SPARK THINK TANK

A Think Tank by SESR Foundation

SPARK THINK TANK

SPARK is the Strategic Policy Advocacy, Research and Knowledge Wing of the SESR Foundation.

Established with the vision to strengthen dialogue between public policy, media, academia and civil society, SPARK functions as a dedicated national platform for collaborative thinking and sustainable development.

Conceptualized by SESR Foundation, SPARK promotes evidence-based decision-making, ethical communication, and measurable social impact. The initiative brings together experts from diverse sectors including media, public policy, information technology, education and corporate social responsibility. Its objective is to better align communication, research and policymaking to support national development goals.

The Founding Advisors

SPARK is powered by a guiding network of practitioners, experts and institutional partners who bring experience from media, academia, policy and social development.

Leadership
• Anoop Mishra
Founder Director and President, SESR Foundation
Visionary behind SPARK and the national collaborative strategy for sustainable growth.

• Rakesh Mishra
Director, SESR Foundation
Leading national policy dialogues, youth training and digital public relations initiatives under SPARK.

Founding Advisory
• Mr. Satish Grover, Former Additional Director General, Doordarshan
• Dr. Ashok Kumar Sharma, Former Joint Director, Information
• Mrs. Monalisa Choudhary, Former Chief PRO, SGPGI
• Dr. Kunwar Surendra Bahadur, Reader, Department of Media and Public Relations, BBAU (Central University), Lucknow
• Mr. Nikhil Srivastava, Managing Director, Dynamic Edge Consultants

What SPARK Stands For

SPARK represents the commitment to build synergy between thought, knowledge and action, framed under four broad pillars.

Strategic Policy Advocacy
Facilitating responsible policy dialog and helping bridge communication gaps between government, policymakers, institutions and citizens.
Research
Conducting independent research studies, assessments and policy briefs on social and economic development.
Knowledge
Developing accessible knowledge systems, learning platforms and thematic research collaborations.
Wing of Collaboration
Working with universities, media organizations, civil society and CSR institutions to co-create solutions.

SPARK symbolizes the ignition of ideas that guide society toward sustainable progress.

Key objectives

SPARK intends to create meaningful social value through structured research-driven engagement. Its key action agenda includes:

• Strengthen connections between government’s interests, policymaking, communication and society
• Promote fact-based, inclusive and ethical public policy discussions
• Conduct policy research, documentation and knowledge dissemination
• Collaborate with universities, media bodies and CSR organizations
• Introduce joint certificate and capacity-building programs
• Facilitate media fellowships, study circles and expert dialogues
• Host podcasts, webinars and digital learning initiatives
• Create a national forum titled SPARK Dialogue to discuss issues such as sustainable development, media ethics, digital rights, youth engagement and climate action

SPARK focuses on enabling informed public discourse that benefits citizens and institutions alike.

Why SPARK Matters

India’s social and economic landscape is evolving rapidly. Policy development, public communication, media engagement and knowledge creation must therefore move hand in hand. SPARK recognizes this reality and provides a structured platform for collective thinking and impact-focused research.

The initiative helps:
• Build stronger relationships between policy and society
• Address communication gaps in public policy discourse
• Promote research-driven insights for sustainable development
• Encourage youth participation and skill development
• Engage institutions in high-impact collaborations

SPARK serves as an accelerator for ideas that hold national relevance.

Key Challenges

SPARK acknowledges the critical gaps that persist across policy, communication and public awareness. These challenges define its mission:

• Limited research-backed civic understanding of policies
• Weak interface between media, knowledge institutions and policymakers
• Need for greater inclusion of youth and underrepresented communities
• Fragmented knowledge sources and limited cross-sector collaboration
• Lack of accessible and verified information on public policy issues
• Insufficient public platforms for balanced debate

Through its programs, SPARK aims to address these challenges by promoting responsible communication, fostering research and building credible partnerships.

Programs & Initiatives

SPARK introduces multiple initiatives designed to engage diverse stakeholders.

• National Policy Dialogues
• Joint Certificate Courses
• Research Collaborations
• Media Fellowships
• SPARK Dialogue Forum
• Youth Training Programs
• Digital Outreach and Public Relations Campaigns
• Expert Talks, Events and Webinars

JOIN OUR TEAM AND BE A CHANGE MAKER > SPARK continues to expand its expert network through collaborations with universities, media platforms and CSR bodies.

Let’s Get Involved and Be the Change Maker – Join Here.

Media & Press Features
Times of India
Navbharat Times Delhi (Hindi)
Maharashtra Time, Mumbai
Vijay Karnataka, Bangalore