Kangra Integrated Sciences and Adaptation Network

Global Research Begins With Local Communities

KISAN is a nonprofit network of researchers, practitioners, students, and community members working to build resilience in rural areas shaped by enduring social, ecological, and economic inequities. KISAN is an inclusive, adaptive network with marginalized local communities at the center. We believe that learning flows in both directions—between researchers and community members—through shared inquiry, dialogue, and practice.

We draw inspiration from the communities of Kangra District in Himachal Pradesh, in the Indian Himalayas. In honor of their resilience and stewardship, we have woven “Kangra” into our name. 

At the heart of our mission is seva—a principle of selfless service rooted in Indian philosophy, where duty (dharma) and compassion (karuna) guide social action. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi and the traditions of collective well-being, our network embraces seva as an ethical responsibility and a means of mutual care to co-create pathways towards sustainable livelihoods and inclusive environmental governance.

KISAN members freely contribute their time, expertise, and solidarity to mentor, train, and collaborate with rural communities in the service of justice, dignity, and shared transformation of the world we live in. Since its launch in 2020, KISAN has trained and employed over a hundred young women and men through participatory research. Our network members offer hands-on training to any interested community members—sharing skills in ecological restoration, social-ecological surveys, data entry and exploratory analysis, ethnographic and spatial approaches, and more. If someone has a skill to offer, we help them teach it. If someone wants to learn, we help them find a mentor. We also offer a limited number of need-based fellowships, with no strings attached. These fellowships support recipients in ways that matter most to their growth. 

From Kangra to collaborators across the globe, our network connects grounded practice with global scholarship to reimagine environmental governance and amplify rural voices.

Our Network

KISAN operates through a network-based model, with our core team providing coordination and institutional leadership. Our network members connect with community members through research and outreach service opportunities, building trust and shared capacity across villages and landscapes. Many of them bring decades of experience working with these communities, and continue to lead long-term research projects.

To ensure full compliance with local laws governing nonprofit activities in India, we work in close alignment with our sister organization, CEDAR-Himalaya. CEDAR-Himalaya offers the necessary legal and financial infrastructure—including accounting, audit oversight, and employment protocols—for all hiring, consultancy, and project-related disbursements.

KISAN is committed to maintaining the highest standards of fiscal responsibility and regulatory adherence for human subjects research while expanding its impact across rural communities.