Wednesday, March 7, 2012

AdaptCap Project Background


AdaptCap Project Background Climate Change

Climate change is a global phenomenon. Climate change refers to changes in the composition of the earth‘s atmosphere, which are over and above the natural variability in climate. There is widespread consensus in the scientific community that climate change is caused to a large extent by greenhouse gas emissions cause by human activities. Natural factors play only a secondary role (IPCC 2007).



Because of its anthropogenic drivers the United Nations agreed on the following definition of climate change: “Climate change means a change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods.” 
[UNFCCC, Article 1 (2.)]

Global warming is not the only problem now facing mankind, but it is one of the most serious with which humanity has ever been confronted.” (United Nations Environment Programme: Our Planet – Climate Change & Economic Development, 2007). To mitigate climate change human beings all over the world will have to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

AdaptCap Project Goal and Objectives

AdaptCap Project Goal and Objectives

Goal:
The goal of AdaptCap is to reduce the vulnerabilities of coastal communities and cities in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, India, to climate change and strengthen capacities of local authorities and the population on climate change adaptation, climate change mitigation and disaster risk reduction.

Objectives:
• Create and implement measures for climate adaptation as well as mitigation and disaster risk reduction in coastal communities, support local authorities in addressing related challenges.
• Develop and carry out pilot initiatives on adaptation and mitigation in rural communities (e.g. by improving local infrastructure).
• Improve capacities and decision making skills of local bodies and communities on adaptation and mitigation and provide advisory services on disaster risk management
Create public awareness, improve regional and global visibility of the project and stimulate networking.
• AdaptCap aims to support Millennium Development Goals 1 and 7 of lasting poverty reduction and to ensure environmental sustainability as well as achievement of the targets under the Indian National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).

AdaptCap Andhra Pradesh Interventions

AdaptCap Andhra Pradesh Interventions

First Phase
Initially, 3 clusters are targeted (Vishakapatnam, Prakasam and Kavali); these consist of 1 city and 3 villages each. The idea is to also strengthen the urban-rural links within the target clusters. The following are included in the first phase:
1. DISTRICT VISHAKAPATNAM:

City Level Information of Vishakapatnam:
Total Population: 4,288,113  (2001 Census)
Key Livelihoods: Fishing and allied activities
Impacts of Climate Change Experienced: Risk for fishing, loss of working days, risk of living in sea source areas due to rise in sea levels; loss of livelihood, property and employment due to cyclones; heavy rainfall has had an impact on sanitation and health; depletion of ground water due to rise in temperature.
Name of Village: Govupeta
Total Population: 345
Number of Families: 102
Nearest City: Vishakapatnam
Main Source of Livelihood: Fishing and Seasonal Wage Laobourers
Proximity to the Sea: 1-1/2 km
Name of Village: Chukkavanipalem
Total Population: 324
Number of Families: 112
Nearest City: Vishakapatnam
Main Source of Livelihood: Fishing, Fish Exports and Seasonal Wage labourers
Proximity to the Sea: 1-1/2 km
Name of Village: Chepaladibbadipalem
Total Population: 488
Number of Families: 174
Nearest City: Vishakapatnam
Main Source of Livelihood: Fishing and Fish Wending

2. DISTRICT PRAKASAM (Ongole Mandal):
City Level Information of Ongole, Prakasam District:
Total Population: 202826 (2001 Census)
Key Livelihoods: Businessmen, professionals, food suppliers, construction labourers etc.
Impacts of Climate Change Experienced: Water contamination, loss of life, property, livestock, fodder and empleoyment due to cyclones; contamination of surface and ground water, disruption of electricity supply, flooding and breach of drainage bunds, spread of water borne and communicable diseases due to floods and heavy rainfall; drinking water scarcity, loss of livestock and fodder due to high temperature.
Name of Village: Dasarajupalli
Total Population: 653
Number of Families: 183
Nearest City: Ongole
Main Source of Livelihood: Agriculture, Construction Labour, Carpenters
Proximity to the Sea: 16 kms
Name of Village: Motomala
Total Population: 4243
Number of Families: 801
Nearest City: Ongole
Main Sources of Livelihood: Salt Production, Agriculture and allied Activities, Milk Production, Shrimp Culture, Fisheries; Skilled Labour.
Proximity to the Sea: 2 km
Name of Village: Vengamukka Palem
Total Population: 4825
Number of Families: 630
Nearest City: Ongole
Main Sources of Livelihood: Agriculture and allied activities
Proximity to the Sea: 19 km

