NONPROFIT CIVIL SOCIETY CSR SOCIAL ENTERPRISE Philanthropy

20 A Case for Urban Density

26 Plenty of Fish in the Sea RARE Program Seeks to Restore Habitat

48 Doing the Rounds: Circular Economy Need of the Hour

50 Giving Festivals Up their Game

Edition 23 | JAN-MAR 2018 | /AsianNGO | www.asianngo.org/magazine | US$10 FUNDRAISINGFUNDRAISING AND AND BEYOND:BEYOND: NEWNEW ECOSYSTEMS ECOSYSTEMS FOR FOR SOCIAL SOCIAL GOOD MondayMonday 18 18 June June – – Wednesday Wednesday 2020 June 20182018

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IFCIFC Asia Asia 2018 2018 moves moves the the needle needle well beyond well beyond fundraisingfundraising toto presentpresent the the freshestfreshest thinking thinking and and brightest brightest new new practices practices forfor creating crucial forwardcreating crucial forward movementmovement toward toward a safer,a safer, saner, saner, more more compassionate compassionate world. NoNo mattermatter what what youryour role role in inthe the social social impact impact sector, sector, IFC IFC Asia Asia 20182018 will engage youyou in in thinkingthinking toward toward innovative innovative twists twists on on what what we we know,know, whilewhile working alongsidealongside daringdaring new new partnership partnership models, models, inspired inspired collaborationscollaborations andand big-picturebig-picture thinking. thinking.

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Table of Contents

26 Plenty of Fish in the Sea Photo Feature RARE Program Seeks to Restore Habitat 32 Swimming with

Philippines is a hotspot of biodiversity. When the country’s marine ecosystems the whale sharks were being depleted, the Fish Forever program stepped in to create sustainable in oslob fishing practices. It’s the story of how communities can restore the ecosystems that provide their livelihood if they work together.

20 A Case for Urban 48 Doing the Density Rounds: Circular

Graphics by Flaticon.com & Freepik.com As cities constantly modernize and Economy Need of Photo Credits: undergo massive development, the the Hour • Stephen Loewinsohn term “sustainable cities” seems like • Vollie Vollie • Rukn950, Wikimedia Commons an oxymoron. Public transport and Circular economy, an alternative to • Terrapinn low-income housing often take center • Micaela Preston linear economy, where resources are • Jason Houston, RARE stage in city planning, but planners are kept for as long as possible, provides an • Yasmin Arquiza, RARE sometimes forced to choose a path • MCCI avenue for companies to tap into the • Pixabay.com of development that may not always full power of sustainability. • Skyhorse Publishing be in the best interests of all citizens. • Guus Baggermans, Unsplash • Pump Aid Dr. Kala Seetharam Sridhar weighs • Gone Adventurin in on the importance of inclusive city • Sulapac • Rahul Bhadane, Wikimedia Commons planning.

2 iMPACT | January - March 2018 www.asianngo.org/magazine 4 Editor’s Note 6 Events 8 News 10 Numbers & Quotes 13 This Caught Our Eye

The Sector Photo Feature 15 Of Balloons and Pumps, 32 Swimming with the Whale Tents and Chlorine: AidEx Sharks in Oslob Innovation Finalists Dazzle Feature 46 Seamless Thailand Conference 23 The Power of One: Beth Terry’s to Address Essential Trends Plastic-Free Life

50 Giving Festivals Up their 34 Tale of One City: Surat and its Game Quest for Resilience

55 Integrating Country Strategy 47 Eight Secrets to a Sustainable Papers into your Acquisition Workplace Process 52 Packaging Trends: Thinking Out Commentary of the Box 18 Precision Agriculture Can Be Part of Solution to Food Face Off Security 38 Where’s The Beef? Voices on Bovine Methane Emissions 41 Volunteering in the Age of Gigs Books 43 A List of Must-Read Books on 44 Pedalling Hard, Going Sustainability Nowhere 58 Excerpt: Leap of Reason by 48 Doing the Rounds: Circular Mario Morino Economy Need of the Hour Humour in Development 50 Giving Festivals Interview 56 No Monkey Business, This! Up their Game 20 A Case for Urban Density CONTRIBUTION Giving festivals across the world Cover Story 60 Everlasting Beauty: Awards leverage their unique cultures to 26 Plenty of Fish in the Sea Highlight Sustainability Efforts create focused periods of giving. RARE Program Seeks to of Industry Meera Rajagopalan examines this Restore Habitat phenomenon. Editor’s Note

Publisher & CEO Dear reader, Sreenivas Narayanan

Managing Editor As a race, human beings are quirky when it comes to perspectives. We tend to believe Meera Rajagopalan that we are at the median of things: we believe we are somewhere between good and evil. We believe the human race has as much time after, as before. We rarely pause and think, Editorial Associate instead letting circumstances propel us into the future. Ian Jamotillo

