A National Initiative to Build India’s Next Generation of Policy Practitioners
GRAAM, in partnership with Hanns Seidel Foundation and PRIA (Society for Participatory Research in Asia), is proud to announce the launch of EYED – Empowering Youth for Evidence-Led Development, a comprehensive capacity-building initiative designed to equip young changemakers with the skills to engage meaningfully with public policy, constitutional values, and evidence-based decision-making.
Beginning January 19, 2026 at PRIA, New Delhi, this national programme brings together 20 young professionals from 15+ states for an intensive learning journey that bridges research, policy, and grassroots realities, nurturing ethical, inclusive, and people-centred public leadership.
Why EYED?
In a development landscape often fragmented between data-driven technocracy and community-centred empathy, there is an urgent need for young professionals who can bridge this divide, combining rigorous analytical skills with ethical, inclusive, and grounded approaches to governance.
EYED is designed to address this gap by strengthening capacities in:
- Evidence-informed policymaking
- Governance and institutional engagement
- Programme evaluation and impact assessment
- Participatory and citizen-centric governance
The programme emphasizes that youth are not just future stakeholders, they are stakeholders of today, capable of shaping policies that are responsive to people, institutions, and grassroots realities.
What Will EYED Cover?
Over the coming weeks, participants will engage with distinguished experts, practitioners, and thought leaders across a comprehensive curriculum designed to build both technical competence and ethical clarity:
Understanding India’s Governance Architecture
Sessions will unpack how the Indian state functions in practice – administrative processes, decision-making pathways, inter-ministerial coordination, and accountability mechanisms. Participants will explore how policies move through the system, the roles of civil servants and political leadership, and how evidence can be used meaningfully when engaging with government institutions.
- Participatory and Citizen-Centric Governance
- Public Finance and Political Economy
- Evidence-Based Policymaking and Government Data
- Policy Analysis and Design
- Systems Thinking and Technology in Governance
- Research and Evaluation Excellence
- Special Sessions and Expert Engagements
The Inaugural Session
The programme will be inaugurated by:
- Ms. Judith Weinberger-Singh, Resident Representative – India, Hanns Seidel Foundation
- Dr. Kaustav Kanti Bandyopadhyay, Director, PRIA & PRIA International Academy
- Dr. Basavaraju R. Shreshta, Executive Director, GRAAM
The inaugural session will set the tone for the journey ahead—emphasizing the importance of bridging research, policy, and practice; combining data-driven governance with empathy; and responding to India’s development challenges through inclusive, ethical, and grounded approaches.
Building Leaders for Viksit Bharat
EYED represents GRAAM’s continued commitment to building state capacity and empowering young professionals to become informed, ethical, and effective governance practitioners.
As India moves toward Viksit Bharat 2047, the need for leaders who can navigate complexity, center community voices, use evidence responsibly, and design policies that truly serve people has never been greater.
Over the coming weeks, these 20 young professionals will embark on a transformative learning journey, one that equips them not just with skills and frameworks, but with a renewed commitment to people-centred, evidence-informed, and inclusive governance.
The journey begins on January 19, 2026. The impact will last a lifetime.
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Empowering youth to build a more equitable, sustainable, and resilient India.
