Sustainnovate

Field notes from Meghalaya, October 2024. Organisation: SEWA Activity: Community Awareness & Mobilisation for Women-led Development Villages: Kynrud, Nonglang, Umsaw, Mawskaithem, Patharkhmah Women Engaged: >50 Trades Involved: Small & Marginal Farmers, Small business owners, Handicrafts, Traditional Weavers #sdg5 #communityleddevelopment #participatoryresearch #microentrepreneurship

🌿 The India Forum for Nature-based Solutions invites you to the third session of our Masterclass Series. The session 'Financing and Integrating Community Engagement in Nature-based Solutions across Indian Cities' will be presented by Sukanya Narain (Founder of Sustainnovate; Strategy advisor and mentor at Self Employed Women's Association and Dr. Manu Gupta (Co-Founder, SEEDS). Join us as they reflect on the need for community engagement for effective Nature-based Solutions (NbS) projects, and ways to incentivize this engagement. 🗓️ Thursday, 10th October 2024 ⏲️ 3:00 to 4:15 PM 👉 For more information and to register, visit: bit.ly/3Y2hJKr   The Masterclass Series was launched earlier this month at the inaugural summit of the India Forum for Nature-based Solutions. These classes will cover planning, design, implementation, operations and maintenance, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL), policy, stakeholder engagement and more across different typologies of urban NbS. Follow #NbS4India for updates! #NaturebasedSolutions #NbS4India #FinancingNbS #LiveableCities #UrbanNbS #ClimateResilience #Masterclass #InauguralSummit2024

𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆: 𝗦𝗘𝗪𝗔’𝘀 "𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱" 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻'𝘀 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲!! More than 93% of India's workforce is employed in the #informaleconomy, with women workers and small farmers being the poorest of poor among these. The increasingly frequent and intense climate shocks such as the heatwaves and excessive rains, disproportionately impact these women, jeopardizing both livelihoods and safety, stripping them of income and deepening poverty, leaving them more exposed to future adversities. #SEWA has long understood that building long-term livelihood resilience is essential to safeguard these women from falling into debt traps triggered by cumulative and recurrent environmental disasters and hence as a part of its #BuildingCleanerSkies campaign, has piloted the Livelihood Recovery and Resilience Fund (#LRRF), a pool of blended finance which not only provides immediate relief in face of a disaster but also enables women to rebuild and recover, not just financially, but with climate adaptation in mind. In a recent Climate Shock, the state of Gujarat was affected by excessively heavy rain and resulting flash floods in several rural areas. SEWA's grassroots sisters through their deep and decentralised network immediately assessed the impact. The Livelihood Recovery and Resilience Fund integrated climate action into recovery efforts. Within 15 days of the shock, over 10,000 poor rural women were offered a choice of recovery packages: a cash benefit, RUDI kits with essential food, tarpaulin sheets for roof repair, health insurance to cover potential post-flood epidemics, or assistance for cattle fodder. This recovery aid was designed to address both immediate needs and long-term climate resilience. Rather than viewing these recovery packages as charity, SEWA views them as a path to resilience. The support provided, whether in cash or kind, is a returnable advance—women pay back into the fund once their incomes are restored. This creates a self-sustaining ecosystem where women can rebuild and future-proof their livelihoods. Come join us in #buildingClimateResilience of poor women workers by blending financial inclusion, capacity building, climate action, and risk-sharing thereby enabling women’s empowerment and resilience to stand firm against climate shocks and economic volatility.

𝗔𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘃𝘆 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝘂𝗷𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁, 𝗦𝗘𝗪𝗔 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗺𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿-𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 !! Over the past three days, incessant rains have been pouring down on Gujarat, causing severe water logging and flash flooding in villages and low-lying settlements of informal workers. Over 25 districts including Abad, Gandhinagar, Mehsana, Kutch, Anand etc. have been daily receiving over 500 mm of rains since past 2 days leading to houses of poor women getting flooded, fields getting waterlogged destroying the standing crops like paddy, cotton, castor, groundnut, fennel and vegetable fields, drenching the cattle fodder - making access to basic necessities for grassroots women like food and water inaccessible. Hundreds of members living in low-lying areas and river banks have been evacuated as water levels reach an alarming high in the rivers and dams across Narmada and Sabarmati river. As a part of its "Building Cleaner Skies" campaign, SEWA acknowledges that climate shocks are going to get more and more intense and frequent and hence there is an urgent need to build women's collective strength to combat this looming crisis. SEWA's grassroots leaders (aagevans) are constantly being trained to immediately identify these climate emergencies and mobilize support to its members. On these lines, SEWA's aagevans have started reaching out to members across villages to understand their situation, supporting local Govt authorities in identifying and mobilizing evacuations, coordinating with local authorities for distribution of "Khichadi" (cooked food) for households inundated with water-logging. Additionally, through its "Livelihood Recovery and Resilience Fund" initiative, SEWA's leaders have also started surveying its members to assess the extent of their losses - both to homes as well as fields and their immediate need for financial support - which would build their climate resilience and help them get back on their feet immediately . #sewa #buildingcleanerskies #climatechange

Across the Pacific region, women face persistent barriers to getting jobs or access credit to start and expand their businesses. Watch this video to learn how closing the gender gap and creating a stronger environment can increase women's economic participation and boost economic growth.

