In 2008, we formed the PwC India Foundation (PwCIF) with one vision: To do good. We came from different backgrounds and cultures and were bound by our shared values, the core of which was to solve important problems and touch people’s lives.
With the help of our stakeholders – both internal and external – we have consistently turned intent into impact through our interventions which are continually focused on the most vulnerable communities.
Watch our film, ‘The PwCIF journey: From commitment to action’, to know more about our key projects across the country.
Over the years, our projects have explored many areas where we can make a positive impact. These are as follows:
We are supporting and building resilience amongst India’s most vulnerable communities in 19 States and Union Territories and 13 Aspirational Districts
Sanjeev Krishan
Chairperson, PwC in India
In my experience, even playing a small role in giving back to society has always given me much more in return – a sense of purpose, valuable learning and a more holistic perspective. I recently had one such opportunity where I interacted with some bright, young minds in a session organised by PwCIF. What amazed me about this energetic and sharp group of youngsters is their ability to keep things simple, while making absolute sense of them. I think sometimes as we get older, we tend to make things more complex than they are, and this experience was a breath of fresh air in that sense.
Manpreet Singh Ahuja
Chief Digital Officer (CDO), PwC India
Thinking beyond ourselves and giving back to society, even in a small way, can be an energising and fulfilling experience. Recently, I interacted with some young minds in a session organised by PwCIF, where I had a discussion on various topics related to ‘Why go digital’. The energy and ideas of these younglings, their ability to grasp, and most importantly, their determination to go beyond their circumstances, learn new skills, and contribute to society was extremely heartening to witness.
The six months of volunteering were absolutely rewarding and enriching. It reminded me how important it is to give back to society, treat everyone with respect, appreciate small things in life and not let the humanity within you die. Having said that, every journey we embark upon in life involves its own set of speed breakers and roadblocks. But that’s what makes the journey even more memorable. The determination shown by all the people involved in the volunteering initiative indeed made this entire model workable and a huge success.
Ayushi Jain, Associate, Volunteer, PwCIF
I have always been intrigued and motivated towards adding value towards the society. But in this fast paced world, where it is really difficult to take out time for your family and professional commitments, we often miss out on the thought of giving back to the society.
At PwC, we believe that every step counts and PwC CSR team has given me the opportunity to contribute towards society with my professional commitments. When we meet like minded colleagues enthusiastic about helping the society and the environment around us, it really gives you boost to go extra miles and create an impact on lives of the people. Trust me when you see the smile on the faces of the people when you connect with them, that feeling is phenomenal
I urge everyone to join and contribute little on their part by giving your little time which can create a positive impact. Thank you so much to the PwC CSR team for giving me this platform to lead so many CSR events, and for the wonderful opportunities to make a difference.
Raj Agrawal, Associate, Volunteer, PwCIF
PwCIF’s initiatives for providing access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities
The United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 has set a target to eliminate open defecation and ensure that everyone has access to sustainable sanitation facilities by 2030. The goal focuses on paying special attention to the sanitary needs of women and girls, and those in vulnerable conditions.
There is acute inequality in access to safe and sustainable sanitation facilities in India. Over 90% of the country’s urban residents have access to sanitation facilities compared to 39% of the rural residents. Additionally, 44% of the population continues to defecate in the open.
PwCIF has been collaborating with several NGOs to expand access to safe WASH facilities as they are a critical focus area impacting the well-being of vulnerable and at-risk communities. We contribute by upgrading WASH facilities, conducting awareness trainings, providing sanitary napkins and helping rebuild toilets for communities affected by natural disasters. Our efforts have benefited school children, adolescent girls and both urban and rural communities across India. The infrastructural support we provide includes gender-segregated toilets with running water and handwashing facilities.
Click here how PwCIF is supporting WASH programmes across different states
The importance of driving inclusive education has never been more crucial, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic which has disrupted the education of students from socioeconomically vulnerable backgrounds. PwCIF is committed to ensuring that students are not left behind or forced to drop out of educational institutions due to the lack of access to quality education. Providing non-formal education to underprivileged children, funding online education, awarding scholarships, mentoring students to complete their secondary and higher secondary education through bridge schools, linking students with appropriate career choices, developing leadership capacities in schoolchildren, and providing after-school learning support are all part of our work. Given our firm belief in inclusion, our education programmes include the rehabilitation of differently abled children.
We also support skill development initiatives for the youth and adults, with a special focus on capacity building of women to increase their employability, and work on locally relevant alternative livelihood options.
Click here for a glimpse of the education and skill development projects we have supported.
