance a livelihood?Formal credit is often presented as a straightforward journey: open a bank acc...
06/08/2026

What does it take to finance a livelihood?

Formal credit is often presented as a straightforward journey: open a bank account, find the right loan product, establish eligibility, and receive a loan.

But is that journey the same for everyone?

For example, in a remote terrain, each step becomes harder - for an entrepreneur to reach a bank, and equally for a bank to reach an entrepreneur.

What we've seen on the ground is that when formal finance is difficult to access, people don't stop borrowing. They often turn to informal lenders because they are nearby, familiar, and available. The trade-off is higher borrowing costs, making productive assets less affordable and limiting the ability of rural livelihoods to grow and withstand shocks.

The difference is not in entrepreneurial potential. It is in whether the financial ecosystem enables that potential through accessible institutions, context-appropriate financial products, and strong last-mile support.

If you're working on this challenge, we'd love to explore opportunities to collaborate and build solutions together. DM us.



| Odisha Gramya Bank | IKEA Foundation | | The Lemelson Foundation | Stichting DOEN |

06/08/2026

Building Resilient Healthcare Systems That Hold Under Stress!

In Arunachal Pradesh, where steep mountains, dense forests, and scattered communities make access difficult, 85.9% of institutional deliveries take place in public health facilities. For many communities, these facilities are the only point of care.

As climate change brings rising temperatures, floods, and landslides, strengthening last-mile healthcare requires systems that can continue to deliver care under stress.

50,000+ community members. 90 healthcare workers. 29 resilient health facilities.

This initiative has been successfully implemented in partnership with, the National Health Mission Arunachal Pradesh, the Government of Arunachal Pradesh, and Ashraya Hastha Trust, strengthening resilient last-mile healthcare across the state.

Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/Zya3_pNWiR4



IKEA Foundation | | The Lemelson Foundation | Stichting DOEN |

Everyone talks about producing more honey. But what will it take for the sector to truly grow?The honey value chain goes...
05/08/2026

Everyone talks about producing more honey.
But what will it take for the sector to truly grow?

The honey value chain goes far beyond honey itself. It supports rural and tribal livelihoods, strengthens pollination, improves agricultural productivity, and contributes to biodiversity conservation.

To explore how this ecosystem can grow stronger, SELCO Foundation convened a national Honey Ecosystem Roundtable, bringing together 22 stakeholders, from beekeepers & FPOs to researchers, enterprises & technology providers, to discuss the future of India's honey ecosystem.

The discussions highlighted opportunities to strengthen the sector through:

🍯 Better testing systems that enable faster market access and greater confidence for producers.
🍯 Greater awareness around honey quality to help consumers recognise the value of natural honey.
🍯 New livelihood opportunities through pollination services and value-added products beyond honey.
🍯 Technology-enabled decision making through IoT, advisory platforms, and traceability tools that help beekeepers access timely insights.

The biggest takeaway? A thriving honey sector needs a connected ecosystem.

When knowledge, technology, biodiversity, markets, and livelihoods come together, they can create stronger opportunities for beekeepers, producers, and the landscapes that sustain them.

The future of honey lies in collaboration, innovation, and building systems where both people and ecosystems can thrive.

Explore more about the honey value chain:https://selcofoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Honey-Value-Chain.pdf

Write to us if you're working on solutions for honey value chain or interested in advancing climate adaptation. We'd love to connect and explore opportunities to collaborate.



Ashraya Hastha Trust | | | Nagaland State Rural Livelihood Mission | PRIME Entrepreneurship Meghalaya | IKEA Foundation | | The Lemelson Foundation | Stichting DOEN |

Integrated planning is essential to building climate resilience. On 2 July 2026, the One-Day Workshop on Empowering Mizo...
05/08/2026

Integrated planning is essential to building climate resilience.

On 2 July 2026, the One-Day Workshop on Empowering Mizoram: Data-Driven Planning and Implementation – Pathways for Equitable Energy Transition, co-organised by the Planning & Programme Implementation Department, Government of Mizoram, and WRI India, brought together government departments, financial institutions, research organisations, civil society, and development partners to explore pathways for climate-resilient and inclusive development.

The conversations focused on strengthening evidence-based planning through GIS and data governance, advancing decentralized renewable energy across agriculture and healthcare, improving value chain financing, and fostering institutional convergence and capacity building to support sustainable livelihoods.

Building on these discussions, the next phase will focus on translating insights into integrated action, strengthening cross-sector collaboration, and scaling clean energy solutions that support an equitable energy transition across Mizoram.

Together, these efforts will help build an enabling ecosystem where communities can strengthen livelihoods, improve essential healthcare services, and adapt to a changing climate.



National Health Mission, Mizoram | Health & F.W. | IKEA Foundation | | The Lemelson Foundation | Stichting DOEN |

From the Northeast to the Nation Meet the Innovator! Reliable energy unlocks resilient communities. In Manipur, SNL Ener...
04/08/2026

From the Northeast to the Nation
Meet the Innovator!

Reliable energy unlocks resilient communities.

In Manipur, SNL Energy Solutions, founded by Seth Moirangthem, is expanding access to clean, reliable energy where conventional infrastructure often falls short. After witnessing the challenges of unreliable electricity in remote communities, Seth established the enterprise to design and deliver decentralized solar energy solutions that power households, livelihoods, healthcare, education, and public services.

