 |
Soft Systems Analysis: Streamlining participatory approaches and agent-based models to explore ideas of fairness at the food-water-biodiversity (FWB) nexus (fairSTREAM)
There are conflicting views on what are fair outcomes, and this has complicated the process of finding viable solutions for many policy issues at the food-water-biodiversity (FWB) nexus. Improving our ability to understand and reconcile these claims about what is fair is critical for managing risks in this complex and rapidly changing nexus system. This is a significant challenge that requires the integration of multiple sources of knowledge and the cooperation of many different societal actors. Science can support this endeavour by developing fair procedures that promote fair outcomes. Doing so effectively requires: 1) co-producing this knowledge with stakeholders to articulate divergent views on challenges and opportunities and 2) a robust analysis of how the effects of decisions propagate through the FWB system.
fairSTREAM project takes a bottom-up approach to knowledge co-production. It looks at the ability of large-scale agent-based models (ABMs), dynamically coupled to hydrological and biodiversity models, to simulate the distributive effects of decisions through the system with respect to trade-offs, burdens, and benefits for individual farmers and other stakeholders. This co-production process will be undertaken in a sub-section of Upper Bhima basin in India as a case study.
The project will produce an expanded toolkit on systems-based and fair co-production processes, to be published as a working paper or handbook. Based on the stakeholder-driven assessments we will develop quantitative scenarios using a modelling approach. Through this we can represent stakeholder heterogeneity, synergies, and trade-offs at the individual level.
Project Period: April 2022- September 2024
Funded by: International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Laxenburg
Collaborators: International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Laxenburg & Indian Institute for Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune
https://iiasa.ac.at/projects/fairstream
|
|
Towards Brown Gold? Reimagining off-grid sanitation in rapidly urbanising areas in Asia and Africa
This is a multidisciplinary and transnational project involving expertise in disciplines of social science, natural science and arts and is carried out in 5 sites across India, Ghana, Nepal and Ethiopia. The focus is on exploring ways to re-use shit with the view to ensure that these innovations help address the sanitation crisis, enhance local livelihoods and the local and regional economies and the wellbeing of the excluded and marginalized.
|
|
Amplifying voices of women cane cutters
The project highlights concerns of women cane cutters in Maharashtra and addresses them through feminist organizing, policy engagement, evidence building
|
|
Understanding the nature, forms and implications of structural violence against rural women in the context of agrarian distress
The project aims to understand and visibilise issues of violence in public spaces in the context of the growing agrarian crisis in three States of Maharashtra, Telangana and Punjab where farm suicides and agrarian distress is being reported.
|
|
Agroecology programme
This programme provides support to women farmers to make a shift towards svavalmbi sheti (self-reliant agriculture). As part of this programme around 150 women farmers across six districts have made a shift towards chemical free, mixed crops cultivation. Now in its third year, a special focus is given for the capacity building of champion women farmers who would take this initiative further in their villages. Research and documenation is also in important component of this programme. Currently the programme is supported through three projects: Women Farmers show the Way! Consolidating the agro-ecological model in five districts of Maharashtra (Supported by Agro Ecology Fund) Agro-ecology programme in Yavatmal district with women Farmers (Supported by People for Progress in India (PPI)), Women farmers lead the way: pathways for climate resilient farming (Supported by American Jewish World Service (AJWS))
|
|
Conflict and Cooperation in the Management of Climate change:
This is an integrated project in collaboration with Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research. Forum is playing a key role in advocacy and outreach through capacity building workshops in the North-east India to create awareness about effect of climate change due to development of small hydropower projects in Eastern Himalayas and thereby influence policy and action. |
|
Alternative discourse around inter-state conflicts in the Mahanadi basin
Soppecom under its larger network Forum for policy Dialogue on Water Conflicts in India has taken up one year project to develop an alternative approach in terms of framework and processes around the ongoing interstate conflict of the Mahanadi basin. The framework is by the normative concerns of equity, sustainability and participation and keeping water security of all and integrity of the riverine ecosystem as the overarching goal. The one year study is supported by Global Greengrants Fund. |
|
Engaging with the Kerala floods
The state of Kerala experienced floods in 2018 and Kerala Resource Centre of the Water Conflict Forum is doing a one year study on mapping the floods in the Chalakudy basin, understanding the reasons and effects of these floods through interactions with the flood affected persons. The learnings from this study will be used to prepare an integrated river rejuvenation and river basin management plan for the basin. The study is supported by Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies. |
|
Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan
SOPPECOM did a rapid assessment of the water and soil conservation work implemented in villages under the Maharashtra Government flagship program Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan to make Maharashtra state drought free by 2019. The study report is being finalized. |
| |
|
| |
Note:
Apart from the assignments and consultancies mentioned above,
some of the core team members of SOPPECOM have also taken
up individual consultancy assignment with different agencies. |
