DAINET was conceived in the year 1993 as an integral part of the Development Alternatives group to strengthen the Independent Sector Information services in India.

The independent sector needs timely, useful and reliable information for decision making. A large part of this information, though available, is not easily accessible to them. The Development Alternatives Information Network (DAINET) is providing a leadership role in bridging this information gap by facilitating access to information through the latest advances in information and Tele - communication technology.

Over the last few years, DAINET has been considerably upgrading its information systems operation for strengthening the independent sector information services for sustainable development in the Indian sub-continent. During the design and development phase of DAINET, several lessons have been learnt and also confidence built up so that it is possible to incrementally build the bridges between sustainable development activities at the grassroots and global levels.

The making of the DAINET NGO directory (a compilation of summarised information of the NGO sector in India) has facilitated the process of Information Networking of the Independent Sector Organisations in India for sustainable development.

Today, DAINET is gearing itself to establish itself as a regional information system for sustainable development in the Indian subcontinent. The DAINET Hub at Delhi will act as the ‘Regional Information Centre for Sustainable Development’ for global partners - such as Earth Network and the Sustainable Development Communication Network. Through this collaboration with major stakeholders, the NGOs in the subcontinent will be able to exchange information with their counterparts in different parts of the world.

To collate, store, process, retrieve and network the internal and external information

• To develop an information action plan adapted to the specific needs of grassroots organisations in the Indian subcontinent.
• To develop partnerships with key institutions including sub-regional information centres, to facilitate exchange and sharing of information products and services with grassroots organisations.
• To establish connectivity among Independent Sector Organisations and with other constituencies involved in sustainable development issues
• To provide support for strengthening the NGO sector electronic information services in India

The process of such collaboration would be through consultation with information professionals, decision-makers and through grassroots interaction. Several rounds of such consultation have been conducted to explore modalities of developing partnership with key institutions including sub-regional information centres to facilitate exchange and sharing of information products and services with grassroots organisations.