3. DISTRICT KAVALI:
City Level Information of Kavali Town, Nellore District:
Total Population: 85616 (2001 Census)
Key Livelihoods: Retail Business, Government jobs, daily wage labourers, domestic workers, construction workers
Impacts of Climate Change Experienced: Heavy loss to property, crops, and market due to cyclones; Fall in ground water table, paucity of rinking water and drying up of water bodies due to less rainfall; high temperatures.
Name of Village: Poovula Doruvu
Total Population: 554
Nearest City: Nellore
Main Sources of Livelihood: Agricultural Labor and Farming
Proximity to the Sea: 1 km
Name of Village: Sri Ramapuram
Total Population: 589
Nearest City: Nellore
Main Sources of Livelihood: Fishing and allied activities,
Proximity to the Sea: 1.5 km
Name of Village: Ramudu Palle Palem
Total Population: 532
Number of Families: 189
Nearest City: Nellore
Main Sources of Livelihood: Fishing, Agriculture and allied activities
Proximity to the Sea: 1 km

AdaptCap Project - Climate Proofing Vulnerable Coastal Communities

Project Funding


This project is financed by the European Commission under the programme Thematic Programme for Environment and Sustainable Management of Natural Resources, including Energy. This programme and the approach of EuropeAid follow the budget line 21 04 01.

The European Commission is the European Community’s executive body led by 27 Commissioners. The Commission is manager and executor of common policies and of international trade relationships and responsible for the management of European Union external assistance.


Project Management



GIZ-ASEM is a joint programme of the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) Government of India and the Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), focusing on urban and industrial environmental management in India.

ASEM supports and coordinates projects providing environmentally, economically and socially viable solutions which creates win-win situations for all stakeholders.

During this project, GIZ-ASEM is the lead applicant and responsible for the overall project management, including (but not limited to):

• Management and control of the project implementation according to the contracted work programme including the management of involved personnel.
• Responsibility for overall project management, organization of meetings, drafting of contracts, financial, administration and evaluation, reporting, co-ordination of all activities in India.
• Overall responsibility for the implementation of pilot projects.
• Overall responsibility for the training courses.


Project Partners

The following organisations have come together with GIZ-ASEM and European Commission for the AdaptCap project:


adelphi
adelphi research is a leading non-profit think tank for policy analysis and strategy consulting based in Germany. They offer creative solutions and services on global environment and development challenges for policy, business and civil society communities. Their projects contribute to sustaining natural life systems and fostering sustainable enterprises. adelphi´s clients include international organisations, governments, public institutions, corporations and associations. adelphi has extensive experience in technology transfer and international dialogue and has a proven track record as project manager of complex international projects, several Indo-German cooperation projects for EuropeAid and other donors.

Contact address (main office):
Contacts: Mikael Henzler, Sibylle Kabisch
adelphi
Caspar-Theyss-Str. 14a, 14193 Berlin
Germany
T: +49/30 89 000 68 0
E: henzler[at]adelphi.de, kabisch[at]adelphi.de (note: replace [at] with @)
W: www.adelphi.de

Contact address (India office):
Contact: Ronjon Chakrabarti
adelphi
c/o Green Vision
404 Vishal Bhawan; 95 Nehru Place
New Delhi – 110019; India
T: +91/1166627277, 26412042
E: chakrabarti[at]adelphi.de (note: replace [at] with @)
W: www.adelphi.de


 
ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, South Asia

ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, South Asia ICLEI SA, is the South Asian regional chapter of ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability. It aims to build and serve a regional network of local governments to achieve tangible improvements in regional and global sustainability through cumulative local actions. Over the past decade ICLEI SA has emerged as a strong and vibrant local government association with a membership base of about 45 cities.

ICLEI SA has worked with South Asian cities on climate change adaptation, energy and environmental sustainability related activities with funding support by various national and international partners.

Contact address:
Contact: Emani Kumar
Ground Floor, NSIC-STP Complex, NSIC Bhawan
Okhla Industrial Estate
New Delhi – 110020
India
T: +91/11-41067220
E: iclei-southasia[at]iclei.org (note: replace [at] with @)
W: www.iclei.org/sa


AGS – Academy of Gandhian Studies


With the support of GIZ and Plan International, AGS has executed various comprehensive programmes for the Tsunami affected on Disaster management, desalination and desilation of land, renovation of water bodies, coastal plantation, construction of multipurpose centres, establishment of early warning systems, formation of team and committees and capacity building on disaster preparedness, plan preparation and advocacy and lobbying. AGS coordinates the activities of more than 15 partner NGOs along coastal Andhra Pradesh for implementation of various programmes. AGS worked with GIZ on the Asia Pro Eco II B Post Tsunami project in the Nellore, Prakasam, Vishakhapatnam, East and West Godavari regions of Andhra Pradesh.

