Description of the project

Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF), which is a set of farming methods, and also a grassroots peasant movement, has spread to various states in India. It has attained wide success in southern India, especially the southern Indian state of Karnataka where it first evolved. A rough estimation for just Karnataka puts the figure there at around 100,000 farmer families1, while at the national level, ZBNF leaders claim that numbers could run into millions. This has been achieved without any formal movement organization, paid staff or even a bank account.

More than 5 billion people could suffer water shortages by 2050 due to climate change, Pincreased demand and polluted supplies, concluded the UN’s 2018 report on the state of the world’s water. The report focuses on the role that nature based-solutions can play in improving the supply and quality of water and reducing the impact of natural disasters. The same issue now tops the agenda at World Water Week in Stockholm

The benefits of energy to economic growth and human development are undeniable and also it is a critical enabler for reducing inequities between men and women and boys and girls. Sustainable Development Goals 5 and 7, respectively, aim to achieve gender equality and universal energy access. However, SDG 7 cannot be achieved in isolation as gender equality and the empowerment of women have significant positive impacts on sustained economic growth and there is a vital connection between energy access and gender equality.

Description of the project: Kynarou is developing an inclusive and sustainable development model with 10 Dalits (“untouchable” caste) communities in Tamil Nadou, India. Starting from the supply of drinking water and access to decent sanitation, this project runs an exemplary model of sustainable and inclusive development with the villagers, ranging from ecological treatment of wastewater to integrated solid waste management, including the creation of 120 organic vegetable gardens.

Description of the project: The Kundrathur Solid Waste  Management (SWM) project serves a town of 25,000 inhabitants with quality waste sorting and recycling, providing 64 underprivileged women and men with new employment as Green Friends.  Women have been included in a male dominated sector via selfhelp groups that build their technical, environmental and social capacities. Green Friends conduct door-to-door waste collection, recovery by composting, recycling and reuse, diverting most of  the town’s garbage from landfills.

Description of the project: India produces large quantities of fruits and vegetables, but more than 50% of this is wasted. The project aims to: 1) demonstrate the commercial viability of solar drying of fruits, vegetables and condiments, and convert them into profitable products on a micro enterprise scale; 2) equip rural poor women with solar dryers and train them on proper use. Sthree Sakthi Mahila Samajam installed solar powered air dryers in 2017 under the Socio-Economic Program of AIWC.

Cities are engines of economic growth. Rapid urbanisation has resulted in growing challenges to urban systems and their associated vulnerability. These challenges may possibly be exacerbated with events of extreme temperature, severe rainfall, intense cyclonic storms and extended droughts. Such climate variability and climate change may impact our natural resources, health, quality of life, and viable urban development.

Planning Heatwave Management in India. Led by Taru Leading Edge, Delhi, the process of mapping the pathway has been inclusive and participatory. The report draws on both, available best expertise as well as recent rapidly evolving experience and learning of managing heatwaves in Indian cities. Previous studies and work in urban areas across India suggests that there is no single institutional blueprint that is applicable everywhere which can be used to manage extreme heat. Strong local leadership invariably can make a significant difference.