At WELL Labs, the starting point is simple: people and places thrive when land and water are healthy. Formally known as Water, Environment, Land and Livelihoods Labs, the organisation designs and curates science-based solutions that improve human well-being while safeguarding ecosystems. Set up in April 2023, WELL Labs brings researchers, practitioners and communities together to turn rigorous evidence into action—so good ideas don’t stay on paper, and local solutions can scale across regions.
The problems they tackle are urgent and interconnected—climate change, resource depletion, pollution, and water and food insecurity. Each challenge shows up differently from one watershed to the next, which is why the team works closely with grassroots stakeholders and public systems. The approach is collaborative and systemic: gather the right evidence, co-create practical interventions, and build pathways to replicate what works. Instead of solving one village at a time, WELL Labs focuses on models that are adaptable and scalable, without losing sight of local realities.
Meet the team
WELL Labs, on LinkedIn
Veena Srinivasan, Executive Director
Ashima Chaudhary, Managing Partner, Rural Futures
Pavan Srinath, Managing Partner, Communications & Development
Leadership at WELL Labs is grounded in deep domain expertise. The organisation was founded by Dr Veena Srinivasan, a water expert with two decades of experience, who has led research-to-impact efforts across hydrology, environment and livelihoods. Under her guidance, the team bridges the gap between academic research and field implementation—designing solutions that create livelihoods while conserving the environment. This ethos runs through the lab’s work, from land and water stewardship to evidence-informed policy and program design.
WELL Labs sits within the Institute for Financial Management and Research (IFMR) Society and is part of a wider ecosystem that includes Krea University and renowned centres such as J-PAL South Asia and LEAD. This positioning enables the lab to combine scientific depth with policy relevance and real-world delivery. The network supports robust experimentation, measurement, and learning—critical ingredients when testing ideas intended to work at scale.
On the ground, the lab’s teams blend domain science with technology and partnerships. Whether supporting watershed management, designing data systems for decision-making, or building tools that help public agencies act faster, the work is geared towards measurable outcomes. The emphasis is on open collaboration, transparency, and inclusive practices—recognising that sustainable change depends on diverse voices shaping the solutions.
For partners seeking credible, scalable pathways to restore ecosystems while improving lives, WELL Labs offers a clear proposition: use science to understand what works, co-create with communities to make it practical, and build alliances that carry it forward. The destination is a future where healthy land and water underpin resilient livelihoods—and the journey is made with evidence, empathy and shared purpose.