Director of Business Development In the past decade or so, that has significantly changed. Individuals, communities and Aru David institutions are truly aware that status quo is not an option. Most of us realize, at some level, that unless we apply the metaphoric brakes, the planet might fall of the cliff. Magazine Design and Layout ASSIST Creative Lab Our sprawling cities attract not just talent, but also demand easier consumables—more Associate Director food, easier packaging—so that the use of plastic and chemicals are deemed necessary. Aida Baltazar Like a hamster on a wheel, it seems we haven’t had the time to stop, pause, and reflect. Now, there is no choice. Creative Director Kelvin Tee What this means is that every action of ours needs to be considered and deliberate, more so Senior Multimedia Designer in terms of the environment. For instance, in Chennai, where I live, the water table, like the Joseph Lontoc proverbial frog in the well, rises just a bit just after the rains, and plunges once summer sets Nicole de Leon in. Yet, we keep digging deeper for water. Fish have receded further from the coast; yet we continue to overfish. While the product packaging industry has made great strides toward Multimedia Artists more sustainable solutions, supermarket aisles are still dominated by plastic. Policarpio Velasco Venus Reverente Roberto Guerrero The tide, however, is turning, even as unsustainable practices, like a malignancy, try to encroach upon every aspect of our lives. Individuals, communities, corporations Web Designer and governments are all looking at the future with an eye on sustainability. Admirable Ramon Camposano attempts have been made at every level: in this issue of iMPACT, we take a look at Web Administrator changing attitudes among fishing communities in the Philippines, through our cover story Chris Daria on RARE. We also look at individual responsibility with our story on Beth Terry, and the value that city planning can bring to the table, with Surat’s resilience strategies. We also For Subscriptions play referee as we feature a debate on what revised estimates on methane emissions from [email protected] cows mean, and whether they will prompt a move toward plant-based diets. For Editorial [email protected] Much more is to be done if we are to, simply put, save the Earth. But we would do well to keep in mind what actor Bruce Tenenbaum once wrote, “What really needs saving is not For Partnerships the planet, but, rather, ourselves. For while the Earth’s demise is a very long way off, ours [email protected] may be just around the corner.” For Sponsorships & Advertising [email protected]

For General Inquiry [email protected]

Meera Rajagopalan Managing editor

4 iMPACT | January - March 2018 www.asianngo.org/magazine www.assistasia.org/MOD/

/AsianNGO iMPACT | January - March 2018 5 Events

1 Global Health Summit Kolkata, India | January 2-4

Organized by the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, the Global Health Summit will focus on universal affordable healthcare.

2 transforming Transportation 2018 Washington DC, USA | January 11 2 With the theme “Sustainable Mobility in the 5 Digital Era”, Transforming Transportation 2018 3 12 organized by World Bank and the World Research Institute will address the impact of technology on the transport sector. It will also touch upon access to high quality and safe transport, improving transport systems efficiently and lowering the environmental footprint of the sector.

3 2018 SoCal Energy Water + Green Living Summit California, USA | January 11

Public and private organizations will gather to discuss trends and solutions related to clean energy. Presented by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, the forum is also expected to convene hundreds of high school and college students to learn about combating climate change 7 Seamless Thailand and utilizing clean energy. Bangkok, Thailand | February 5-6

4 Paris Hepatitis Conference Seamless Thailand will bring together key experts, Paris, France | January 15-16 innovators and entrepreneurs to dive deep into how the payments, retail and e-commerce industries The conference will discuss new ways and are going through rapid transformation over three methods to manage diseases such as hepatitis B tracks of content. The conference will feature over and hepatitis C through intensive clinical research 60 financial, retail and e-commerce thought leaders and access to treatment. from global institutions like Facebook, Big C, Siam Commercial Bank, IndoSuisse, and more who will take 5 Bringing a Racial Equity Lens to Capacity the stage to exchange ideas and share best practices. Building New York, USA | January 18 8 Asia Pacific Sustainable Agriculture & Development Conference Grantmakers and funders are expected to gather Baguio, Philippines | February 6-9 to learn about racial biases in nonprofit capacity building, with specific reference to recent Asia Pacific Sustainable Agriculture & Development research. This is part one of a two-part workshop. Conference, presented by Echo Events, will talk about sustainable ways to improve the agricultural sector. 6 microbiome Drug Development Summit Europe Paris, France | January 29-February 1 9 ninth Session of the World Urban Forum Organized by Hanson Wade Limited, the Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | February 7-13 Microbiome Drug Development Summit Europe will showcase leading industry case studies With the theme “Cities 2030, Cities for All: focused on enhancing the application of novel Implementing the New Urban Agenda”, the Ninth technologies to standardize results, accelerate session of the World Urban Forum (WUF9) will focus target discovery and optimize the translation on the New Urban Agenda as a tool and accelerator of microbiome research into safe and effective for achieving Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable therapeutic products. Development Goals.

