For many around the world, consultancies help lead today’s global change, bringing in “innovative solutions” and “game-changing strategies” to the world’s most pressing issues. However, a deeper look reveals a more nuanced picture.

In the past decade, consultancies have seen a meteoric rise in popularity across India, driven by the increasing complexity of business landscapes and the demand for specialised expertise. However, alongside this growth, the importance of local community leaders remains unparalleled.

In a country as diverse as India, where every region brings its own unique challenges and opportunities, grassroots leadership ensures that solutions are not only strategic but also culturally and contextually relevant. So while consultancies offer valuable expertise and resources, they are often building upon a foundation laid by countless local leaders who have been quietly addressing their communities' challenges for generations.

Recognising Generations of Local Resilience

Across India, and long before consultancies arrived on the scene, communities had already developed their own solutions whether it was through farming cooperatives, informal savings groups, or local governance systems. They’ve developed strategies, fostered resilience, and addressed complex issues within their environments.

Consultancies must shift the narrative from being the creators of change to being supporters of existing efforts. The work of these communities isn’t a starting point; it’s the continuation of a long-standing tradition of solving problems in innovative ways, shaped by local needs and cultural context.

Local Leadership as the Driver of Impact

At the core of sustainable impact is local ownership. Communities that drive their own change are the ones that continue to grow and adapt long after external consultants have moved on. While consultancies can introduce useful tools and frameworks, true progress happens when local leaders are empowered to take charge of their development.

By focusing on building capacities instead of creating dependencies, consultants enable communities to advance their initiatives beyond any temporary project.

For instance, through the PSFPO (Promotion and Strengthening of Farmer Producer Organizations) project, Palladium in India is working with numerous Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), many of which are led by women farmers. These FPOs possess extensive agricultural expertise and a profound understanding of their local ecosystems. Our role is not to replace or diminish this expertise but to complement and enhance it.

For example, we focus on developing the leadership and entrepreneurial skills of FPO members, equipping them to manage their organisations more effectively. We facilitate access to critical resources, such as connecting FPOs to financial institutions for credit, establishing market linkages to secure better prices for their produce, and offering training on modern agricultural practices.

This holistic support strengthens the capacity of FPOs, empowering them to expand their operations, improve incomes for their members, and ensure long-term sustainability while retaining their deep-rooted local knowledge and community focus.

The Value of Local Wisdom

Indigenous practices, honed over generations, provide invaluable insights into local environmental conditions and community response strategies. For instance, the traditional agroforestry concept of 'Wadi,' practiced in the coastal region of Maharashtra in India, along the Sahyadri mountain range, has been serving as an effective nature-based solution for landslide risk management.

The wadi concept is a livelihood model and originated from the household practice of crops alongside fruit bearing trees in backyards. When practiced along slopes, interspersing of crops and trees contributes to slope stabilisation in the region. However, after the significant commercialisation of agriculture post the Green Revolution, this practice is found to be shrinking.

Other traditional practices have also historically proven to be effective as disaster and climate resilient solutions. Examples include the 'Bawdi' or stepwell concept predominantly practiced in the arid drought-stricken regions of Gujarat and Rajasthan in India to address the problem of water scarcity. Similarly, the 'Bhunga' habitats of Kutch have gained international recognition due to their cyclone and wind resistant design.

Consultancies can play a significant role in reviving practices that have existed traditionally or bringing them to the notice of policy makers to solve the problems faced today. To develop a comprehensive, culturally sensitive, and effective disaster management plan, it is essential to integrate local wisdom with modern policies and technology. These practices also enhance the sustainability of recovery efforts, building robust systems capable of withstanding and swiftly recovering from natural disasters.

In comparison to technological and large infrastructure options, indigenous practices have proven to be cost effective solutions to reduce the impact of disasters, with higher uptake with the community.

Consultancies Must Shift Gears—And Fast

The future of consulting lies in a paradigm shift. Instead of viewing themselves as the primary actors, consultancies should position themselves as facilitators and supporters of local leadership and communities.

We’ve seen this at work firsthand through our Swakalpa project, a self-employment and entrepreneurship skill development program, where we are facilitating long term partnerships between entrepreneurs and ecosystem partners in a way that such partnerships sustain without any external factors. We have built an environment where entrepreneurs do not have to look beyond their communities for engaging to grow their businesses thus creating additional livelihoods. By fostering such partnerships, building trust, and empowering communities, we are contributing to a more equitable and sustainable world.

We know that real impact isn’t about consultants taking centre stage. It’s about supporting the true heroes of change—the local communities. Our role is to amplify their voices and build on their efforts, so that the progress they’ve initiated continues long after we’ve stepped aside.

By working together, we can help create a future where sustainable development is led by those who understand their communities best. Our job is to contribute to their journey, providing support where needed, but always keeping their insights and direction at the forefront.