PROFESSIONAL ENGAGEMENTS

STADD feels privileged to have contributed to the under mentioned projects:

JETRO Study: Research study on potential needs of BoP business for agricultural inputs in India
The Kaihatsu national study done through an extensive field engagement exercise has helped the client to develop a better understanding of the BoP sector engaged in agriculture in India and how their needs can be better addressed by Japanese organisations.

AIT-IDRC: Research Study on “Enabling Pro-poor Bio-fertilizer Innovation Systems in India”
This study is part of a competitive research grant supported by the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok and International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Singapore. It aims to identify actors and their relationships with relation to the two bio-innovations associated with the bio-fertilizer sector in India.

National Mission on Bamboo Applications, Govt. of India: Assessment of Value Addition Potential of Bamboo Sector, India
The ongoing assignment covers a detailed study of the bamboo sector as a whole within India and looks to study the value addition potential of 12 products that have been identified to have potential from the perspective of the Indian market with opportunities for farm level processing of bamboo.

IFAD: WUPAP Mid-Term Review, Nepal
This assignment covered a review of the poverty alleviation project funded under the Flexible Lending Mechanism covering first 7 years of the project across two phases and will look to recommend to IFAD on plans for the III Phase.

IFAD: Market Access and Growth Intensification Programme, Bhutan
Team Member of IFAD project formulation mission in Bhutan on Market Access and Growth Intensification Programme aimed at poverty reduction through pro-poor support programs and growth intensification initiatives

IDRC: Knowledge Management for Value Chain Development
Assessing and developing a strategy for knowledge management needs of IFAD projects in South Asia region for value chain development in mountain context, through ENRAP platform managed by IDRC.

IFAD: Agriculture Marketing & Enterprise Promotion Programme, Bhutan
The mid-term review team of which STADD addressed needs of rural markets and value chain, helped plan for phase II needs of this project being implemented in 6 districts of Eastern Bhutan. The focus of activities was on infrastructure, agriculture, livestock, and NTFP with specific reference to women, poor, and the marginalised.

CFC: Impact Evaluation of Projects Utilising Jute for Paper Pulp and Geo-textiles, Bangladesh
This assignment covered the jute sector in India and Bangladesh and two sub-sectors, namely paper pulp and geo-textile. The assignment not only assessed quality of efforts achieved by CFC funded projects but went on to give a future direction to the sector's needs from a sustainable development perspective.

ICIMOD: Value Chain Development for Turmeric and Ginger in Meghalaya
Meghalaya has abundant resource of these two horticultural crops that also have a good market potential. STADD is collaborating with ICIMOD for this IFAD funded project to provide implementation support to pursue value chain development for the benefit of community farmers.

National Agriculture Innovation Project: World Bank Funded ICAR Project
STADD has been involved with the evaluation process of certain projects related to mountain farming systems and innovative approaches commissioned by NAIP.

CFC: Utilization of Cotton Plant By-Produce for Value-Added Products
For the cotton farmer, additional returns from cotton stalk can be useful contribution to household income. This project aims to establish board manufacturing facilities utilising cotton stalk as a raw material with establishment of an optimised supply-chain system.

IFAD: Local Livelihood Programme in Mid West Development Region, Nepal
The mid term review helped in strategy development for the second phase of a grant project focusing on developing livelihoods for 5,000 HHs along two new road corridors developed in the mid-hills covering vegetable growing, NTFP and livestock activities. This pilot project will have an important bearing on future corridor development and value chain projects in this backward region of Nepal.

IFAD: WUPAP Implementation Support Mission, Nepal
STADD contributed to the value addition and implementation needs of NTFP, agriculture, and livestock sector for this 11 year poverty alleviation project based in the mid-western region of Nepal.

UNCTAD: Impact of Globalisation on Women in Handicraft Sector
This assignment formed part of a multi-sectoral study initiated by UNCTAD to study impact of globalisation and strategies that need to be positioned to ensure equity of participation of women involved with the carpet weaving and embroidery sectors in 4 locations of Uttar Pradesh, India.

JBIC: Forest Livelihood Projects in Indian States of Gujarat, U.P., and Tripura
STADD has formed part of the consortium team for above projects in areas such as GIS, Forestry, NTFP and Community Development.

