PI: Dr. Susmita Mitra
Associated Academic Staff: Prof. Nitya Nanda (Advisor), Dr. Susmita Mitra, Dr. Dhiman Debsarma, Dr. Sourindra Mohan Ghosh, Dr.Shaheen Ansari, Ms.Jaya Lekshmi Nair, Mr.Gitesh Sinha
Funding Agency/s OR Institution/s: UNDP and TERI
Time Period: December 2024 to September 2026

Brief Description

Objectives:

1. To document and manage knowledge generated from 37 grassroots interventions implemented under the Seventh Operational Phase of the GEF-SGP in the Central Semi-Arid and Indian Coastal Region landscapes, while strengthening NGO capacity in knowledge management.
2. To disseminate knowledge products through diverse platforms, consolidate and report project achievements with case studies, photo and video documentation, and conduct impact evaluations.
3. To promote learning exchange and collaboration through a South–South cooperation initiative in Sri Lanka.

Methodology:   

• Develop a comprehensive Knowledge Management and Communication Strategy for systematic documentation, curation, and dissemination aligned with GEF-SGP objectives.
• Collect, review, and organize content from 37 NGO partners in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Madhya Pradesh, covering activities, outcomes, and lessons learned.
• Produce case studies, photo essays, and video stories to showcase community impacts and innovations across multiple channels, including weekly YouTube uploads and regular social media posts.
• Conduct capacity-building workshops in both landscapes to enhance NGO partners’ skills in knowledge management, storytelling, and digital communication.
• Identify and document best practices from India to facilitate structured learning exchanges with Sri Lanka, strengthening South–South cooperation in community-based environmental management.

Findings/ Recommendations:

• Grassroots interventions demonstrate strong synergies between environmental conservation and socio-economic development.
• Women’s empowerment has deepened through decision-making roles, skills training, and income-generating opportunities.
• Sustainable agriculture, handicrafts, and value-added products are enhancing household incomes and resilience.
• Linking conservation with livelihoods reduces vulnerability and improves community well-being.
• The approach fosters social inclusion, connecting environmental outcomes to better quality of life.
• These integrated results are creating resilient communities where nature conservation underpins sustainable livelihoods and long-term development.

PI: Dr. Susmita Mitra
Co-PIs: Dr. Sudipta Kumar Mishra and Dr. Pradeep K. Mehta
Associated Staff: Dr. Dhiman Debsarma & Gitesh Sinha
Funding Agency/s OR Institution/s: ICSSR
Time Period: January 2024 to August 2025

Brief Description 

The Objectives are to examine socioeconomic determinants influencing micro-irrigation (MI) adoption, quantify the economic benefits of MI systems, analyse variations in knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) among adopters and to assess the impact of policies and interventions—subsidies, training, infrastructure, institutional reforms—on MI adoption.

Conducted a survey of 500 farmers in selected districts of Rajasthan and Haryana. Used logistic regression to identify socioeconomic, institutional, spatial, and social-networking determinants of MI adoption. Quantified economic benefits by comparing adopters and non-adopters on costs, yields, and net returns (Chi-square test). Measured adopters’ KAP through 10-item Likert-like scales and analysed influencing factors. Applied agent-based modelling (ABM) to simulate adoption under alternative policy and intervention scenarios.

The findings of the study are (1) MI adoption is shaped by socio-demographic (age, gender, education), household (landholding, income, electricity), social (media exposure, group membership), institutional (Kisan Samman Nidhi, official behaviour), and spatial (groundwater depth) factors,  (2) Adopters achieve reduced input costs and higher yields in wheat and mustard, confirming experimental and field-level benefits. (3) High KAP scores are associated with education, digital access, organizational membership, income, and training. (4) ABM simulations show that subsidies, awareness drives, nudging strategies, and stronger institutional support significantly raise adoption rates.

Showcase local success stories, build positive perceptions, ensure post-installation maintenance, strengthen institutional support, and integrate training into subsidy schemes to scale up adoption.