By integrating clean energy with everyday needs, SNL Energy Solutions is enabling livelihood enterprises to thrive, strengthening essential services, and creating new opportunities across underserved communities in the Northeast.

This is one of many innovations emerging from the Northeast, where local ingenuity is creating solutions with the potential to transform livelihoods far beyond the region.

Are you a technology solutions provider from the Northeast?

Does it solve someone’s livelihood challenges in agriculture, animal husbandry, microenterprises or craft & textiles?

Join us at Solutions portal! - https://solutionsportal.org/en

A growing network of innovators showcasing climate-smart, energy-efficient technologies in a national digital marketplace. Connect with social enterprises, expand your reach, and scale your impact.

👉 Register your innovation today: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd0-XqweQG3LZxe7D-_q-EAh2BpY2kPAgrG9VSkRvqyBpdLSQ/viewform?usp=header&authuser=0



| Atal Innovation Mission | | Ashraya Hastha Trust | CDSL - Central Depository Services India Ltd | | IKEA Foundation | | The Lemelson Foundation | Stichting DOEN |

From the Northeast to the Nation Meet the Innovator! Traditional weaving thrives when innovation empowers artisans. In M...
03/08/2026

From the Northeast to the Nation
Meet the Innovator!

Traditional weaving thrives when innovation empowers artisans.

In Manipur, Biren Innovative Power Loom, founded by Sorokhaibam Biren Singh, is helping strengthen the region's rich weaving heritage through appropriate technology. Having grown up in a weaving community, Biren witnessed the skill and effort behind every handwoven fabric and developed his first Power Loom in 1993 to ease physical drudgery while preserving traditional craftsmanship. Refined over the decades, the innovation has significantly improved productivity without compromising the authenticity of handwoven textiles.

By making weaving faster, more efficient, and less labour-intensive, the enterprise is enabling artisans to strengthen livelihoods, preserve traditional weaving practices, and build greater resilience across weaving communities in the Northeast.

This is one of many innovations emerging from the Northeast, where local ingenuity is creating solutions with the potential to transform livelihoods far beyond the region.

Are you a technology solutions provider from the Northeast?

Does it solve someone’s livelihood challenges in agriculture, animal husbandry, microenterprises or craft & textiles?

Join us at Solutions portal! - https://solutionsportal.org/en

A growing network of innovators showcasing climate-smart, energy-efficient technologies in a national digital marketplace. Connect with social enterprises, expand your reach, and scale your impact.

👉 Register your innovation today: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd0-XqweQG3LZxe7D-_q-EAh2BpY2kPAgrG9VSkRvqyBpdLSQ/viewform?usp=header&authuser=0



| Atal Innovation Mission | | Ashraya Hastha Trust | CDSL - Central Depository Services India Ltd | Sony | IKEA Foundation | | The Lemelson Foundation | Stichting DOEN |

Let's talk cooling. We know people are feeling the heat. But how can they adapt to it? Adaptation isn't just about techn...
28/07/2026

Let's talk cooling.

We know people are feeling the heat. But how can they adapt to it?

Adaptation isn't just about technology, it's about making cooling solutions accessible, affordable and practical for the people who need them most.

Take the example of Tapaswini Sahoo, who runs a food processing unit in Bharatpur, Bhubaneswar. A heat-reflective false ceiling intervention reduced roof temperatures by up to 12°C, transforming a hot workspace into one where more than five workers could continue working comfortably throughout the day. It's a reminder that sometimes small innovations can make a meaningful difference.

But individual success stories are only the beginning. These solutions can be replicated across other microbusinesses and workspaces.

💡 Cooling innovations alone aren't enough. Scaling impact requires awareness, strong local partnerships, accessible finance and supportive policies that make these solutions easier to adopt.

Recognizing that local voices are essential to creating an enabling ecosystem for the adoption of cooling solutions, SELCO Foundation convened an Awareness Meet: Cooling Solutions for Urban Communities in Bhubaneswar last week. We were honored to have Ms. Sulochana Das mayor, Mayor, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, along with other distinguished guests, share their insights during the discussions.

The event brought together officials from BMC, civil society organizations, community leaders and over 130 street vendors and micro-entrepreneurs to exchange experiences, learn from successful cooling interventions and explore pathways for scaling climate-resilient livelihoods. Firsthand testimonials from entrepreneurs who have already adopted some of the solutions grounded the discussions in real-world experiences, demonstrating how cooling innovations can improve both working conditions and livelihoods.

As our climate changes, the conversation must move beyond heat stress to heat adaptation.

Let's talk cooling. Let's make adaptation possible.

Stay tuned as we continue to share stories, innovations, and conversations on cooling.

Write to us if you're working on cooling or interested in advancing climate adaptation. We'd love to connect and explore opportunities to collaborate.



| C40 Cities | | IKEA Foundation | | The Lemelson Foundation | Stichting DOEN |

Address

# 690, 15th Cross, 2nd Phase J P Nagar
Bangalore
560078

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Thursday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Friday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Saturday 9:30am - 5:30pm

Telephone

+918026493145

Website

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