What We Do
At the Centre for Men and Boys, our work is built around three interconnected parts: Research, Reform, and Rally. These emerge from real questions, grounded field experience, and a commitment to shaping the systems that influence how masculinity is formed and lived.
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We conduct research not as an end in itself- but as a starting point for systems change. We translate grounded insights into institutional action, focusing on markets and governments as our primary levers. And we create spaces to rally diverse actors around shared purpose and direction.
Research
​We begin with listening. Our research is grounded, participatory, and rooted in lived realities—particularly of boys and men in under-examined systems. We use this research to generate insights that clarify:
How masculinities are shaped by institutions
Where systems fail to support emotional, educational, and economic well-being
What new possibilities exist for systemic transformation
This insight becomes the foundation for our reform strategy.
Reform
We work with markets and governments to embed change into how institutions function, design, and communicate.
Co-developing policy and institutional strategies
Supporting innovations through Entrepreneur-in-Residence programs
Strengthening government systems and market-based delivery models
Our goal is to rewire institutions - not work around them.
Rally
Systemic change requires shared direction. We convene key actors across sectors to make sense of insights, align strategies, and build collective momentum. We do this by:
Hosting roundtables on themes like care, education, livelihoods, and identity
Facilitating cross-sector dialogue and institutional reflection
Creating collaborative platforms to drive ecosystem-level impact
Rally ensures that reform is not siloed - but sustained and supported.
Immediate Priorities
(Nine-Month R&P Plan)
In our first year, with support from Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies, we are focusing on listening, learning, and building. Our work includes:
Mapping system gaps, promising approaches, and underexplored questions
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Conducting qualitative research grounded in lived experience
Hosting roundtables that bring together voices across the ecosystem
This work contributes directly to our three-year strategy, which will be finalized by March 2026.
Thematic Focus Areas
Our work spans a wide set of themes because real lives do not sit in silos. These areas help us explore where systems need to evolve:
The Male Body (and Self-Care)
Digital Spaces and Regional Manospheres
Transitions: Boyhood and Fatherhood
The Future of Gig Work
We hold these areas with humility and curiosity. We are listening, learning, and working with others to understand how they intersect and how they can inform our long-term strategy.