PI: Dr. Susmita Mitra
Co PI: Dr. Sourindra Mohan Ghosh and Dr. Sudipta Kumar Mishra
Associated Academic Staff: Ms. Jaya Lekshmi Nair, Mr. Gitesh Sinha
Funding Agency/s OR Institution/s: TATA Trust
Time Period: August 2022 to September 2023

 
Brief Description

Objectives:

1. To explore the impacts of natural disasters on the health and nutrition of children of different age groups.
2. To study the impacts of natural disasters on the education of children of different age groups.
3. To understand the economic and livelihood impacts of natural disasters.
4. To explore coping mechanisms of local people to adopt to address climate change impacts, and available options/schemes/programmes (govt./non-govt.)
5. To analyse the socioeconomic, geographic, and institutional determinants of climate vulnerability in the region.

Used a mixed-method approach, combining qualitative and quantitative data from 1,360 households (426 in Uttar Pradesh, 476 in Odisha, 458 in Karnataka). Compared disaster-affected and non-affected but otherwise similar areas within each state to isolate disaster impacts. Analysed child health indicators (disease risk, stunting, breastfeeding, food diversity, nutritional status), education indicators (school/Anganwadi enrolment, attendance, out-of-school risk), and child protection indicators (child labour, child marriage). Examined economic and livelihood impacts, including changes in primary occupation, household income, and adoption of resilient agricultural practices. Assessed government and NGO support in disaster coping. Developed a composite vulnerability index from sub-indices on socioeconomic factors, amenities, child outcomes, and support gaps, to rank states and villages by vulnerability.

Findings of the study are, Natural disasters significantly affect children’s health, nutrition, and education, increasing risks of disease, stunting, and reduced dietary diversity, Impacts vary by state; strong NGO engagement in Odisha mitigated adverse breastfeeding and education outcomes, Access to health and education facilities is lower in disaster-affected areas, Out-of-school rates and Anganwadi enrolment drop post-disaster, mainly due to damaged facilities and financial constraints, Disasters disrupt livelihoods: drought in Uttar Pradesh pushes households away from agriculture, while floods in Odisha reduce farming months; migration boosts incomes in parts of Karnataka, NGO support increases adoption of resilient farming and reduces household vulnerability and Odisha has highest vulnerability due to poor infrastructure, Karnataka lowest due to better amenities.

Key recommendations is to strengthen health facilities and community health workers, promote kitchen gardens, improve WASH, support evening classes, subsidize water-saving technologies, and develop gender-sensitive, evidence-based interventions.

PI: Prof. Nitya Nanda
Associated Academic Staff: Dr. Poornima, Dr. Ankita Goyal, Dr. Susmita Mitra, Dr. Aparajita Sharma, Ms. Ramandeep, Ms. Antora, Mr. Sourindra and Mr. Gitesh Sinha
Funding Agency/s OR Institution/s: Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS)
Time Period: August 2020 to June 2021

 
Brief Description

The project was undertaken with the objective of exploring the potential role of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in India in contributing to the implementation, advocacy, awareness generation, capacity enhancement, and monitoring of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Recognising the critical role grassroots NGOs play in advancing development outcomes, the study aimed to build their capacity to engage more effectively with the SDGs at the local level. The central aim was to develop a practical and accessible Manual that would serve as a guiding document for NGOs, equipping them with the necessary knowledge and tools to align their activities with the SDG framework and contribute meaningfully to achieving the Goals.

The study adopted a desk-based secondary review approach, focusing on five key SDGs: education, health, gender equality, water and sanitation, and climate change. A thorough review of existing literature, government policies, programmes, and documented outcomes related to these five thematic areas was undertaken. This review enabled the identification of key achievements and existing gaps in SDG implementation in the Indian context. In parallel, possible areas for NGO intervention—such as policy implementation, advocacy, awareness building, capacity enhancement, and monitoring—were identified. Consultations were also conducted with key stakeholders, including development practitioners and government representatives, to ensure that the Manual reflected the real-world contexts and opportunities for NGO engagement. The information gathered through this process informed the content of the Manual, which focuses on generic and cross-cutting issues and outlines pathways for action under each SDG.