6 iMPACT | January - March 2018 www.asianngo.org/magazine 14 6 11 4 1 13 8 15 7 10 9

10 eduTech Philippines 2018 Manila, Philippines | February 21-22 a platform for potential foreign investors, EduTech Philippines 2018 will comprise inspirational infrastructure developers, technology providers keynotes from across the world, pioneering educators and infrastructure funders to be updated on the already changing education in their classrooms and development plans and policies of investing in technology leaders from education and innovative Myanmar’s urban and rural infrastructure; to technology companies. assess market opportunities and build potential business and investment networks with local 11 Solar Wind Earth Energy Trade Show policy makers and industry players. Gwangju, South Korea | March 14-16 14 regional Innovation Forum The trade show will showcase several breakthroughs Bratislava, Slovakia | March 22-24 in solar, wind and earth energy through conference programs in an effort to promote renewable energy Co-sponsored by the World Bank and the as a solution in a climate change-battered world. Government of the Republic of Slovakia in close collaboration with the Government of Austria, 12 Land and Poverty Conference 2018: the Regional Innovation Forum aims to facilitate a land Governance in an Interconnected World systematic policy dialogue among European and Washington DC, USA | March 19-23 Central Asian countries focused on the potentials of innovation and advanced technologies to Participants from government, academia, civil encourage regional integration, job creation, and society and the private sector will showcase latest economic growth. research and practice on the diversity of reforms, interventions, and innovations in the land sector 15 3rd GoGreen Summit around the world. Manila, Philippines | March 23-24

13 4th Myanmar Infrastructure Summit 2018 The 3rd GoGreen Summit with the theme “Let’s Yangon, Myanmar | March 20-22 go for a Green Planet”, will discuss several advancements in the field of green energy, Themed “Building an Inclusive, Integrated and renewable energy, environmental engineering Modernized Myanmar”, the summit will provide and green technology.

/AsianNGO iMPACT | January - March 2018 7 News

report also marks the first tracking, the world is still Year 2100 Could See time since CAT began tainted by the continuous tracking back in 2009 degradation of the the World Temperature that it has recognized a environment. An example of Rise by significant improvement in this is the melting of ice caps implementing climate policy in the polar region. Three action over a year—primarily square meters of ice are in China and India. lost for every ton of carbon 3.4°C “Over the last year, dioxide emitted according to governments have made calculations—and another substantial steps in 1,000 gigatons of carbon improving climate policies, dioxide into the atmosphere A new report from the on climate change, but is still and this has had a discernible would render the Arctic Climate Action Tracker far from the Paris accord effect on global emissions ice-free during the summer. (CAT) and United Nations target of 1.5˚C. projections. For example, “In a short time, we Environment Programme Climate Action Tracker, in the face of increasingly need to see unprecedented (UNEP) revealed that the an independent science- cheaper renewable energy, reductions in greenhouse world could warm by up based assessment that many are now actively gas emissions and unequaled to 3.4°C, if greenhouse tracks countries’ emission moving away from coal. efforts to build societies emissions persist. commitments each year Electric mobility is also that can resist rising climate This is a 0.2°C decrease also reported that present gaining momentum,” Niklas impacts,” said Patricia from the 3.6˚C projection policies are expected to Höhne of NewClimate Espinosa, executive secretary back in November 2016. reduce emissions by 1.7 Institute said. of the United Nations The decrease is a welcome GtCO2e in 2030 compared Despite the slight Framework Convention improvement in the battle to estimates in 2016. The improvements in climate on Climate Change.

Gender Equality Amidst Climate Action

Women are now more Agriculture Organization, recognized in the battle 60 to 80 percent of women against climate change in developing countries are thanks to a plan that was responsible for all household approved at the 23rd food production. If crops are Conference of the Parties affected by drought or flood, (COP23) in Bonn, Germany the livelihood of women held from November 6-17. takes a big hit. The Gender Action Plan “When drought or floods (GAP) aims to represent “The GAP is the result of going to have the diversity destroy the harvest, women all genders in the Paris dogged work by people who of views that you need to and girls are often the first to Agreement processes. It understand that there are properly understand the reduce how much they eat— contains enhanced capacity- disproportionate impacts risks or properly understand sacrificing their diet for the building and knowledge of climate change,” CEO of the opportunities going well-being of the rest of the sharing and improved Sustainable Energy for All, forward.” family,’’ said Lim Hwei Mian, participation of women Rachel Kyte said. “Unless GAP is the result of of the Asian-Pacific Resource across all levels, especially we have more women in the recognition of the and Research Centre for within national delegations the delegations and in the vulnerability of women Women (ARROW). and implementations such as ecosystem around the amidst climate change. A Data from the United budgeting and monitoring. delegations, we are not According to the Food and Nations (UN) revealed that