The impact of humanitarian disasters such as floods and droughts on communities is multifaceted and causes destruction, trauma and irrevocable loss. A central part of PwCIF’s work consists of responding to the critical and immediate needs of affected communities. We work towards relief, recovery and rehabilitation with the support of local institutions. – beginning with a need assessment, identifying the most vulnerable amongst prospective beneficiaries, consulting local governments and community-based organisations, and finally, carrying out restoration work. Our work also involves capacity building of people and supporting infrastructure to enhance resilience to future challenges.
Since 2013, we have been responding to natural disasters, including the Uttarakhand floods in 2013, the Chennai floods in 2015, the Assam, Bihar and West Bengal floods in 2017, and the Kerala floods in 2018. Our drought mitigation intervention included providing support to drought-stricken areas in Uttar Pradesh in 2016 and Maharashtra in 2017. We have also worked towards relief, recovery and rehabilitation efforts during Cyclone Vardah in Chennai in 2016 and Cyclones Fani (2019) and Amphan (2020) in West Bengal.
Click here to know more.
Climate change, environmental degradation and dwindling resources are some of the world’s most critical issues impacting health, food security and livelihoods. PwC has committed to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. PwCIF is committed to restoring the environment and protecting vulnerable communities who are significantly affected by these challenges. We have carried out several interventions towards environmental sustainability, including projects focusing on afforestation, alternative livelihoods, artificial glacier building, drought mitigation and adaptation, and clean cooking.
Click here to find out more
PwC India introduced the School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) model in India with the aim of building the related ecosystem in India by providing support to budding social entrepreneurs in India. School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) India was formally launched in February 2016 to offer its flagship programme, a nine-month Social Start-Up Fellowship which helps passionate individuals from across the country to build entrepreneurial mindset & hone their social purpose to solve some of the most complex social problems in the country.
PwC India has been an integral part of SSE India's journey and supports the latter through funding and logistics support. The collaboration also actively engages PwC People in a number of ways to provide volunteering opportunities. These opportunities include review of applications and selection of the final cohort, conducting sessions for the Fellows as action learning facilitators, subject experts and witnesses narrating their own journey, and providing one-on-one mentorship support to the Fellows.
Since inception, over 80 fellows have benefited from the SSE ecosystem to provide solutions to pressing challenges. They have helped generate livelihoods, empower women and vulnerable sections including tribal communities and have contributed to supporting civic systems across Indian states.
Nursing Assistant training for youngsters from slums of Maharashtra
PwCIF partnered with its NGO partner in Thane and Mumbai to train 97 youngsters from the slums on vocational training program (Nursing Assistant) at the existing Livelihood Development Centers (LDC) in Thane and Bandra.
Click here to know more.
Beach cleanup, Carter Road, Mumbai
1,340 volunteers
18,600 hours of volunteering
Volunteering through PwCIF aligns seamlessly with PwC’s organisational values, as it reflects our commitment to solving important problems in the society by building trust and fostering a sense of responsibility towards the communities we serve.
By encouraging and supporting volunteering initiatives, PwC empowers its employees to live out its values in action, reinforcing its commitment to social responsibility and creating a positive impact beyond their core business operations. In FY22-23, 1,340 volunteers across the firm contributed nearly 18,600 hours of volunteering according to their area of expertise and skillset. They contributed through various in-person, virtual, general volunteering and skilled volunteering initiatives.
PwC’s commitment to help marginalised communities and advancing access to opportunities towards an equitable future is not limited to the work it takes up for corporate responsibility. We go far and beyond our obligations to ensure that we reach out to our communities to impact their lives positively. We do this by offering pro bono services to those most in need of our services.
In FY22-23, we had six pro bono projects across six states and union territories covering thematic areas, including education, skill development, sustainable livelihood and healthcare.
Beach cleanup, Carter Road, Mumbai
1,340 volunteers
18,600 hours of volunteering
Read more
Enhanced teaching-learning processes in Kathua, J&K
In FY22-23 we had 6 pro bono projects across 5 states and union territories covering thematic areas including – education and skill development, livelihood and climate change
Read morePwCIF partnered with its NGO partner Gorakhpur Environment Action Group in West Champaran, Bihar to build resilience among the flood affected communities and create livelihood opportunities. This was done by introducing farm based intervention, building capacity among the affected communities through flood resilient agriculture practices and use of early weather communication channels.
40 model farmers were trained on climate-smart flood resilient agriculture practices. A wooden boat which could double as a rescue boat was also constructed to be used by the Musahar community for their livelihood.
PwCIF partnered with its NGO partner Panchsheel Development Trust in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh to build resilience among the flood affected communities and create livelihood opportunities. 50 model farmers from the displaced community were helped with training on riverbed farming and given goats for income generation. A village development plan was developed that focused on making people self-reliant through the creation of sustainable livelihoods. Additionally, communities were helped with opportunities for attaining quality education and connected to government assistance for their overall socio-economic development.