Integration of SDGs and ESG Pillars 🌎 For businesses committed to sustainability, effectively categorizing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) under Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) pillars can streamline strategic planning and operational execution. This approach clarifies how initiatives within these pillars can directly contribute to achieving broader global goals, thus enhancing business impact and compliance. The Environmental Pillar of ESG aligns with SDGs focused on ecological stability, such as Climate Action, Clean Water and Sanitation, and Affordable and Clean Energy. Businesses that enhance their environmental strategies not only adhere to regulatory demands but also drive efficiencies in resource use, which can lead to reduced operational costs and improved market positioning. Under the Social Pillar, SDGs like Quality Education, Gender Equality, and Decent Work and Economic Growth are pivotal. By focusing on these areas, companies can foster a more inclusive and equitable work environment, enhancing employee satisfaction and community relations, which are crucial for long-term business sustainability and customer loyalty. The Governance Pillar supports the achievement of SDGs related to ethical practices and equitable growth, including Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, and Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. Strengthening governance can help businesses manage risk, operate transparently, and maintain compliance with increasing legal standards, securing trust and support from investors and stakeholders. Integrating SDGs with ESG initiatives allows businesses to not only address specific global challenges but also to enhance their strategic planning processes. This structured approach provides a clear pathway for companies to evaluate their impact, set measurable targets, and communicate progress in a manner that resonates with global standards and stakeholder expectations. Furthermore, while the example diagram shows one method of mapping SDGs to ESG pillars, businesses are encouraged to adapt this framework to better suit their specific contexts and strategic objectives. Understanding and applying this integration effectively empowers companies to tackle complex sustainability challenges, paving the way for innovation and leadership in their industries. By leveraging the SDGs as a guide to categorize and prioritize ESG efforts, businesses can ensure that their sustainability initiatives are not only impactful but also aligned with global objectives, enhancing overall business resilience and reputation. #sustainability #sustainable #business #esg #climatechange #climateaction #sdgs #impact #strategy

Public sector banks will take a lead in developing a new credit assessment model on the basis of digital footprints of MSMEs, the FM had said in the #Budget2024, an announcement marking a significant shift in the banking sector’s approach towards financing small and medium enterprises. 'The government has acknowledged the fact that tech-based solutions are the best way to deliver credit at the last mile, and this innovation will support a much-needed move away from the traditional credit decisioning metrics of asset and turnover. “This will level the playing field for MSMEs that don’t have formal accounting systems. Democratisation of credit access is critical for the growth and financial inclusion of MSMEs, and the government’s move will lead to the creation of a more accurate and inclusive credit assessment process, which bodes extremely well for the sector."' - Hardika Shah, Kinara Capital #MSME #impact #finance #entrepreneurship #alternativecredit

Exploring themes of the SDGs 🌎 This diagram categorizes the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into segments such as environmental protection, economic development, and social equity, illustrating the interconnectedness of these areas. Each segment reflects how diverse yet interlinked aspects of sustainability contribute to a holistic approach to development. The SDGs provide a framework for businesses and organizations to align their strategies with global priorities. This alignment encourages not just compliance with ethical standards but also stimulates innovation and opens up market opportunities, enabling businesses to adapt and thrive in a sustainable future. Environmental sustainability is intricately linked to economic incentives. For example, goals focused on clean energy and sustainable consumption promote practices that are not only ecologically beneficial but also economically viable, driving businesses towards practices that optimize resource use and minimize ecological impact. The SDGs emphasize the importance of social equity, advocating for inclusive growth that allows all individuals to access opportunities and resources. Goals aimed at eradicating poverty and enhancing gender equality are vital in ensuring that social development proceeds hand in hand with economic and environmental initiatives. Eco-innovations are critical in achieving the SDGs, offering solutions that address environmental challenges while fostering economic growth. These innovations are crucial for industries to progress towards environmental sustainability without sacrificing productivity and profitability. The diagram underscores the necessity of partnerships for achieving the SDGs. Collaboration across governments, businesses, and civil societies is essential to leverage collective strengths, share knowledge, and implement effective strategies on a global scale. Such cooperative efforts ensure that the comprehensive and interdependent objectives of the SDGs are met, steering the global community towards a more sustainable and equitable future. Source: Mohammad Al-Saidi #sustainability #sustainable #business #esg #climatechange #climateaction #sdgs #impact #strategy

Field notes from Vishnoli Gaon, Anand District, Gujarat. Understanding the impact of Govt. linkages on sustainable livelihood generation and credit access from SEWA members belonging to last-mile communities. It all begins with listening. 📷 SEWA Managerni School #participatoryresearch #communityled #partnerships #gender #women #livelihoods #grassroots #credit

A UNICEF India study has extolled Kerala’s digital education initiatives (EdTech), describing it as a model not just for other Indian states, but also for middle-income and developed countries. The Little KITEs programme, without relying on profit-driven vendors, is both scalable and adaptable, and contributes to to Kerala’s transformation into a knowledge society and economy, fostering creativity and problem-solving skills among children while addressing gender disparity in STEM fields by encouraging girls’ participation. The model underscores that choosing Free and Open-Source Software (FOSS) over proprietary software has technological, economic, social and pedagogical benefits, as demonstrated by KITE’s success. The program has been implemented by the Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE) across 2,174 high schools in the southern state, saving Rs 3000 crore by using open-source software. #sdggoal4 #inclusiveeducation #bestpractices #technology