December 2017
UPCOMING
EVENTS
Jobs We Want Flagship Event of Work 4 Progress, Delhi
The 'Jobs We Want' event on 30th November 2017 launched the Work 4 Progress programme in India. The event sought to connect voices of rural entrepreneurs and their challenges, with development practitioners, businesses, aggregators and policy makers. It was a full-day event, consisting of plenary and break-out sessions. Dr. A. K. Panda, Secretary, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, delivered the inaugural address at the programme. He mentioned the need to service the information asymmetry, and welcomed the participants to come together to have a dialogue, co-create, and learn from one another. In the evening, a Talk Show was conducted, wherein HRH the Infanta Cristina of Spain, Jayant Sinha, Honourable Minister for State, and Dr. Ashok Khosla, Chairman, Development Alternatives (DA), discussed the role of various stakeholders in enabling a positive environment for microenterprises to thrive. The event concluded with the launch of a monograph, "Jobs We Create", which put together narratives and perspectives of micro entrepreneurs from rural India.
DA at the Launch Workshop of the GGKP Expert Working Group on Natural Capital, USA
The Green Growth Knowledge Platform (GGKP), Switzerland, organised a workshop to launch the Expert Working Group on Natural Capital. GGKP is a global community of organisations and experts committed to collaboratively generating, managing and sharing green growth knowledge and data to mobilise a sustainable future. The workshop was attended by Dr. K. Vijaya Lakshmi (kvijayalakshmi@devalt.org), Vice President, DA, and Gitika Goswami (ggoswami@devalt.org), Programme Director, DA, from 30th November to 1st December 2017 at Washington DC. Gitika Goswami, has been selected as one of the 20 members of the Expert Working Group. The group will explore state-of-the-art methods, models, data and tools to support implementation of the natural capital commitments in national economic plans.
International Conference on Calcined Clays for Sustainable Concrete, Cuba
The 2nd International Conference on Calcined Clays for Sustainable Concrete was organised by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation from 5th-7th December 2017 in Cuba. Dr. Soumen Maity (smaity@devalt.org), Assistant Vice President, DA, gave a presentation on 'The Effect of Kaolinite Content of China Clay on the Reactivity of Limestone Calcined Clay Cement'. Further, five paper presentations were made by DA, in collaboration with IIT Delhi, Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Ltd, JK Lakshmi Cement Ltd. and JK Cement Ltd. Brainstorming was done on the researches and applications in the field of cement and concrete. The conference was attended by delegates from more than 20 countries, along with large cement companies like LafargeHolcim, JK Lakshmi and Jiangsu Sobute New Materials Co. Ltd.
Policy Round Table on Sustainability of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), Sikkim
A Policy Round Table on Sustainability of FPOs was conducted by DA, in partnership with the Integrated Mountain Initiatives and Green Economy Coalition, in Gangtok, Sikkim, on 28th November 2017. The consultation witnessed participation from various stakeholders from Sikkim - Department of Agriculture, NABARD, various service providers and farmer producer members. Anshul Bhamra (abhamra@devalt.org), Manager, DA, shared the research findings of DA's study conducted on FPOs. The Honourable Minister of Parliament, Mr. P. D. Rai, and Dr. Anbalagan Sundaram, Executive Director, Sikkim Organic Mission, gave insights on the vision and aspirations of the Government of Sikkim, its initiatives to support small holder farmers and FPOs, organic agriculture and better incomes for the small farmers.
Awareness Activities on Importance of Girl Child, Haryana
The project, 'Unnati… Aao Sanwaarein Apna Kal', initiated by DA and Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. aims to transform the lives of girls from being perceived as a liability, to becoming leaders of change. In this context, poster making competitions were organised across the four targeted villages of Manesar, Haryana. This was followed by a rally on 24th November 2017, as a precursor to National Girl Child Day. The rally, constituting of school children and community members, reached out to over 275 people. A set of street plays, reaching out to more than 700 people, focused on the importance of employment for girls, was organised on 12th December 2017.
