United across sectors, nations, and communities to create lasting impact
Global Partners
UN Agencies
Corporations
Countries
Strategic collaborations across ministries driving national impact
KISS receives Grant-in-Aid assistance from the Government of India, primarily from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and other central departments, to support its operation. Approximately 8% of its total recurring expenditure is supported through government grants. We are indebted for this support from the government to create social impact.
KISS works in close collaboration with the School & Mass Education Department and the Higher Education Department, Government of Odisha to strengthen access to quality education for marginalized tribal communities. KISS aligns its academic programs, curriculum and pedagogy approach with the government statutory guidelines, ensuring holistic development from primary to higher education.
Working with world-leading organizations to create sustainable change
(United Nations Population Fund)
KISS partners with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for the following projects:
Holistic development, health and well-being programs focusing on:
10,000 adolescents within KISS institute
200,000+ adolescents across Odisha state
Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health (ARSH) education
Life skills development tailored for special needs
Reproductive health education
Menstrual hygiene management education
Promotion of overall well-being and independence
Joint initiative by REC Foundation, UNFPA, Government of Odisha, and KISS to:
Address challenges faced by indigenous youth communities in Odisha
Position youth at the centre of state development initiatives
Create community change agents
Build young leaders who influence peers for community betterment
(United Nations Development Programme)
KISS partners with United Nations Development Programme for the following projects
Socio-economic impact assessment on migrant workers during the pandemic:
1,500 migrant households surveyed
Covered 5 migration-prone districts: Malkangiri, Rayagada, Koraput, Bolangir, Kandhamal
Special emphasis on female migrant workers
Evaluated lockdown impact on livelihoods and well-being
Their collaboration includes a Centre for Excellence on Skill and Entrepreneurship that provides vocational training and career counselling to indigenous youth, focusing on market-driven skills and technology-enabled modules to promote their gainful employment. This initiative also supports targeted analytical research on tribal communities, aligning with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI).
Promoting skill and Entrepreneurship with technology-enabled blended skilling model for indigenous youth
In today’s scenario, technology plays a vital role in all aspects of life. When it comes to learning, it makes it easier for the students to understand and acquire knowledge in a better way. For the all-around growth of students and to make them more competent in the challenging scenario, skill development training was provided to the students. They take part in different vocational trades such as tailoring, applique, Arts & crafts, coir, chemical production, handicraft etc. Keeping these things in mind and providing handhold support to the students, and entrepreneurial knowledge, KISS has initiated a Centre for Excellence on Skill and Entrepreneurship in partnership with UNDP. The program aims at building vocational skills in specialized areas for marketable skills enabling gainful engagement in the future careers of the student trainees. ICT-based modules are incorporated into the counselling and training process. The trainees are receiving additional benefits and stipend for attending the program. The experience so far has been very encouraging as the trainees are taking a keen interest and actively participating in the program mastering new skills with joy. KISS has made necessary arrangements allowing flexibility and adjustment of training time in reference to regular classes to avoid clashes and inconvenience. KISS is committed to scaling up the program building on the learning and good practices ensuring its success.
(United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)
KISS partners with UNESCO for the following projects
The SAPA Impact Framework is a collaborative initiative of UNESCO Regional Office for South Asia, Sports and Society Accelerator (SSA), Victoria University and KISS
Developed through a mixed-methods pilot involving over 2,030 students and alumni and extensive interviews with parents, teachers, and community stakeholders—with generous support from KISS and Sport-for-Development partners- the SAPA Impact Framework offers a practical pathway for strengthening programme design, advocacy, and strategic planning.
The framework identifies four domains of impact—Health & Wellbeing, Education & Lifelong Learning, Livelihoods & Economic Growth, and Equality & Social Inclusion—and provides indicators that reflect SAPA’s potential to bolster wellbeing, enhance learning, expand livelihood horizons, and foster inclusive communities.
With Government of Odisha – 2023
Using sport to drive health, education, and equality for indigenous communities:
Leverages power of sports for socio-economic development
Promotes well-being, education, and social integration
Implemented across KISS’s 80,000 indigenous students
Contributes to building peaceful and sustainable societies
Part of UNESCO’s International Hydrological Programme (IHP), this project focuses on groundwater management and emergency preparedness for water security in vulnerable communities.
Compassionate Integrity Training
Joint pilot with UNESCO MGIEP & Life University (2019) – First introduced to Indian higher education institutes
Multi-part training cultivating basic human values as skills for individual, social, and environmental flourishing
International Youth Campaign on Kindness
Celebrating 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, promoting SDGs through youth engagement
(UN Children's Fund)
Children Development Resource Centre (CDRC)
Part of UNICEF-KIIT joint initiative for Centre for Children Studies (CCS), promoting evidence-based policy-making through action research focusing on Odisha’s children
(UN Staff College)
Nelson Mandela Regional Hub
Leadership and capacity-building for SDGs through collaborative research, training programs for South Asian leaders and youth on climate resilience and gender equality
(Japan International Cooperation Agency)
Disaster Risk Management
‘Strengthening DRM capacity under COVID-19 in Cyclone/Flood Prone Areas’ – Better integration of biological hazards into local planning and decision-making
Multiple educational and cultural exchange initiatives
U.S. Department of State initiative providing significant English-language learning for talented indigenous youth aged 13-20, improving cultural appreciation and critical thinking skills
Conducted by Toastmasters International to help students build communication and leadership skills for tomorrow’s leaders in business, industry and community
41st such center in India, 1st in Odisha – offers students opportunities to learn about U.S. history, literature, politics, art and culture
Weather and Climate Hackathon with Bronx Community College and NSF research grant to tackle climate change through technological innovation
Training indigenous youth volunteers & CSOs in five Odisha districts to create pandemic awareness and build community resilience
Working with leading corporations to create opportunities and build skills
Smart Classroom Initiative
Student Sponsorship Program
Free Education
In collaboration with Rourkela Steel Plant, KISS is facilitating the education of tribal children from RSP’s vicinity. This is the initial stage of the collaboration and negotiations are on for a proposed school for the underprivileged which is on the anvil.
