Golap Borbora State Institute for Panchayat and Rural Development (GBSIPRD) and the Transform Rural India Foundation (TRIF) have entered into a strategic Memorandum of Understanding on 18^th December, 2023 to advance the localization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and strengthen Panchayat-level governance systems. This partnership is anchored in a shared commitment to improving the quality of Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs), integrating the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI), and enabling convergence across thematic areas such as health, education, livelihoods, and gender equity.

TRIF brings deep field experience and systems expertise to the collaboration, and is supporting GBSIPRD in capacity building of state, district, and block-level functionaries. TRIF has also contributed significantly to knowledge sharing and institutional strengthening by offering its Advanced Programme on Locality Development (APLD) to government functionaries. The APLD Training programme, stems from a strong felt need to deepen democratic governance at the panchayat level by institutionalizing collaborative structures. Central to this initiative is the concept of the Locality Compact, a design-led mechanism that brings together the triad of Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), and Local Administration to foster deliberative planning, resilient development, and participatory implementation. The APLD training program, delivered as an intensive four-day engagement, equips participants with the skills, tools, and mindset to co-create and roll out these compacts, ensuring that governance is not only localized but regenerative and inclusive. Through modules on planning protocols, systemic analysis, implementation roadmaps, and sectoral integration across health, education, sanitation, and livelihoods, the program helps build a cadre capable of navigating the complexities of convergence. It also empowers practitioners to identify bottlenecks and facilitators in governance processes, thereby laying the groundwork for robust community action and strengthened devolution across Assam’s rural landscape.

TRIF has supported over 30 training programs at GBSIPRD, including Training of Trainers for Advanced Programme on Locality Development (APLD), Faculty Development Programmes on Participatory Training Methodologies, and Faculty Development Programme for empowering Women Elected Representatives (WER). TRIF has also supported GBSIPRD in a research study titled “Good Governance in Panchayats- A Comprehensive study in selected Gaon Panchayats in Assam” and developed a theme-based GPDP booklet aligned with the nine thematic areas of SDG localization. Through desk and field research, policy briefs, and innovations in PRI-CBO-local administration convergence, TRIF continues to play a pivotal role in shaping inclusive, data-driven, and context-sensitive governance in Assam.