Stepping up humanitarian response
"A humanitarian worker is not only the person handing out assistance to people in need. Humanitarian workers are doctors, teachers, psychologists, as well as support workers — the drivers, clerks, and others who help make sure humanitarian action is timely and effective and addresses the specific needs of those affected by disasters and conflict." — Anders Pedersen - UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Jordan.
2024: The year SEEDS stepped up its humanitarian response efforts
In 2024 the SEEDS Incident Command Team responded to eight emergencies that included - cyclones, heatwaves, landslides, floods and cloud bursts. ?Starting with a cyclone over West Bengal in late May, several parts of India witnessed heatwaves. Soon, the North-Eastern part of the country experienced its annual devastation due to the monsoons. ?In early June Assam saw large populations moving away from their homes to higher and safer places. In what can only be attributed to recurring incidents of extreme climate events in vulnerable areas with devastating impact, by July heavy incessant rains led to back-to-back landslides in Wayanad, Kerala. By August as the entire State of Tripura experienced flooding, unrelenting rains led to severe floods that ravaged several areas of the South Tripura district. The Muhuri River, swollen and furious, breached its banks and unleashed devastation upon the communities. In November Cyclone Dana hit East Medinipur and South 24 Parganas in West Bengal and Bhadrak in Odisha.
Assessing each of the above disasters strategically, in May 2024 SEEDS provided anticipatory support in the Sundarbans in West Bengal following the landfall of Cyclone Remel. As recording breaking temperatures triggered unprecedented heatwaves across the length and breadth of the country, SEEDS’ Sunny Lives tool was leveraged to inform most vulnerable populations about the does and the don’ts within the National Capital Region as well as in project areas of Bihar.
With the unflinching support of Start Network and many other generous donors, SEEDS took swift and decisive action to extend humanitarian assistance during the floods that affected Karimganj district, Assam, Wayanad district in Kerala, Gomati and South Tripura districts in Tripura, Krishna district in Andhra Pradesh, Tehri and Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand. In September, our on-ground team in Darbhanga stepped up early warnings to get communities in flood-prone areas to safety. ??
Heatwaves are claiming fatalities and floodwaters leave behind a trail of destruction. Apart from loss of lives, livelihoods and livestock, flood waters destroy homes, some even though standing become uninhabitable. With water and sanitation severely impacted, contaminated water sources like tubewells and wells remain filled with debris rendering these once-reliable sources of water useless. As flood waters recede, a deeper crisis emerges. Water sources choke and begin spewing black, foul water unfit for any purpose. Without access to clean water, the communities' struggle intensifies as skin diseases and diarrhoea loom large.
Across the flood response, swift interventions such as relief, cleaning of water sources, WASH and child-friendly spaces were key SEEDS interventions. In Wayanad, under pressing deadlines accommodating two schools that were damaged into a community hall - thus getting schools into action promptly - earned the initiative appreciation by authorities. Read more here https://www.seedsindia.org/blogs/restoration-of-school-facilities-wayanad/
This year’s work underscores the urgent need for comprehensive climate adaptation and mitigation strategies that build community resilience.
SEEDS bags D4GX 2024 India Empowerment Challenge
In December 2024, SEEDS’ flagship initiative -Akshvi- won the Data for Good Exchange (D4GX) 2024 India Empowerment Challenge.? Akshvi is a national climate loss open data platform, that aggregates citizen-led self-assessments of losses with observational data to generate actionable insights for government and non-government aid agencies.
Akshvi is SEEDS's digital platform designed to enhance climate and disaster resilience through technology, supported by India Climate Collaborative (ICC). Developed with Ashoka's ASPIRE programme and Societal Platform (now Centre for Exponential Change), Akshvi facilitates real-time data collection and decision-making, including tech-enabled compensation transfers via an e-wallet feature. As the first loss and damage data platform, it aggregates insights to strengthen community adaptation to climate change, provides region-specific material and financial support, and integrates market support for comprehensive assistance. The platform empowers implementation partners with valuable insights for effective climate-adaptive strategies.
Akshvi has been designed to help disaster-affected communities by making them visible, eligible, and capable of receiving assistance. The platform features 'Loss Registers' that aggregate and display community-level loss data for various disaster categories, such as shelter and agriculture. It also includes a household-level e-wallet for recording individual losses and tracking relief assistance, which incentivises documentation. This system provides a comprehensive view of disaster impacts, facilitating better assessment and support.
With this award SEEDS’ will be reaching out to more States to encourage them to support self-reporting during emergencies. Learn more about Akshvi here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Flapvi0flY4??
