Our Most Influential Projects

Impactful Research with Renowned Partners

  • MESO background

    Impacts of meso-scale Watershed Development in Andhra Pradesh (India) and comparative catchments in Australia (2009-15)

    Explored the major concerns and likely livelihood impacts of the Watershed Development Program (WSD). Identified prototype meso-watersheds to provide insights. The assessment validated that meso-watersheds could generate differential benefits at scale.

    However, there were mismatches in perceptions of the benefits and costs of WSD to other parties related to hydrogeology and the biophysical characteristics of the location. These aspects needed to be addressed to optimize and sustain watershed impacts. Assessing impacts in hydrogeological and bio-physical contexts, especially in alluvial river basins, was valuable. Stakeholder engagement was found to be crucial for policy change research.

    Funded by CSIRO, Australia, led by CSIRO with partners in India and Sri Lanka

  • ACCA Background

    Adaptive Capacity of Farmers to Climate Variability in Cambodia, Laos, Bangladesh and India (2009-2017)

    A comprehensive evaluation of the climate change challenge, with a specific focus on the adaptive capacity of farmers, was undertaken. An end-to-end approach was adopted, ensuring full participation of farmers at all project stages, including problem identification, solution architecture, pilot testing, implementation, and evaluation. The evaluation fostered an understanding of the intricate impacts of climate change on agriculture in India. A socio-economic typology analysis was conducted to identify the evolving composition of the farming community and its implications for climate change adaptation.

    Additionally, the project piloted the institutionalization of the climate change adaptation process by establishing Climate Information Centers across the project villages. Furthermore, capacity building was facilitated among farmers to acquire the skills necessary to measure rainfall data and utilize it to make informed decisions. This initiative also brought the scientific and academic communities closer to the needs of farmers. Ultimately, it emphasized the significance of a trans-disciplinary approach to climate change adaptation research.

    Funded by ACIAR, Australia, led by CSIRO, Australia, with partners in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India and Laos.

  • WASH Cost Background

    WASHCost-India Project (2009-2012)

    The study examined the financial implications of water, sanitation, and hygiene services in rural and peri-urban areas in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, India.

    It advocated for a paradigm shift in the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector in India, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive and realistic costing mechanism. Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) can consider service attributes like source sustainability and water quality to ensure water security at the household level. Despite government subsidies and awareness campaigns, sanitation service levels remain inadequate, highlighting the need for reevaluation of funding allocation towards rural sanitation and cost reduction strategies.

    Funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, led by IRC, Netherlands, with partners in Burkina Faso,  Ghana, India, and Mozambique

  • Ocean Rim Background

    Improve climate forecasting to enhance food security in Indian ocean rim countries (2012-2014)

    Leveraged socio-economic analysis to evaluate seasonal forecasting’s value for decision-making across the agriculture supply chain. Collaborated with stakeholders to explore meteorological information and its time sensitivity. Supported participatory implementation of a decision model.

    Seasonal information is crucial for farm-level decision-making. Its usage across the supply chain supports various touchpoints. Interactive testing revealed gender-based differences in risk evaluation and biases resulting in higher risk activity, as men undermined women’s ability to more effectively use probabilistic forecasting.

    Funded by ACIAR, Australia, led by CSIRO, Australia, with partners in India and Sri Lanka.

  • UTFI Background

    Piloting and upscaling an innovative underground approach of mitigating urban floods and improving rural water security in South Asia (2015-18)

    Provided policy and institutional support for managing Underground Taming of Floods for Irrigation in Ganges Basin in India

    Funded and led by IWMI, Sri Lanka with partners from India

  • SIAGI Background

    Promoting socially inclusive and sustainable agricultural intensification in West Bengal and Bangladesh (2015-2020)

    Responsible for conducting livelihoods analysis, typology analysis, and institutional and policy assessments.

