New Delhi, September 30, 2026: Strategic communications and corporate-affairs advisory Ardent Co. has renewed its mandate with Smile Foundation, marking the beginning of the second phase of the organisations’ partnership.

The renewed engagement will see Ardent Co. continue its work with Smile Foundation across strategic communications, programme advocacy and stakeholder engagement, building on the institutional understanding and strategic foundation developed during the first phase of the association.

For organisations working in the development sector, communication increasingly extends beyond visibility. Demonstrating impact, communicating outcomes and connecting grassroots work with wider conversations around policy, communities and institutions are becoming increasingly important.

Commenting on the renewed mandate, Sarthak Choudhary, Co-Founder and Public Relations Lead, Ardent Co., said the second phase would build on the understanding developed during the first phase of the partnership.

“For development organisations, communication cannot stop at visibility. It has to bring together the scale, substance and human impact of the work and connect it with the larger conversations shaping communities and institutions,” Choudhary said.

He added that the renewed engagement would focus on creating narratives that showcase impact while contributing to broader conversations around inclusive and sustainable development.

Connecting grassroots impact with wider conversations

India’s development ecosystem has increasingly moved towards integrated approaches that bring together areas such as healthcare, education, livelihoods, women’s empowerment, technology and community participation.

Within this landscape, Smile Foundation works across education, healthcare, livelihood and women’s empowerment, with programmes aimed at underserved communities through grassroots implementation, partnerships, technology and community-led approaches.

Under the renewed mandate, Ardent Co. will work to connect Smile Foundation’s programme-level work with broader conversations around inclusive development, community resilience, technology, human capability and sustainable social impact.

The engagement will bring together strategic communications, programme advocacy and stakeholder engagement, with the objective of strengthening the visibility and relevance of Smile Foundation’s work among diverse audiences.

A more integrated approach to development communication

Aditya Charan, Co-Founder and Policy Lead, Ardent Co., said the changing nature of the development ecosystem makes it increasingly important for communication and advocacy to account for both policy and people.

“The development ecosystem is becoming increasingly interconnected, with organisations operating at the intersection of communities, institutions, public systems and technology,” Charan said.

According to him, the second phase of the engagement provides an opportunity to build on the existing collaboration through a more integrated strategic approach, connecting grassroots impact with the broader policy and development discourse.

As development organisations engage with increasingly diverse stakeholders, the ability to communicate impact with context and consistency has become an important part of building wider understanding and participation.

The renewed mandate therefore represents a continuation of the relationship between Ardent Co. and Smile Foundation, with the organisations looking to deepen the role of strategic communications and programme advocacy in communicating development-led impact and contributing to conversations around India’s evolving social development landscape.

About Ardent Co.

Founded in 2023, Ardent Co. is a strategic communications and corporate-affairs advisory headquartered in New Delhi. The firm works across public policy, government affairs, corporate communications, media relations, research and stakeholder engagement.

Its sectoral work spans infrastructure, energy, technology, healthcare, education, development and emerging industries. Ardent Co. works with businesses, institutions and organisations to navigate policy and stakeholder environments, develop strategic narratives and strengthen engagement with key audiences.