8 iMPACT | January - March 2018 www.asianngo.org/magazine $100m fund The World announced to Could Tap into combat infectious 100% Renewable diseases in Africa Energy by 2050 and Middle East A study entitled “Global Energy System Based on 100% Renewable A $100 million fund to combat (also known as onchocerciasis) while Energy Power Sector” that was infectious, preventable diseases such as lymphatic filariasis (also known as released in the 23rd Conference of river blindness and lymphatic filariasis elephantiasis) is present in 53 countries. the Parties (COP23) in Bonn, Germany (LF) was launched at the Reaching the Along with the fund, Mohammed and said that the world could possibly Last Mile global health forum in Abu the Gates Foundation also announced transition to 100% renewable energy Dhabi, UAE on November 15. the creation of a disease elimination by the year 2050—and create 36 The fund is sponsored by the and research institute to interpret data million new jobs worldwide. Crown Prince and the Deputy Supreme and technological advances into policy. “100% renewable electricity Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Reaching the Last Mile saw system is an effective and urgently Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan more than 200 government officials, needed climate protection measure. A who will contribute $20 million to the experts, activists, social workers and global zero emission power system is fund, and the Bill and Melinda Gates philanthropists gather to discuss and feasible and more cost effective than Foundation with a share of $20 million. strategize ways to tackle the challenges the existing system based on nuclear The fund hopes to raise $100 million and new developments against infectious and fossil fuel energy,” said Hans- to fast-track ongoing efforts to end diseases. The fund and conference are Josef Fell, president of the German river blindness and lymphatic filariasis managed by the END Fund, which aims nonprofit Energy Watch Group (EWC). in several countries in Africa and the to give importance to the most common The study which was conducted by Middle East. neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that is EWC and the Lappeenranta University “The fund reflects our long-term crippling the poorest people in the world. of Technology (LUT) in Finland further vision to save lives and put an end to “No human should suffer from a states the transition to 100% percent neglected tropical diseases,” Mohammed preventable disease; yet these neglected renewable energy by 2050 is possible said on his Twitter account. “There are diseases continue to incapacitate if strategies such as investing research inspirational models that have touched millions of people in Africa and the on renewables, phasing out fossil people’s lives, and their initiatives have Middle East. Elimination would help to fuel subsidies as well as government left a clear mark on humanity.” lift millions more out of poverty, and support are implemented. Twenty-nine countries are drive a positive multiplier effect across Switching to renewable energy reportedly battling river blindness the continent,” Mohammed stressed. provides a silver lining in the cloud that hangs over the world in the form of climate change and its (from page 8) Gender Equality in the The GAP recommends stronger devastating effects. Transitioning to Midst of Climate Action presence of women in the combat 100% renewable energy could bring against climate change. According greenhouse gas emissions in the women in sub-Saharan Africa get to Osprey Orielle Lake, executive electricity sector down to zero and water for a combined 16 million hours, director of Women’s Earth and reduce total losses in power generation. while men spend only 6 million hours. Climate Action Network, women act The global economy will also Weather disturbances such as drought as local agents of change—with local benefit through renewable energy make water collection even harder for knowledge of natural resources, they transition. Jobs in the sector are women and girls as they are forced to are often responsible for promoting expected to more than double by walk longer distances to collect water sustainable usage of resources in 2050, from the current figure of 17 which, in turn, impedes their schooling. their homes and communities. million to about 36 million.

/AsianNGO iMPACT | January - March 2018 9 Quotes & Numbers

We are only just beginning to feel The best the impacts of climate change. photographs Any small amount of resilience we are never may take for granted today will be stretched to breaking point sooner taken, than we may imagine. they're given.

Hugh Montgomery Giles Duley Director of the Institute for Human Health and Performance Photographer University College, London, on the impact of climate change on the health sector On his work, “Legacy of War”, which showcased different sides of global conflict

There is no reason for women to trail behind men in social, economic, and political outcomes. Countries need to do much more to reach gender equality goals.

Gabriela Ramos OECD Chief of Staff Unless the international community tackles violence against women, the world will not eradicate poverty or reach any of the other Sustainable Knowledge Development Goals. is easier António Guterres United Nations Secretary-General to develop, On women empowerment but attitude is hard to Dying during a heat wave is like a change. terror movie with 27 bad endings to choose from.

Sara Zaini Director of school and content development Camilo Mora on using education to solve youth Geographer, University of Hawaii Manoa unemployment in Saudi Arabia. On the effects of heat waves brought about by climate change

10 iMPACT | January - March 2018 www.asianngo.org/magazine Renewable energy is Renewable expected to cover Energy in more than Numbers 60% Global wind sector of global power investment reached a capacity growth over total of the next five years. Global energy demand will $109.6 billion. double by 2030 Hydropower supplies of all renewable electricity, making By 2050, there will be 71% it the leading renewable source for electricity 2 80% generation. CO carbon reduction.