PwCIF partnered with its NGO partner Hope Kolkata Foundation in Kolkata, West Bengal to reach out to disadvantaged children aged 6-14 from the slums and helped them complete primary education in a child-friendly, inclusive environment. Children with special needs had access to inclusive education in school. As a result of the interventions parents of children with special needs are now able to identify children with disabilities early. Additionally, teachers and community members are made aware of how to identify and support children with special needs.
PwCIF partnered with its NGO partner Voice4Girls in Khammam, Telangana to educate 250 adolescent girls with VOICE curriculum. Her VOICE curriculum aims to help marginalized adolescent girls to take informed decisions about their future and plan accordingly. The program focuses on critical knowledge i.e., health, safety, rights and future planning along with life skills i.e., problem solving, independent critical thinking ability, negotiation, decision making and interpersonal skills.
PwCIF partnered with its NGO partner Eco Watch in Yadgir, Karnataka to empower the community to conserve our environment through rainwater harvesting and solid waste management. Nearly 2.0 lac liters water could be harvested through the rainwater harvesting system built to aid groundwater recharge in Adarsha Vidyalaya- Government High School where 386 school children along with 800 people and 250 households in the neighborhood are benefitting from the intervention. About 500 kgs of plastic waste could also be collected through solid waste management at the school.
PwCIF partnered with World Wide Fund for nature (WWF India) in western Arunachal Pradesh to establish 3 Community Conserved Areas (CCAs) for conserving forests and creating sustainable economic opportunities for the local communities. In year 2 of our intervention, we provided technical training on cultivation to the farmers, installed 2 storage units, solar fences, distributed Rajma and soyabean seeds and created ‘Mon Harvest’, a platform composed of local SHGs for packaging and distribution of local produce.
PwCIF partnered with its NGO partner Kherwadi Social Welfare Association in Thane and Mumbai to train 97 youngsters from the slums on vocational training program (Nursing Assistant) at the existing Livelihood Development Centers (LDC) in Thane and Bandra.
PwCIF partnered with its NGO partner in Nandurbar, Maharashtra to connect 5000 beneficiaries from 4 villages to government schemes such as Ayushman Bharat, ICDS and NRHM. 10 Health screening camps were organized for 1000 children to contribute towards positive health outcomes.
PwCIF partnered with its NGO partner Bal Umang Drishya Sanstha (BUDs) in NCR, Delhi to reach out to the beneficiaries from urban slums of Delhi and rural Mewat. Health check-up, health education and counseling provided to 4069 adults and 1805 children and youth.
PwCIF partnered with its NGO partner BAIF Sustainable Livelihoods & Development in Dang, Gujarat to establish a Common Facility Centre (CFC) to support Bamboo artisans in bulk production, quality, and standardization of bamboo products using modern tools. 200 artisans were sensitized and provided exposure on technology and new product designs through this intervention.
PwCIF partnered with its NGO partner The Corbett Foundation in Madhya Pradesh to support residents of the Kanha Tiger Reserve to restore the landscape of the Reserve. The local communities are being trained on sustainable ways of procuring NTFPs. In addition, we helped the communities grow Napier Grass which serves as fodder for their cattle while also reducing human-animal conflict by keeping the cattle from venturing into the forest. The residents have been trained on growing saplings in their backyard nurseries.
The community members were also trained on sustainable ways to harvest honey and the flower of Mahua. For harvesting of honey, training and honey extraction kits were provided. 60 bee boxes were given out to 60 households for sustainable honey cultivation. The beneficiaries were also supported with marketing of the honey. Additionally, 5 hectares of land was undertaken for plantation, where 2800 saplings were planted. Lantana was de-weeded from the area.
In FY 23 we had 6 pro bono projects across 5 states and union territories covering thematic areas including – education and skill development, livelihood and climate change.
As of 2021, the literacy rate in rural India is around 73.5%. This includes 81% male & 65% female. Children have limited or no access to transportation in many of the rural villages. As soon as they complete primary education, for the higher grade, they need to travel to other taluk headquarter or villages which could be located at a distance of 3KM to 8KM. Considering the challenge around transportation many of the children, especially girls dropout from schools due to lack of accessibility, affordability of the transportation cost and tedious traveling time taken up by walking every day. To address this issue and help the children PwCIF in collaboration with Vanavasi Kalyana distributed 42 bicycles to the tribal children from the Beda and chanchu Community. 13 Boys and 29 Girls received the bicycle. This support will ensure that the children don’t drop out of schools, save their travel time and focus more on academics.
PwCIF partnered with SSE to provide mentorship to 24 mentees to provide them with a conducive learning environment for social entrepreneurship. Jayanta, 29, is one such mentee who joined our Social Start-up Fellowship programme (North East and West Bengal) to work on gaining clarity and new ideas and to build connections with other potential organizations to collaborate and improve himself as a person and a social entrepreneur.