Tata Steel Ltd.: Tata Centenary Project
Tata Steel Ltd. celebrated its centenary year in 2007. The Tata Centenary Project is a CSR initiative aimed at community and livelihood development of three blocks in the Indian states of Jharkhand, Orissa, and Chattisgarh with an initial contribution of INR 100 crore to the corpus by the organisation.

Sir Ratan Tata Trust: Establishing the Reviving Green Revolution Cell
The Trust intends to establish an institutional mechanism to be housed within the Punjab Agriculture University to give an impetus to agriculture development within the State. The Cell is being proposed to look at needs of agriculture in the current context, as also explore avenues of sustainable agriculture.

IFAD: “Tejaswini” Women Empowerment Project in Maharashtra & M.P.
STADD contributed to the rural livelihood portfolio of the $185.7 mn. project linked to a micro-credit based approach as part of the Project Appraisal Mission.

UNDP/GEF Project Management Cell: M&E Consultancy
This Cell has been established to upgrade technology contributing to control of GHG emission through process based interventions in the Steel Re-Rolling Mill sector. STADD was involved in backstopping PMC efforts to get the desired outputs from consultants appointed for developing the process and related documentation for M&E management and training functions.

UNDP-GEF: Impact analysis of 50 UNDP-GEF funded projects
This assignment was carried out for the UNDP-GEF Small Grants Program that entailed study of 125+ projects to choose a final lot of 50 for evaluation and documenting experiences thereof.

Govt. of Tripura: Tripura Bamboo Mission Strategy Development
STADD contributed to development of a strategy document outlining a INR 70 crore plan to develop the bamboo sector in Tripura. Implementation of the plan is to be done as part of Tripura Bamboo Mission effort over a period of three years with an objective to increase the turnover and employment in bamboo sector by a factor of two.

Department of Science & Technology: National Mission on Bamboo Applications
Research on two market potential studies for bamboo’s application as a wood substitute for the National Mission on Bamboo Applications (NMBA), TIFAC, Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India. Subsequently we have also handled preparation of Product Profiles and a Business Directory for bamboo-based structural application and service providers for NMBA.

National Commission on Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector, Govt. of India: Chamoli Growth Pole
The Commission has initiated efforts for rural development through a "Growth Pole" concept with Chamoli in Uttaranchal being one of first pilot projects to be initiated. The INR 150 crore project to be implemented over 5 years will focus on organising the informal sector for economic upliftment of the region.

Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Govt. of India: 11th Plan Document
STADD formed part of a collaborative team to develop the strategy and policy document for the Ministry that was submitted to the Planning Commission and National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council.

USAID: Study on Livelihood Options for Trafficking Prone Communities
This was a short term engagement covering the region of Tanakpur, Uttaranchal on the India-Nepal border with a view to strengthen livelihood options for women in the region.

Apart from above assignments that STADD has been contracted for, it has had the opportunity to support efforts of two organisations mentioned below. Both initiatives are directed at demonstrating and stimulating thought to arrive at sustainable and alternative solutions to help create a better world.

Society for Strategy Technology & Delivery for Development (SocietySTADD)
This not-for-profit society has taken a lead to address the issue of rural infrastructure through a conference conducted for three years in a row (2005-2007) titled "Sustainable & Participative Initiative for Rural Infrastructure Technologies". SPIRIT has focused on rural infrastructure in terms of technologies and related social issues through a participatory livelihood based approach.

One of the key initiatives supported by the Society is the practice of Conservation Agriculture where it is working to bring about a paradigm shift in agricultural practices through resource conservation based farming systems. To further the cause of Conservation Agriculture, SocietySTADD has helped promote Professional Alliance for Conservation Agriculture (PACA - www.conserveagri.org) that is now working through various initiatives, including the process of National Consultation in collaboration with the Indian Council for Agricultural Research.

The Society is also extending management support to NGOs in the health and education sector contributing to efforts in areas such as ICDS, nutrition and eye care for the under-privileged.

Tropical Agriculture Association India (TAAI)
TAAI is associated with Tropical Agriculture Association, UK, a body of practitioners from academic, research, and field implementation background with an interest to address issues concerning tropical agriculture. TAAI hopes to address issues concerning agriculture in India, and one such initiative was a half day discussion meet on the subject of "Making Agriculture Work for the Poor in India" that had Dr. John Farrington, ODI as the guest speaker with senior functionaries involved with agriculture contributing to the deliberations.