Over the next five years,

There are 2.5 wind 30,000 turbines solar panels

will be installed every hour. 9.8 million jobs in the renewable 65 energy sector. SOURCES: gigawatts https://www.iea.org/media/news/2016/news/MTRMRInfographic.png https://frankdiana.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/future-of-energy-infographic.jpg of solar capacity was http://www.ren21.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Figure_06_GSR_2017.jpg https://franckenergy.com/2017/04/19/infographic-renewable-energy-statistics-2017/ added in 2017

/AsianNGO iMPACT | January - March 2018 11 12 iMPACT | January - March 2018 www.asianngo.org/magazine This Caught Our Eye

Crawling Toward a Sustainable Future By Ian Jamotillo

ugs—software developers with focus on sourcing and selling edible don’t like them; kids love them. insects was formed in response to the Soon, they might be the ones growing issue of protein shortage and Bto save us from the impending effects of climate change, inspired by observation climate change! of insect-consuming communities in The continuous battle against Asia and Africa. climate change has led to the booming “What we can do is change the of the edible bug business. A report mindsets of people around food. It can from the research firm, Global Market be something that tastes great, is great Insights revealed that the business had for us but is also great for the planet a share in the global market worth $33 at the same time,” said Neil Whippey, million in 2015, and is projected to grow co-founder of Eat Grub. up to 40% in 2023. Aspire Food Group promotes cooked What does that really mean? “Insects are one grasshoppers as an alternative source Edible bugs could be the future of of food. Founded by five MBA students sustainable food. important solution at Canada’s McGill University in 2013, Research says that bugs require as they offer a rich Aspire operates in the United States less water than cows or pigs. Cows and Ghana and unveiled the world’s first need about eleven times more water source of protein, automated cricket farm in 2017. compared to turkey, pound for pound. amino acids, “We believe that insects are the Bovine methane emissions have become fatty acids and protein of the future,” Aspire states a serious cause for concern as well. on their website, while describing Edible bugs pack protein and the micronutrients.” themselves as a global leader in the U.N. Food and Agricultural Organization “edible insect movement”. (FAO) had stated that eating bugs could Giulia Muir Bugs as food may seem like a scary aid in lowering global malnutrition. FAO expert on edible insects future. However, climate change Several companies and businesses should sound more terrifying, and the have already taken note, and introduced creepy crawlies may just be one way to products. Eat Grub, a social enterprise tackle it.

f there’s one thing that marks today’s generation, it’s the Never Go Out of Style: art of flaunting. On social media, posing as aesthetically as possible to gain more likes and shares, today’s generation The Sustainable Way flauntsI their skills and talents, hoping for attention. Fashion is part of this whole “flaunting phenomenon” and over the course of the years, the fashion industry has undergone major changes to adapt to changes in society. Fashion is everyone’s weapon in the social scene, but what about social and environmental responsibility? How does our fashion cope up in a world battered by climate change? The fashion industry saw a doubling in global clothing sales since 2000, and the environment is taking the big hit. British designer Stella McCartney and record-breaking sailor Ellen MacArthur are urging the clothing business to reform its

/AsianNGO iMPACT | January - March 2018 13 This Caught Our Eye

wasteful, polluting ways by promoting “Fashion is allowed plastic bottles) into the ocean every the reuse and redesign of items such as to be fun, and it’s year, adding to the number of causes T-shirts and jeans. behind climate change. A report entitled “A new textiles allowed to be sexy,” Battling the effects of climate change economy: Redesigning Fashion’s said McCartney. “The doesn’t have to sacrifice style, but Future” released by Ellen McArthur reality is we just need to according to McArthur Foundation, the Foundation stated that textile fashion industry must abandon its “take- production emits 1.2 billion tonnes of be a bit more mindful make-dispose” model and start using greenhouse gases annually, more than and curious about non-polluting materials that are designed all international flights and maritime to last instead of incinerating unwanted shipping combined. The report also the way we’re consuming clothes or disposing them to landfill sites. revealed that the industry releases half and have a level of The process could save the industry $500 a million tonnes of plastic microfibers responsibility.” billion, according to the report. - IJ (equivalent to more than 50 billion

