V. Climate Resilience
A. CCRAI Project (GIZ)
Vasudha Foundation is undertaking a project supported by Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ), for the state of Punjab. This is a part of bigger project being implemented by GIZ under the bilateral cooperation of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), India titled ‘Climate Change and Adaptation in Rural Areas of India Phase II (CCA RAI-II)’. Vasudha Foundation is part of the second phase of the project undertaking the required assessment for the state of Punjab. The scope of the project is to identify the convergence of district level plan with its integration to climate vulnerability and Climate Change Adaptation (with focus on water and agriculture sector). Vasudha would prepare a report of the afore mentioned assessment based on secondary research and primary interactions in the state of Punjab.
VI. Cross-cutting and Global Partnership
A. Compendium of Policies and Practices of International Financial Institutions for Policy Wayforward for the New Development Bank
Vasudha Foundation in collaboration with Oxfam India and inputs from ASUL, Brazil, conducted a study to compile existing practices and policies of International Financial Institutions with their presence in one or more BRICS countries across six major focus themes. The detailed compilation of the observations is presented in the report titled “Policy Wayforward for the New Development Bank: A compendium of policies and practices of some of the Multilateral and Southern Banks”.
The aim of the project is to compile various policies of existing IFIs, and other Development Banks, in order to create A compendium of policies and practices of some of the Multilateral and Southern Banks. The recommendations emerging from this compendium would help in influencing the NDB to have in place, policies that would ensure not only transparency in governance, but also ensure that the NDB promotes sustainable development as its core business. The choice of institutions was meant to create a mix of learnings from big development banks like World Bank (WB) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) and southern development banks like InterAmerican Development Bank (IADB). In order to derive more localised learnings for NDB, Bank of Latin America (CAF) and National Bank for Economic and Social Development, Brazil (BNDES), were also included in the study. In totality, the study is based on the presence of the mentioned banks in one or more BRICS countries. The six development banks being considered for the study are:
World Bank ii) African Development Bank iii) Asian Development Bank iv) Inter-American Development Bank v) Bank of Latin America (CAF) and vi) National Bank for Economic and Social Development, Brazil (BNDES) The six thematic areas are: i) Environmental and Social Safeguards ii) Civil Society Engagement iii) Gender Mainstreaming iv) Access to information and transparency v) Accountability Mechanisms vi) Energy Strategy
B. Bhutan Energy Cooperation Agreements and the Implementation of Hydropower Projects in Bhutan
A Study of India Bhutan Energy Agreements and the Implementation of Hydropower Projects in Bhutan
Vasudha Foundation in collaboration with Oxfam India did a detailed analysis of the energy cooperation between India and Bhutan, the modalities and conditionalities of the agreements signed by them. Further, the study also identified specific projects undertaken as part of the energy cooperation agreement, particularly in the hydro-electric sector. Six key projects were identified for the detailed analysis, namely, – Chhukha, Kurichhu, Tala, Punatsangchhu I, Punatsangchhu II and Mangdechhu Hydroelectric Projects (HEP).
The broad aim of the study was to understand how regional co-operation agreements between countries in South Asia have worked and to identify possible lessons for strengthening such agreements in future, including respect for local communities and regulations, in addition to highlighting key aspects of the agreement that could be replicated to foster greater regional co-operations in other parts of the world.