CSR Research
TATA Sponge Iron Limited has awarded KISS a project on baseline study for sustainable CSR interventions in and around TATA Sponge areas, Keonjhar, Odisha.
Digital Inclusion Project
Free Employability Training
Academic Collaboration
Student Sponsorship
Essel Mining has sponsored the education of several students from their peripheral mining areas.
Ambulance training
KISS was the training partner of the NRHM Programme, (108 Ambulance training) working in collaboration with Ziqitza Health Care Services. The institute is involved in Ambulance service training.
Digital Inclusion Project
Industry-Academia Collaboration
Industry-Academia Collaboration
KISS has been immunizing students in the age group of 5 – 7 years with MMR and Hepatitis vaccination every year in partnership with Max India Foundation. The immunization camps are held twice a month with around 400 children vaccinated each month.
Books and Resources
EdCIL has funded the provision of books for secondary students and we are currently also discussing possibilities of a few other CSR donations.
Japanese Language
Based on the MoU signed with KIIT/KISS, Mitsubishi Group in India will accept students with proficiency in their Japanese language from the newly established department. For KISS, they are considering to provide support as part of CSR activities.
KISS has collaborated with Capgemini to establish a Digital Academy to impart the indigenous students market-aligned training in tech, fintech courses and prepare them for the competitive job market. With this initiative, Capgemini seeks to close the digital gap and empower underprivileged communities.
Partnering with leading universities for research and innovation
TIGR2ESS (Transforming India’s Green Revolution by Research and Empowerment for Sustainable Food Supplies)
Multi-stakeholder project developing UK-India expert networks for collaborative long-term research in sustainable agriculture, setting India on path to second Green Revolution
Funding: Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), UK.
Research on indigenous food and nutrition security and livelihood in Koraput and Kandhamal
districts. Flagship projects: FP6a (Education Food, Nutrition and Empowerment) and FP6b
(Education, Empowerment and Entrepreneurship)
Project CHIRAG (Creative Hub for Innovation & Reciprocal Research & Action for Gender Equality)
Building proof of concept to address food & nutrition security with gender equality focus, targeting women and children from rural and indigenous communities
Funding: UK Research Innovations (UKRI) – Global Research Translation Award
Partners: PRADAN, Gram Vaani
Implementation in Koraput and Kandhamal (Odisha) and Jamui (Bihar). Sustainable Food Systems research addressing vast majority affected by food insecurity
Project (AURORA): The Alliance of Universities to Reinforce teacher training curricula to Outcast Radicalism and promote equality in Asian societies
Curricula Reform in India and Nepal promoting inclusive education through teacher training at BA and MA levels
Developing new courses, faculty workshops, student leadership training, democratic values education, and combating radicalism from early school stages. Training teachers from India and Nepal
GKL project & Equipment Support
Electrical training project under GKL flagship with comprehensive equipment donations
Funding: South Korean Government & Hanseo University
Hospital equipment, desktops, printers, refrigerators, and other essential resources donated to support KISS operations
Building bridges across sectors and nations
MTB-MLE
Mother Tongue Based Multilingual Education addressing indigenous children’s needs. Program institutionalized at KISS
Center for Canadian Studies
Inaugurated by Canadian High Commissioner. First Center for Canadian Studies at KISS
Clean Water Access
NY-based foundation providing clean water to Odisha villages. Currently based in Chandragiri Tibetan settlement
Basketball + Academics
Educational non-profit pairing basketball with academics. Planning school in Tamil Nadu with KISS methodology
Kalinga Fellowship
10-year programme with Ashoka, FXB India, Prajwala, UN Women – addressing sexual harassment and gender-based violence
Nua Maa Project
Community media prototype on IYCN and WASH with transgender network addressing health and nutrition challenges
Computer Literacy
Computer literacy and training for teachers and students with Intel expertise and master trainers
International Volunteers
International students volunteering and interning at KISS. 20+ international students received to date
Multiple Initiatives
Commonwealth Big Lunch 2018 (30,000+ participants), Changing Moves Changing Minds, Young Women Social Entrepreneurship programme
Financial Skills
Strengthening financial skills of students at KISS and targeting youth in 20 Odisha districts
Coach Training
Training athletes to become coaches. Four ISS students enrolled with monthly stipend, now actively coaching at KISS
Fishery Training
NFDB-sponsored training on Carp Culture and Broodstock Management (2017-18). 13 batches completed
Together, we can create lasting impact and transform lives through education, skill development, and community empowerment
