The SEEDS journey so far, digital tools for L&D

“How we manage and harness technology for the good of mankind is the key issue of our time.” Henry Timms

January 2025 is always a special month at SEEDS - allowing us to reflect on our journey over the years. With the constant support of generous donors, well-wishers and advisors, SEEDS has today emerged as a leading force in disaster resilience, sustainable environmental solutions and community empowerment. The SEEDS journey is a testament to the power of collective action, innovation, and a relentless commitment to creating safer futures that have immense relevance in the wake of extreme climate incidents. From working with disaster-affected communities and keeping them at the centre of decision making - what began as a humanitarian effort to aid those displaced by environmental changes and disasters has positively impacted nearly 91 lakh lives across India so far. A short glimpse of our work is here https://www.uniindia.com/news/pnn/story/3377975.html

Making all this happen

Building a team passionate about serving communities and driving community resilience has evolved over the years. Several senior SEEDERS and long-serving team members joined the SEEDS team while responding to an intervention in their area - primarily when it was disaster-hit. What attracted them to commit to serving during humanitarian situations? Their complete empathy with those affected. Read here how this team has been built and the values that are ingrained in each SEEDER https://www.seedsindia.org/blogs/passion-attracts-talent/

Responding to any disaster has one critical logistical question that needs immediate attention. Where? Followed by how do we reach there? Read here how the SEEDS team covers each mile with energy to reach the most vulnerable. https://www.seedsindia.org/blogs/being-resilient-all-the-time-in-the-place-they-call-home/

Akshvi: A digital platform for climate loss and damage

While the world debates loss and damage funds, imagine this: A mother from the heart of the Sundarbans, empowered to self-report her losses after Cyclone Dana, receives tailor-made relief from an international donor, is seamlessly connected to immediate recovery support from schemes and preparedness actions to safeguard her future.

This is not just a concept; it is a reality being brought to life by Akshvi, a true symbol of resilience and empowerment. By placing disaster-affected families at the heart of recovery efforts, Akshvi empowers communities to self-report their losses, ensures their needs are prioritised, and tracks their progress transparently through digital e-wallets - leaving no one behind. Importantly, in the backdrop of increasing multi-hazard-prone areas, Akshvi goes beyond recovery—it fosters sustainability, builds resilience, and creates a future that prioritises the well-being of vulnerable communities.

Akshvi introduces a transformative tool: E-Disaster Wallets, enabling disaster-affected individuals to log their losses and assets every time they are faced with an incident – regularly over a period of time. This community-driven platform aggregates economic and non-economic data to inform recovery efforts and shape policies.

SEEDS completed its third pilot in West Bengal in a community that had been devastated by Cyclone Dana.?We targeted nearly 2,300 households in two affected districts for self-reporting of cyclone-caused losses. With ‘pre-loaded’ E-disaster wallets assuring relief assistance SEEDS also carried out an awareness drive with a trusted local organisation in the community. The incentives and the awareness led to 90 percent participation by affected households.

When self-reported data was verified, we found that 98 percent of the information provided by households was accurate, dispelling common myths about over-reporting when communities are given the agency to assess their own losses.

The detailed family-level loss data allowed us to deliver tailored relief assistance including cash grants directly into family bank accounts. The family profile created on?Akshvi?and the quantum of assistance received offered traceability for the donor. Assistance worth Rs 60 lakhs was provided to communities. The ‘E- disaster wallets’ created?for each household are now being linked to long-term social welfare schemes of the government, and index-based insurance programmes. ?

Learnings from the field were shared at the NDMA-MoEF&CC consultation held on January 24, 2025, focused on designing India's Loss & Damage Framework (L&DF). With the work done on ground, SEEDS is advocating the following - the need to reassess current Loss and Damage (L&D) assessment methodologies to ensure they are accurate, inclusive, and reflective of local contexts. ?The importance of adopting bottom-up approaches, empowering communities in the reporting and assessment of loss and damage.

Building resilient communities in India

With extreme climate events rising H&M Foundation's visionary grant supports during and beyond the actual disaster incident. The long-term engagement envisions the creation of resilient, sustainable, and equitable disaster-affected communities. During a disaster vulnerable populations, including the elderly, children, disabled individuals and economically disadvantaged groups, are particularly at risk when a disaster hits and bear the brunt of these challenges. Environmental and geographic factors, like coastal locations and climate change, also exacerbate the vulnerabilities.

In the 31 years of working with disaster-affected communities, SEEDS knows that true resilience goes far beyond immediate relief. Through this partnership with H&M Foundation, SEEDS will not only respond to disasters – we will be empowering communities to shape their own resilient future. By combining local wisdom with sustainable infrastructure, technology and inclusive planning, we will be creating a framework that addresses both current vulnerabilities and the long-term challenges posed by extreme climate events. Here is the announcement: https://hmfoundation.com/project/building-resilient-communities-in-india/

AI Beyond Tech: SEEDS Showcases Innovation at PIWOT 2025

SEEDS, driven by its vision of creating a safe, sustainable and disaster-resilient environment, had been leveraging Artificial Intelligence to build community resilience. Through the 'Microsoft AI for Resilient Cities' project, SEEDS assesses vulnerabilities and calculated risk scores for communities and buildings leveraging AI, enabling proactive disaster preparedness and response. In January, SEEDS participated in the PanIIT World of Technology (PIWOT) 2025, one of the largest AI summits held in Mumbai at the Jio World Convention Centre to showcase the innovative application of AI in disaster management to the AI giants from the Indian Institute of Technology and other players at this significant platform of global exposure.

With support from Microsoft, SEEDS had the opportunity to showcase the project to a diverse audience, including industry experts, academicians, students, researchers, AI developers, product managers, and NGOs, attracting interest from delegates worldwide. Additionally, several opportunities for collaboration had been identified with academic institutions, NGOs, technology experts, and students.

The summit is recognised as a crucial forum for showcasing how AI is being leveraged for social good. ?PIWOT 2025 offered a key opportunity to demonstrate AI’s role in disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation. SEEDS reiterated its commitment to integrating advanced technology with sustainable practices to build resilience among communities.

Reaching communities affected by Cyclone Dana

On October 24–25, 2024 a severe cyclonic storm Dana struck Odisha and West Bengal, making devastating landfall near Baleshwar and Dhamra Port. With the support of Kotak Mahindra Bank SEEDS responded to this humanitarian crisis prioritising the distribution of essential shelter and hygiene kits to 405 of the most vulnerable households. This intervention offered immediate relief and enabled affected families to begin rebuilding their lives.

Gourilata Das, a 39-year-old widow from Badahebilisahi village in Balimunda Panchayat, Bhadrak One is one such affected person. Working as a daily wager she is the sole provider for her family since her husband's tragic death two years ago. She supports her three-year-old daughter and her elderly mother-in-law, who suffers from a chronic illness requiring constant care and expensive medication. The shelter and hygiene items provided immediate relief, enabling her to repair her home and improve their living conditions.

SEEDS in the media

https://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/remembering-bhuj-earthquake-a-turning-point-in-indias-disaster-management-approach/81884265.html