The Potent Power of Poop

ilthiest in its natural state, but actually a catalyst for a future- ready world. That’s poop. FFaecal matter can play a key role in our battle against unsustainable practices, in a world where 31% of the population does not have access to any sanitation facility (figures from the World Health Organization). Processing plants at Nakuru Water fifty you still have a fire unlike charcoal In Kenya for example, one company and Sanitation Services Company which you have to keep adding after is converting excess faecal waste receive faecal waste from septic cooking 30 chapatis,” says Grace Waka, into a usable fuel source for cooking systems. The faecal matter is dried a trader who uses the briquette made and heating. Sanitation issues are for two weeks, and then heated at of faecal matter. hampering Kenya’s growth. An absence extreme temperatures, to eliminate Sanivation on the other hand of toilets means that Kenyans are not toxic gases and increase carbon output, has a slightly different take on the just subject to the foul smell, they are which transforms the faecal matter to a sustainable fuel source. Their process also the target of public health issues flammable source of fuel. The process starts by installing “blue box” plastic and diseases, including diarrhoea. also eradicates the pungent odour, toilet containers in residents’ homes for Social enterprises such as rendering it odourless. free. They then charge the household Sanivation and Nakuru Water and The material is then turned into 700 Kenyan shillings to collect the Sanitation Services Company are briquettes and sold for 50 US cents per waste. Bacteria and other harmful keen on working toward solutions kilogram. These briquettes are stated substances are killed through heating to tackle the sanitation crisis that is to burn longer with less smoke output until the waste is turned into an crippling Kenya. than charcoal and firewood. odourless charcoal ball. “This is the 21st century and we “It doesn’t have an odour, it cooks According to Sanivation, using are unable to create decent sanitation well, the fire burns well, you are faecal matter as fuel helps reduce the solutions—why is that? As a global able to cook fast and the briquettes use of trees, traditionally the main community that’s embarrassing,” says burn for long. For example, if you are source of fuel for food. - IJ Andrew Foote, founder of Sanivation. cooking 100 chapatis, when you get to

This section will feature interesting thought-provoking developments doing the rounds. To suggest an addition to this section, email [email protected]

14 iMPACT | January - March 2018 www.asianngo.org/magazine The Sector

Of Balloons and Pumps, Tents and Chlorine AidEx Innovation finalists dazzle By iMPACT staff

RUSSELS—A solar balloon that can provide power to remote areas, especially during disaster scenarios took home the AidEx Aid Innovation Challenge award, while the finalists were ideas that ran the gamut: an all-weatherB reversible portable tent for the homeless, a portable solar-powered chlorination kit, and a low-cost rope and washer irrigation pump.

The winner, Zephyr Solar, was announced on November 15, during the AidEx 2017 conference in Brussels, after a live presentation by the four finalists. Zephyr Solar received a €2000 prize and a free exhibition stand for AidEx 2018. Speaking on the award, Julie Dautel, co-founder of Zephyr Solar, said, “This award brings credibility to our solution for the humanitarian sector and a lot of targeted visibility.” She added, “It’s also a great opportunity to present the solution next year at the international humanitarian fair.” The 7th AidEx Challenge saw hundreds of applications, which were narrowed down by a panel. Live pitching on the day was judged by four reputed entrepreneurs. Earlier winners have included GreenCo Water (a flat pack water tank), Hope (a blood donation mobile app), India Impex (a solar powered lamp) and MedAlert (an HIV medication reminder). Another award, the AidEx Humanitarian Hero Award was won by Dr Michael Kühnel, an Austrian doctor who has volunteered for the Red Cross for 18 years, in some of the most conflict-ridden places in the world. Entries for the 2018 AidEx Innovation Challenge will open early 2018.

/AsianNGO iMPACT | January - March 2018 15 Editorial

A look at this year’s innovation finalists. finalists: WINNER Zephyr Solar WeatherHYDE by billionBricks Power is in the Air Safe, all-weather tent for displaced families

WeatherHYDE fills an WeatherHYDE, which important gap in bettering comes in a size of about 5 the lives of those without ft by 6 ft, can be reversed- or in between homes. It was -the reflective surface is developed by the CEO and turned inwards during harsh co-founder of billionBricks, winters, trapping the body Prasoon Kumar, after 9,000 heat, while in summer, it is families became homeless reversed, reflecting the sun’s following a riot in North heat. The tent can be set up India. When the Nepal by a single person in less than earthquake occurred, it fifteen minutes, and requires was observed that three no ground anchoring. It interventions were required can shelter a family of five, for shelters: first responders and trials in five countries set up tarpaulins, followed by have shown very promising transitional shelters during results, said Johnson. the rains, followed by winter On their website, The Zephyr Solar Balloon seed of an idea to fructify. clothing. Kumar and his team anyone can buy or gift a is a balloon with lightweight Apart from the design, developed WeatherHYDE as weatherHYDE tent, for solar panels, which produce the time was also used to a single all-weather shelter, recreational use, as well enough energy to power find interested customers, and after successful trials, as a humanitarian gesture ground activities and supply adequate financing, and raised over USD 100,000 to a homeless family. RFID on-board equipment. basically, “transform the on crowdfunding platform tracking on each tent A search for a reliable and project into a company,” says Kickstarter. ensures transparency and sustainable power supply Dautel. Internal tests were Asa Johnson, project tracking of usage. during times of disaster led performed last April for a manager, weatherHYDE, says Interest for the product the Zephyr team to their week, with several variations: women have often mentioned has also emerged from other solar balloon. Julie Dautel different arrangements how the tents offer them a sectors—for example, for use and co-founder Cedric of solar panels, with WiFi, safe and private place to rest as small kindergarten spaces Tomissi are both industrial cameras and a lamp on the and recover, especially for and as feeding/changing designers, and this, Dautel balloon as well. The balloons themselves and their children. areas for women. says, helped them zone in on come in various sizes: from a solution to the problem of ones providing as low as the lack of reliable energy in 200W to as much as 10 KW. crisis situations. The company already has Dautel says their balloon its first customer: the French is strongly influenced by Red Cross. flying objects like kites and Apart from disaster planes, but also incorporates scenarios, the team has also some principles of the been approached by three movement of boats and even other markets: outdoor animals. festivals, aviation security, While the solution and telecom payers. may seem simple, it took Zephyr Solar is at http:// For more information, visit www.weatherhyde.org and nearly three years for the zephyr.solar/en www.billionbricks.org