    An analysis of the socio-economic dynamics of group farming revealed the necessity for inclusivity among various farmer types to establish ownership of farming operations. While the profits were low, the benefits included increased awareness and skill development for non-landed and disadvantaged groups, enabling them to acquire scientific knowledge and experience in farming. This fostered confidence among these groups to transition into intensive farming and comprehend the economic aspects of agriculture.

    Funded by ACIAR, Australia, led by CSIRO, Australia, with partners in Bangladesh and India.

  • Rajasthan Background

    Impact Assessment of Watershed Development Programmes in Rajasthan (2009-2010)

    Watershed development in Rajasthan showed positive performance, with 43% of watersheds performing above average. Economic impacts were lower than bio-physical and social impacts, suggesting that environmental and institutional improvements did not always translate into economic benefits. Factors such as rainfall and access to irrigation influence Watershed Development performance more than the type of scheme implemented.

    Funded by The Ministry of Rural Development, India and led by the National Institute of Rural Development, Hyderabad

  • Local Level Planning for Natural Resource Management (2012)

    Conducted a review of Indian experiences on decentralised planning

    Funded by The European Commission, led by IDS, India

  • Tribal Farming Background

    Interlinking of Markets in Tribal Areas and their Implications on Livelihoods of the Tribal Population (2015-16)

    Conducted a detailed field study in the state of Chhattisgarh covering three tribal districts and 300 households.

    Funded by National Institute of Rural Development, India

  • RKYV Background

    Impact Evolution Study of RKVY in India (2014)

    Collected data and provided clean data sets to Institute for Social and Economic Change, India for the states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Pondicherry, and the Andaman and Nicobar Island Union Territory.

    Funded by Ministry of Agriculture, India, led by ISEC, India

  • Systematic Evaluation of IWDP and DPAP Programmes: A Study of Kurnool District, AP (2009-2010)

    A systematic evaluation study was conducted in 21 watersheds of the Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh. The project helped foster rural leadership and also raised awareness among the local population regarding the necessity of Watershed Development in fragile ecological zones. The study revealed that social fencing, natural vegetation, and plant seedlings of local preference were effective in transforming wastelands that were also found to be below the required levels.

    Funded by The Ministry of Rural Development, India and led by the National Institute of Rural Development, India

  • PJTAU background

    Out-scaling of adaptation strategies for rainfed crops in different agro climate zones of Telangana (2015-2016)

    LNRMI is responsible for Baseline socioeconomic survey, typology analysis and impact assessment of the interventions. Completed in 2016

    Funded by PJTAU, India, with partners in India

  • Maharastra Watershed

    Evaluation Study of Watershed projects (Preparatory Phase) in Maharashtra (2012)

    The study evaluated the preparatory stage of the Integrated Watershed Management Program. It evaluated 18 sample watersheds across 8 districts in Maharashtra.

    The study found that a detailed and comprehensive project report should be given high priority. At the time, they did not contain proper base line data, and lacked technical details such as Hydro-Geological and Bio-Physical aspects. A need for initiating capacity building activities at the project implementation agency level was identified.

    Funded by Ministry of Rural Development, India, led by the National Institute of Rural Development, India

  • SIAGI Extension Background

    Cost-Benefit Analysis of Ethical Community Engagement (ECE) in West -Bengal and Bangladesh (2021)

    LNRMI is responsible for providing the analytical framework and methodology for cost-benefit analysis. While ethical community engagement is a necessary condition for participatory research, its benefits are difficult to quantify. Despite this, the underlying contributors to success of initiatives were successfully identified.

    Funded by ACIAR, Australia, led by IIT-Kharagpur, India, with partners in India and Bangladesh.

  • Making of Climate Smart Communities in Harsh Environments: Lessons from Accion Freterna Watershed Management Practices (2018)

    Conducted a comprehensive study, from design to execution, accompanied by a publication

    Funded by Accion Fraterna Ecology Center, India

Looking to Collaborate?