Jayanta belongs to a humble background and comes from a beautiful village in Assam, which motivated him to work for rural communities in India. Immediately after his graduation, he started his own venture and worked with governments, corporates, and social organizations serving varied audiences and issues. His field experience equipped him with a clear understanding of gaps in the rural healthcare system. “I have lost my uncle, and four of my close relatives; my parents still suffer from lasting illnesses, all because of the challenges in healthcare in rural communities. People do not have access to and awareness of better healthcare. The existing options mostly do not offer sufficient care with dignity.” These collectively triggered Jayanta to do something in rural healthcare and seek mentorship under our programme.
PwCIF in partnership with Desai Foundation provided women from low-income communities with training on tailoring. Mrs. Parameshwari joined the sewing training in the month of December 2021. Earlier, she would go for 100 days of work and not have other livelihood opportunities for the rest of the year, but now she has started earning from the comfort of her home with her newly acquired tailoring skills.
With SIDHA, PwCIF has built a Gobar gas plant of 2 CuM capacity at Rudan Devi’s home saving her 720 hours a years in collection of fuel wood from the forest. Now she uses droppings of her goat, cows and oxen as raw material for the Gobar Gas plant. The gas from the plant is used for cooking. She also plans to use slurry as manure in her kitchen garden.
Credit: WWF India
Nima is a farmer from Lish Gonpache in Lish Community Conserved Area (CCA), maintained in the CCAs under the partnership between PwCIF and WWF India. His farm lies close to the forest patches around Lish Gonpache. Prior to the solar-fencing initiative, his crops were raided by wild animals. The solar fencing in Lish Gonpache was installed between December 2021 and January 2022. Nima shares his feedback on how the solar fencing is working and helping his farm:
“The installation of solar fencing was a big success. Now, neither monkeys nor wild pigs come inside the farm. This has been very helpful. Now, the responsibility is with us. We need to keep the fenced area clean for it to work properly.”
Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu - 97 beneficiaries were taught tailoring. 40 women started their own business and are earning approx. Rs. 3000-Rs. 8000 per month.
Khammam, Telangana - 250 Adolescent Girls were taught life skills such as problem solving, independent critical thinking and decision making etc. Programme focuses on critical knowledge on health, safety and human rights.
Yadgiri, Karnataka - Foundational skills built in in tribal children through 10 learning centers
Dahod, Ahmedabad - 40000 liters of rainwater harvesting and storage system built at KGBV Girls hostel
Gadchiroli, Maharashtra - Honey collectors trained on scientific extraction of honey. 830 kg of honey worth Rs. 1,66,000 extracted.
Gajapati, Odisha - Nearly 87 lakh m3 water will be recharged through the land development initiatives.
Ramgarh, Jharkhand - 250 families were introduced to the SRI technique of rice cultivation, Gobar Gas plants. Among them, 119 families planted 4000+ trees.
Sirohi, Rajasthan - Nutritional and economic status of 100 families was improved as they were introduced to cultivating their farmland twice in a year instead of just once.
Osmanabad - 312 students from nomadic community enrolled in the schools in 10 locations
Panchsheel Development Trust - 50 model farmers from the communities displaced by the changing course of river Ghaghara in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh were helped with training on riverbed farming. 50 other families were given goats for livelihood.
Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu
97 beneficiaries were taught tailoring. 40 women started their own business and are earning approx. Rs. 3000-Rs. 8000 per month.
Khammam, Telangana
250 Adolescent Girls were taught life skills such as problem solving, independent critical thinking and decision making etc. Programme focuses on critical knowledge on health, safety and human rights.
Yadgir, Karnataka
Foundational skills built in in tribal children through 10 learning centers
Dahod, Ahmedabad
40000 liters of rainwater harvesting and storage system built at KGBV Girls hostel
Gadchiroli, Maharashtra
Honey collectors trained on scientific extraction of honey. 830 kg of honey worth Rs. 1,66,000 extracted.
Ramgarh, Jharkhand
250 families were introduced to the SRI technique of rice cultivation, Gobar Gas plants. Among them, 119 families planted 4000+ trees.
Sirohi, Rajasthan
Nutritional and economic status of 100 families was improved as they were introduced to cultivating their farmland twice in a year instead of just once.
Osmanabad, Maharashtra
312 students from nomadic community enrolled in the schools in 10 locations
Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh
50 model farmers from the communities displaced by the changing course of river Ghaghara in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh were helped with training on riverbed farming. 50 other families were given goats for livelihood.
World CSR Congress
2016
6th Asia Best CSR Practices Awards
2016
Singapore
National CSR Leadership Congress and Awards
2016
Bengaluru
World CSR Congress
2017
Mumbai
At a summit held by the Indian Chamber of Commerce
2019
2019