16 iMPACT | January - March 2018 www.asianngo.org/magazine finalists: Rainmaker from Pump Aid Reliable water through the year

When Malawi, Africa, Duncan Marsh, director suffered a bad harvest of programmes for Pump last year, it left over 6.5 Aid says the Rainmaker, million people classified a simplified version of a as “food insecure”. What household rope and washer was incredible was the pump, can be manufactured fact that the whole and installed locally. country was literally Some of its advantages sitting on abundant water are its ease of use; resources. The country’s variant flow for different consequent increase in potential for Malawi’s small-scale farmers were irrigational purposes; food production. “Because farming community is hugely dependent on rain minimal moving parts, levels of irrigation in immense,” says Marsh. and hardly used ground which mean that repairs Malawi are low, the Rainmaker retails for irrigation. When Pump will be rare; portability; and potential market for the $60-$70, its portability Aid’s project on household speed of irrigation, which is Rainmaker is big. Malawi means that farmers often access to water brought four times faster than the has huge reserves of buy one pump and share it, forth a locally manufactured current method. underground water, much opting for a personal pump household pump, the team Widespread adoption of it within 10 metres of after one season. considered a similar approach of the pumps will also lead the surface, so if access For more information, for small-scale farmers. to year-round farming and to it can be improved the visit www.pumpaid.org finalists:

E’CHLO, from Photalia this context that Photalia, a exist, they are less reliable Safe, drinking water on the go subsidiary of solar solutions than the E’CHLO kit and also company Vergnet, came up have a shorter effect. “Using with the E’CHLO kit, which our electrochlorination uses the electrolysis of a innovation E’CHLO, people solution of water and salt, without any access to potable powered by a photovoltaic water will be able to treat generator without a battery, their own water, in the most via a production controller. hygienic and environmentally The chlorine is locally friendly way,” says Pelcran. produced, and has a residual E’CHLO can also be used effect, which protects the to disinfect soil and medical water during transport and equipment. Photalia also storage as well. The kits, considers the kit as a possible which come in varied sizes, income-generating activity can produce from 12 to 165 through cooperatives or litres per day. micro-enterprises. The price Working in remote areas, major public health concerns Francois Pelcran, project of the 2g/l kit is 2650€ and one of the most common of the world. Chlorination manager, says that while the 5g/l kit costs 3631€. issues can be the availability is known to be one of the other solutions for water More information is at of safe potable drinking most effective methods of disinfection such as UV www.photalia.fr water. It is also one of the water disinfection. It is in treatment and microfiltration

/AsianNGO iMPACT | January - March 2018 17 Commentary

Precision Agriculture Can Be Part of Solution to Food Security

Amidst increasing population and concerns of agricultural sustainability, precision agriculture may provide solutions, writes Raghavan Sampathkumar.

he question “How to feed 9 billion by 2050?” may sound dire and terrifying to some.