Workshops on Women's Participation in Local Governance, Haryana, Rajasthan and Karnataka
DA and UN Women have collaborated for the project 'Advocating for Change: Promoting Women's Political Participation & Leadership', to increase the participation of women in Gram Panchayat institutions, including Gram Sabhas. Under the project, workshops on 'Women's Participation and Leadership in Local Governance' were conducted across four states - Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Karnataka. More than 54 members from various community radio stations participated. The workshops aimed at building the capacity and understanding of community radio reporters and local media journalists to document case studies on women's participation in local governance.
Community Meeting on Adolescence and Gender, Haryana
A community meeting was organised by DA, in partnership with Honda, on 15th December 2017, in Navrangpur, Nakhdaula and Pathredi villages of Manesar, Haryana. The objective was to spread awareness on adolescence and gender equality, understand the local perspective, and empower the girls and women. Various activities were organised to assess the knowledge levels of 105 participants, of which 80 were females. Nibedita Phukan (nphukan@devalt.org), Senior Manager, DA, and Jyoti Shresth (jshresth@devalt.org), Fellow, DA, conducted the session, and identified the challenges faced by girls and women, in terms of education, sanitation and health.
International Conference on the Khajuraho Heritage Region, Madhya Pradesh
An international conference on 'Cultural and Natural Heritage Assets as a Driving Force in the Sustainable Development of the Khajuraho Heritage Region' was organised by INTACH, from 7th-9th December 2017, in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh. George C. Varughese, President, DA, gave the keynote address. This was followed by a presentation by Satabdi Mohapatra (smohapatra@devalt.org), Deputy Manager, DA, and Shobhit Singh (ssingh@devalt.org), Deputy Manager, DA, on the potential of the heritage assets with respect to the festivals, rituals and traditions of the area.
Building Tour at Development Alternatives Headquarters, Delhi
A building tour of the DA headquarters was organised for a set of trainees from Afghanistan. The DA building stands as a living ecosystem - a fine balance of natural and man-made processes, employing environment-friendly material, thus promoting the concepts of zero emissions, alternative technologies and eco-friendly construction practices. The trainees included engineers, architects and energy efficiency experts, belonging to various government departments and universities of Afghanistan. The tour was organised as a part of a training under the GIZ IDEA Program in Afghanistan.
International Conference on Small and Medium Enterprises, New Delhi
The 21st International Conference on Small and Medium Enterprises was organised by Charities Aid Foundation India and World Association for Small and Medium Enterprises, from 30th November to 1st December 2017 in Delhi. George C. Varughese, President, DA, opened the session on 'Achieving Inclusive and Sustainable Industrialization by Promoting SMEs'. The conference aimed to catalyse international cooperation to integrate SMEs into the Global Value Chain, and thus empower them to contribute effectively to the country's socio-economic development.
Publications
India Green Economy Barometer 2017 Issue 4: Investing in People
The brief highlights the state of human development, and the investments India is making to enhance this further. This includes access to basic need services, opportunities for economic and political voice and participation. The report tracks efforts by the government and businesses to invest in people, and the outcomes achieved by them.
Video
Mainstreaming Sustainable Affordable Housing India
The urban housing shortage in India is currently estimated at 18.78 million, more than 95% of which pertains to low-income groups. In addition, the housing sector is, by definition, an energy and resource intensive sector, leading to a large environmental burden on the Earth's natural resources. This video highlights the need for more sustainable options in order to meet the housing demand, as well as conserve our natural resources.
DA in News
Development Alternatives and "la Caixa" Foundation, Spain, join hands to create 'Jobs we Want', Business Standard, Delhi, 2nd December 2017
Development Alternatives (DA), a premier social enterprise working in the field of sustainable development, along with "la Caixa" Foundation, the leading foundation in Spain, and the third foundation worldwide in number of assets, launched the "Work 4 Progress" initiative in India.
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