Sustaining Regional Humanitarian networks
SEEDS was at the Regional Humanitarian Partnership Week (RHPW) in December. During the session on - New Pathways Leading to Doable Actions that Work for Us - SEEDS' co-founder Manu Gupta underscored the importance of the two approaches to bottom-up partnerships in humanitarian work: A network-based approach and a community-based approach.
Speaking about bottom-up partnerships that encouraged a community-centered approach to partnerships he said that SEEDS was a part of the Asian Disaster Reduction and Response Network (ADRRN) network formed in 2002. Since then, a strong voice has emerged that has influenced regional forums and eventually global forums, including influencing international humanitarian standards.
He emphasised that these networks had helped institutionalise people's voices and their wisdom converting them into need-based partnerships. There was a greater recognition of the objectives and the defining shape of these partnerships and in spreading the message. He further underscored the importance of the dignity and the centrality of affected population and the need for organisations working in the humanitarian space to share risks and work together.
In the session on Leveraging Technology for a Resilient Tomorrow Manu Gupta elaborated on intensifying climate impacts and increasing inequities across the world which are deepening distress among vulnerable communities. In response to escalating natural hazards and extreme weather events, SEEDS is harnessing technology to drive scalable impact and address systemic inequities. It has developed cutting-edge platforms designed to enhance risk management and climate resilience.
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SEEDS Associate Director Advocacy Divya Gupta presented SEEDS' leadership as the Localisation Hub lead under ADRRN that champions actions that place local communities at the heart of humanitarian responses.
Over the years, SEEDS has focused on, assisting Grassroots CSOs to become 'Disaster Ready', Promoting the global Humanitarian Encyclopedia Project for Asia compiling Localised Terminologies to bridge communication gaps and unlocking direct funding pathways for local CSOs and communities.
The Asian Disaster Risk Reduction Network warmly applauded Meghna Chawla's successful graduation as the secretary general of the network. ?
Human Rights and affected communities
During emergency response, relief and restoration efforts, ensuring the basic dignity of affected communities during a crisis is key for SEEDS. We believe that access to basic needs like dignity and privacy clean water, safe shelter, and sanitation is not just a service—it's a fundamental human right for affected communities. Our efforts strive to gradually support them through the journey of helplessness to empowerment - just by being part of their recovery efforts. From responding to emergencies, returning to disaster-affected areas to rebuild resilient homes to restoring hope in the aftermath of a cyclone, landslide or earthquake, SEEDS stands committed to ensuring that every individual, especially the most vulnerable, is treated with dignity and respect during crises.
The theme for Human Rights Day 2024 Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now - underscored the importance of shared responsibility to protect, empower, and uplift. Together, let’s ensure Human Rights For All, leaving no one behind in the face of adversity. Read here to know more about protecting the rights of affected communities. https://www.uniindia.com/human-rights-day-honouring-the-rights-of-affected-communities/pnn/news/3346861.html
Checking soil erosion in the Sundarbans
Since 2020 SEEDS has been working in the Sundarbans in West Bengal combating the growing problem of coastal soil erosion due to seasonal cyclones. By building the capacity of communities, in three villages of South 24 Parganas, Patharpratima, Kultali and Gosaba, efforts are on to build buffers to storms which are helping conserve soil as well. This work is critical considering that the Food and Agriculture-led Global Soil Partnership, estimates that approximately 75 billion tonnes of soil is lost every year, which affects ecosystems, agriculture, and the environment. This loss can lead to decreased crop yields, loss of biodiversity, and harm to the economy. It is, therefore, crucial to address soil erosion and find ways to conserve the soil.
Read here to learn more about this exciting work: https://www.seedsindia.org/blogs/healthy-soil-means-a-healthier-planet/
Support anticipatory action in Leh
In Ladakh’s sub-zero temperatures, survival becomes a daily challenge—for families, children, and even livestock. From keeping homes warm to sustaining livelihoods, every moment in this unforgiving cold, tests the resilience of Ladakh’s communities.?
SEEDS has seen the struggles firsthand—the Changpa tribe’s cherished Pashmina goats facing pasture scarcity, children battling the icy chill, and families trying to stay warm amid soaring fuel costs. Livelihoods, health, and survival are all at risk.? To know more about the situation in Leh please read https://www.seedsindia.org/blogs/resilience-in-the-himalayas/
We urge you to help make a difference. Help us reach our goal of 1,000 Winter Kits and protect Ladakh’s most vulnerable during this harsh season. Each kit provides warmth, hope, and a lifeline for a brighter tomorrow.?
?? Join the movement. Share the warmth. Act now.?
SEEDS in the media