One of the core values of CDD India is innovation. CDD was established because it was realized that developed nations’ water and sanitation solutions were unsuitable for developing countries like India. These solutions were capital-intensive, centralized, had high energy requirements and a need for a skilled workforce. However, these requirements were often not met, resulting in a lot of non-operational or underutilized capacity for water and sanitation solutions in the Global South.

The decision to prioritize creating an enabling culture within CDD India and focusing on innovations was based on the understanding that private entrepreneurs may not see much profit in providing essential services such as water and sanitation to the poor. Additionally, government agencies often face administrative burdens and a lack of an innovation culture. However, we also recognized that low-cost, contextual, and easy-to-operate systems are crucial in ensuring the fundamental human rights of water and sanitation for the poor,    vulnerable, and marginalized in developing countries.

We recognize that nature and nature-based solutions are often the most effective when exploring potential solutions. The long history of evolution has provided us with solutions that have proven reliable over time. At CDD India, we believe in supporting and promoting these nature-based solutions, which minimize the need for human or external intervention.