Contact address:

Contact: Gopalakrishna Murthy
Academy of Gandhian Studies
18-3-60, SDRSI Complex
K.T. Bye pass Road
Tirupati – 517507, Andhra Pradesh
India

Thursday, September 30, 2010

AGS Vision, Mission, Values, Objectives


AGS Vision:

Contribution to the promotion of a democratic social order where in all the citizens enjoy a sense of social justice and economic well being without any form of discrimination, striving for sustainable development, social harmony and universal peace.

Our Mission:
Promotion of interaction between Gandhian thinkers and professional groups so as to explore, analyze and adapt the application of Gandhian tenets in resolving the problems of contemporary society, while promoting harmony and sustainable development.

Our Values:

  • Truth
  • Accountability
  • Transparency
  • Sustainable development

Objectives:

  • Promotion of grass-root democracy in order to sustain the gravity of governance firmly in the society, enhancing transparency.
  • Promotion of responsible and responsive citizenship, so as to advance the cause of universal human rights.
  • Promotion of sustainable social development in tune with the concept of trusteeship.
  • Exploration, interpretation, examination and application of Gandhian thought in resolving contemporary problems of human society.
  • Appraise the process of social transformation at the level of communities so as to enhance self-reliance.
  • Spread the universal values of truth, non-violence, reconciliation, peaceful co-existence, transcending partisan interests and sectarian identities, in consonance with ‘Vasudaika Kutumbakam’-the universal family of humanity.


Wednesday, September 29, 2010

AGS - Key Interventions

The key interventions of AGS facilitated & implemented successfully with collective efforts are...

Our Efforts

Projects implemented
î         Peace Initiatives
î         Programmes for Gender equity
î         Environmental Awareness Campaigns
î         Restoration of Livelihood opportunities for the vulnerable communities in Tsunami affected areas of Coast side of AP (RELIVE) 2006-2007
î         Natural Resource Management of Costal Resource in Nine Coastal Districts of AP (NRMCAP) 2006
î         Prevention of Child Trafficking and HIV/AIDS in Andhra Pradesh (CTHAPAP) – 2004 -2009
î         Combating Child Labour in Coastal Districts of Andhra Pradesh (CCLCAP) - 2006 – 2009
î     Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) - 2010


Research Studies done

î         A study on Status on Environment in Andhra Pradesh in 1990.
î         A Study on Occupational Migration among fisher folk vis-à-vis status of women and children in coastal district in the year 1999.
î         A study on Bonded Labour in India in 1981.
î         A study on commercial sex workers and their children in coastal Andhra Pradesh in 2002.
î         Adolescent consultations and a study on Action Research on Child Trafficking and HIV/AIDS in Andhra Pradesh in 2004.
î         Study of Child trafficking and HIV/AIDS in Andhra Pradesh, focusing on the prevalence and level of awareness in 2004.
î         Developed monitoring tools for Caritas India, Hyderabad – 2007.
î         Evaluation of HIV Initiatives supported by APSACS, Hyderabad – 2007.
î         Conducted an Evaluation of Child Centered Drought Preparedness Programme in Jaipur supported by Save the Children (UK) – 2007.
î         Conducted a National study on People’s autumn / Return of Autumn - Three Decades of AFPRO- SDC Partnership supported by AFPRO, Delhi – 2007.
î         Conducted and prepared a report on a National Study on “Sex Tourism in India” in the State of Andhra Pradesh supported by Govt. of India through Gram Niyojan Kendra, Gaziabad - 2008.
î         Assessment of Riverbed Lands (River Krishna) supported by ASM-Plan (Krishna), Vijayawada - 2008.
î         Conducted Primary Data Collection in the State of Andhra Pradesh & Kerala for the study on Status of Child Protection in India supported by Child Line India Foundation, Mumbai – 2009.
î         Conducted Situational Analysis of Children in Tirupati, Vellore & Tiruvannamalai supported by Child Line India Foundation for possible implementation of Child Line in these respective areas, Mumbai – 2009.