The project recommends targeted capacity-building initiatives for NGOs, increased collaboration between state and civil society actors, and widespread dissemination of the Manual to enhance grassroots engagement with the SDGs. Empowering NGOs with the right tools and knowledge will significantly improve local-level SDG outcomes and foster more inclusive and participatory development.

https://csdindia.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Training-Manual-on-SDG-for-NGOs.pdf

PI: Dr Susmita Mitra
Associated Academic Staff: Mr. Gitesh Sinha
Funding Agency/s OR Institution/s: Child Fund India (CFI)
Time Period: October to November 2020

 
Brief Description

Objectives of the study was to assess the status of climate change vulnerability in relation to women’s empowerment in agriculture across 10 districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh, to identify the socio-economic, geographic, and institutional determinants influencing women farmers’ vulnerability to climate change in the study region and to examine the key constraints faced by women farmers in adapting to climate change.

The study used a mixed-method approach, combining primary and secondary data. Secondary literature and reports were reviewed to identify gaps addressed through fieldwork. Conducted in 10 districts of Eastern Uttar Pradesh: Ayodhya, Barabanki, Sultanpur, Pratapgarh, Ambedkar Nagar, Azamgarh, Basti, Siddharth Nagar, Maharajganj, and Balrampur. In each district, one block where ChildFund India works with NGO/CSO partners was purposively selected; 10 villages were covered per block. A systematic random sample of 120 women farmers per block was drawn, covering 1,200 households overall. Twenty FGDs (10 female, 10 male) captured gendered perspectives and validated survey findings. Forty NGO/CSO community mobilisers were interviewed to explore knowledge–attitude–practice (KAP) gaps. Technical insights were obtained from an agricultural meteorologist for analysing climate adaptation gaps. Pre-tested tools, trained enumerators, and regular data checks ensured quality. Ethical protocols included informed consent, confidentiality, and voluntary participation.

Findings are the region faces extreme temperatures (0–47 °C) and irregular rainfall, with many districts simultaneously prone to drought and flood, groundwater levels have declined between 2014 and 2018, while food grain yields increased; however, cash crops like sugarcane, potato, and onion showed fluctuating trends, despite higher grain yields, food availability remains low in some districts due to poor distribution, soil fertility is declining because of excessive use of chemical fertilizers, most women farmers are from disadvantaged backgrounds, with low literacy and limited land ownership, though many are key earners for their households, climate change vulnerability is highest in Siddharth Nagar, Barabanki, Faizabad, Pratapgarh, and Ambedkar Nagar; women’s empowerment in agriculture is stronger in Faizabad and Siddharth Nagar, adaptation measures are limited, hindered by poverty, rising input costs, and lack of knowledge.

Recommendations include crop diversification, water-saving practices, awareness building, and promoting women’s roles in agriculture.

Funding Agency: Foundation for Ecological Security
Project Director: Dr T Haque
Associated Academic Staff: Dr Ankita Goyal
Funding Agency/s OR Institution/s:
Time Period: June – September 2018

Project Director: Prof Dipak Dasgupta
Associated Academic Staff:
Funding Agency/s OR Institution/s: ICSSR
Time Period: April 2017 to March 2018

1. Climate Change and Agrarian Crisis: Implications of Rice Cultivation in West Bengal (2015).
2. Impact of Organic Farming on Agricultural Productivity, Profitability and Sustainability: A Case Study of AP, Kerala and Bihar (2015).
3. Validation Survey of FINISH Sanitation Programme in the Villages/Slums of Gwalior (2012).
4. Issues of urban resettlement: case study of a resettlement colony in Delhi (2009).
5. Initiative towards environmentally and socially sensitive development of the Birhor area of Jharkhand (2008).
6. Canal Irrigation, Land Degradation and Margianlisation: A Case Study of Allahabad District (2008).
7. A Longitudinal Study of Slum Dwellers in Delhi (2007).
8. Socio-economic conditions of slum dwellers in Resettlement Colony: A Case Study (2007).
9. Effects of Forest Use on Bio-diversity Conservation Values as seen in Bird Communities of Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan (2006).
10. Assessment of Watershed Development Programme with Special Reference to Marginal Farmers & Landless Households (2005).
11. State of environment in Trilokpuri resettlement colony of Delhi (2003).
12. Capacity building for urban environment management and sustainable development in Alwar Kachi bastis, Phase I (1997).
13. Coal mining with sustainable development: report on a project in Hazaribagh and Chatra districts of Bihar (1995).
14. A Study of Social Attitudes towards Noise Pollution in Delhi (1984).