Sustainable Environment and Ecological Development Society (SEEDS)
Founded in 1994, SEEDS is committed to building the resilience of people exposed to disasters. We have been enabling this through practical solutions for disaster readiness, response and rehabilitation. Our approach has involved grafting innovative technology on to traditional wisdom.
Description
SEEDS is committed to building the resilience of people exposed to disasters. Our mission is to equip the most vulnerable with appropriate tools and technologies combined with traditional wisdom, sharing knowledge and skills and promoting linkages among stakeholders to prevent loss of life and suffering. Since our foundation, we have been enabling this through practical solutions for disaster readiness, response and rehabilitation.
Over this time, our dedicated team has partnered families affected by disasters and climate emergencies in a variety of ways. Disaster survivors have had schools, homes and community infrastructure restored and upgraded. Marginalised communities have gained access to clean water, sanitation and health facilities. Nature-based solutions have been designed to help adapt to climate change in ecologically-sensitive areas. We have also invested in skill building, partnerships and advocacy to build the long-term resilience of at-risk communities. We do this in an interconnected manner – in peacetime, before, during and after a disaster.
Our work covers three broad areas: a) Humanitarian Response, SEEDS tailors response to the immediate needs of a community after a disaster; b) Building Back Better, SEEDS partners with survivors to rebuild their homes, schools and community infrastructure as well as to address ecosystems around these; and c) Reducing Future Risks, SEEDS works with communities to be better prepared for future disasters and reduce overall risks. Within these broad areas, specific programmes focus on safer housing, schools & community infrastructure; water & sanitation; the environment; and health – all with an ecosystem approach.
Our work has reached families across India and Nepal. However, SEEDS continues to advocate for and work with communities across Asia to build a safer and more sustainable world. SEEDS has been receiving a number of awards, including most recently the Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Purasakar 2021 by the Government of India.
Did the Sendai Framework change or contribute to changes in your activities/organization? If so, how?
The Sendai Framework underlines that when a disaster strikes, it is women, children and people in vulnerable situations overall who are disproportionately affected. In particular our work is aligned with the call to ensure the use of traditional, indigenous and local knowledge and practices, as appropriate, to complement scientific knowledge in disaster risk assessment and the development and implementation of policies, strategies, plans and programmes of specific sectors, with a cross-sectoral approach, which should be tailored to localities and to the context.
What led you to make this commitment/initiative?
What was your position before making this Voluntary Commitment / prior to the Sendai Framework?
Asia-Pacific as a whole is already the most disaster-prone continent in the world. India, in particular, is highly vulnerable to a range of natural hazards including earthquakes, floods, cyclones, droughts and landslides. The impacts of climate change and unplanned build-up are putting the most vulnerable at even greater risk. Weather-related emergencies are growing more intense, frequent and unpredictable. Secondary impacts on health, safety and ways of life are increasing. The recurring nature and frequency of disasters in India and region made a strong case for SEEDS to focus on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). With Disaster Management Act 2005 of India in place, we are partnering with vulnerable communities to build their resilience to disasters. We use innovative approaches and technologies that work for that particular community.
Deliverables and Progress report
Deliverables
Deliverables are the end-products of the initiative/commitment, which can include issuance of publications or knowledge products, outcomes of workshops, training programs, videos, links, photographs, etc.
Below-average monsoons for the last two years had led to a massive drought across Maharashtra in 2013. Takarwan village in Beed District was one of the worst affected. SEEDS reached out with drought recovery assistance as that was critically required and a community-based drought preparedness programme to ensure sustainability.
Immediate relief and house rebuilding support in the Ganjam district of Odisha
Relief and construction of transitional homes in Chennai along with Water, sanitation and hygiene awareness
Keeping inter-connected risks in mind, a two-pronged initiative was conceived. Govt. High School, Buddhi, a local government school, was in bad condition. It became the fulcrum to demonstrate safer construction techniques to the larger community. The second was a broader engagement with community on environmental sustainability. With little maintenance over the years, seepage and water damage had badly affected the school buildings. Toilets were broken or inaccessible, with open urination being a common occurrence. 517 students of this school were studying in a suboptimal learning environment. All six blocks of the school premises were restored. Drinking water facilities and colourful renovated toilet blocks were added. Aside from the external and internal wall plastering, roof repair and waterproofing that was common to almost the blocks, some had some unique interventions that were added along with rain water harvesting system.
Responding with immediate relief, building of transitional homes and restoring and rebuilding schools in Pulwama district of Jammu & Kashmir after the floods.
A vibrant citizens’ forum namely ‘Purvi Dilli Apda Prehari’ meaning East Delhi forum for DRR, was put in place in 2012. Over the years, it has grown and evolved its action plan. Now established as an institution, linked smaller community action groups have come up that work within specific neighbourhoods. This push has bridged socio-economic and political divides. It’s fostering a sense that risk is a collective responsibility.
From Relief, repair, reconstruction of homes and schools, a cross country initiative
A cloudburst and unprecedented flash floods hit Uttarakhand in 2013 in India. Responding to the flood SEEDS reached out to the affected community members with immediate relief, supported rebuilding of schools as they emerged the critical spaces for restoration.
An overview of our humanitarian response and rebuilding initiatives in the aftermath of the 2018 floods in Kerala
Action on disasters are still often seen in isolation. This series of publications aims to look at disasters’ broader face. The risks of the future will be different from the risks of the past. Recognising this and preparing for the unknown will be key to building a safer and more sustainable world.
As disaster risks are growing more intense, complex, and unpredictable, it calls for a new approach to resilience building and planning. This is a challenge that cannot be addressed by formal institutions alone. Local leaders often possess the capacity to innovate and have a strong understanding of local systems, politics, and culture. Recognising the importance of such local leaders, SEEDS through the course of disaster risk reduction and response work, actively engages in the identification of and capacity building of such leaders to cope with disaster risks and aid them to reduce the vulnerabilities in their communities.
SEEDS 10 year strategy committing to enable the bottom 1% of vulnerable to climate emergency, to withstand it and secure
their future potential and thereby that of the larger community.
Organizations and focal points
Implementing Organization(s)
Focal points
Partners
- Core Humanitarian Standard Alliance
- Voluntary Action Network India
- Network for Empowered Aid Response
- International Council of Voluntary Agencies
- Start Network
- Climate Action Network - South Asia
- Sphere India
- Global Network of Civil Society Organisations for Disaster Reduction (GNDR)
- Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance (ALNAP)
- National Alliance for Disaster Risk Reduction
- Asian Disaster Reduction and Response Network