It is indeed a critical concern, especially Not only does this cut costs, it also T in light of the fact that the world faces ensures that plants are not over-fertilized huge pressure to reduce its externalities and avoids leaching, leading to more and its consequent ecological footprint. sustainable production. The irony is that the world’s food For the past decade, the precision production can feed everyone; yet at agriculture ecosystem has been least 800 million go hungry to bed every expanding rapidly with technology day. Climate change-induced natural developers working with producers, disasters, inclement weather that affects processors, retailers, certification crop production, loss of cultivable land, bodies, civil society, governments, price volatility of commodities, civil academia and research institutions. and communal wars, and unfavourable However, most of this occurred socio-economic situations and geo- mainly in the developed world. In the political instability are influencing developing world, where three-fourths the agri-food policy and regulatory of the global population lives, precision environments. Consequently, there is agriculture is still in its nascent stages. enormous pressure on agriculture to meet the growing demands for safe, The Clouds with the Silver Linings: quality and affordable food to be Rain and Data produced from limited resources. Agriculture remains and will always be While it may seem apocalyptic at dependent on two kinds of “clouds”: first glance, I am more optimistic that one for rain and another for data. The innovations will continue to help meet latter is key to improving resilience and such necessities sustainably. enhancing its capability to insulate itself Raghavan Sampathkumar is a Precision agriculture is one area that from the vagaries of the former. Farming seasoned food and agribusiness can help achieve that, in conjunction is moving fast on the information professional with experience in with other sustainable practices. Precision superhighway and it’s no longer a “sow various subsectors including agro agriculture is exactly what it sounds like: seeds and reap produce” story but a commodities, international trade, farming using advanced technologies, “plant sensors and harvest data” one. agri-inputs, biotech and animal including geospatial, so that crops and Precision agriculture and nutrition. He can be contacted at soils receive just what they need. For AgTech innovations fall under the [email protected] instance, a farmer can take samples of umbrella of geospatial technologies soil through a grid across her land and that straddle multiple domains calculate the nutrient value of each small such as food, health, environment, “tile”, and use fertilizers just as needed. conservation, and disaster

18 iMPACT | January - March 2018 www.asianngo.org/magazine management. For example, it can the baseline analysis. The data help accurately measure, map, offered valuable insights into Precision Agriculture and track forest areas and help local cropping patterns, soil in efficient land use planning, profile, and land use. administration and management Another example is in catering Agriculture of natural resources. Palm oil to area-specific requirements (Climate-smart, plantations in Malaysia and of communities using geo- Sustainable & Efficient) Indonesia widely use these intelligence based technologies. technologies already as a critical Governments can use soil Disaster Waste component of their commitment profiling, satellite imagery and Management Prevention & to sustainable production. mapping results to assess nutrient & Emergency Management Response deficiencies in a particular Geospatial Technologies From Sowing to the Reaping: area and tailor-make products Benefits for the Entire Value such as area-specific fertilizer Chain mixtures for crops, which can AgTech can serve as the help promote judicious and Land Use Conservation & foundation of agricultural balanced use of fertilizers rather Planning & Natural Resource sustainability, by itself or in than indiscriminate blanket Management Management combination with genetics, applications. Similarly, area- agronomy, and business specific mineral mixtures for concepts including marketing. livestock feeds based on nutrient Apart from improving yield, deficiency maps can help reduce more reliable; drive developmental efforts more AgTech technologies lead to input costs for producers. efficiently; and improve efficiency of delivering significant improvements in Application of these targeted support measures. efficiency of input-use (water, technologies can help enhance fertilizers, chemicals), huge cost early warning systems at the The Precise Future: AgTech Inroads in Asia savings and conservation of community level for better The precision agriculture sector is growing over precious resources (e.g. water, forecasting of pest and disease 12% annually and is set to cross US$ 5.5 billion nutrients). Done right, they infestations and providing by 20201. However, in the developing world, the also help with risk management extension services. Yield mapping industry remains primitive and newer applications are (weather, price and market) for strategically important crops evolving day by day. Asia, in particular, is just waking improvement in food quality and on a narrower geographic basis up to the use of these applications. Though existing ultimately, profitability of farmers. can help governments improve policies and regulatory frameworks (for example, However, there are huge accuracy of production forecasts licenses and permits for using UAVs or drones) in monetary and non-monetary and ensure sufficient availability developed countries can serve as references, Asia’s benefits for the communities of food stocks to guard against agri-food landscape is different. Hence, it is important as the eco-footprint of farming price volatility. This is critical to understand the local situation and crop sectors is significantly reduced and its in Asia and Africa, where for making scientifically-sound, evidence-based and associated problems such as countries are still vulnerable to unbiased policies and regulations. algal blooms, bio-accumulations, any production, supply or price Though precision agriculture and AgTech contaminations and pollution shocks of key food commodities, applications have immense potential to contribute are reduced. which disproportionately affect towards sustainable food production, they cannot While using geospatial the underprivileged. serve as the panacea for all issues facing agriculture. data is quite common in hydro Governments, civil societies, A balanced regulatory framework and a conducive projects, recently, in Rajasthan, regulators and policy makers can policy environment that encourages innovation and India, a micro-level community- rely on these precision farming farmers’ choices and a dispassionate examination of driven water conservation technologies to make data- the affordability of such options are essential. project successfully used driven decisions and policies; 1 Global Precision Farming Market - By Technology, Application, various geo-intelligence, remote analyse past trends accurately to Geography, Trends, Forecast - 2017 – 2022 by Mordor Intelligence, sensing and mapping data in help future forecasts better and December 2017

/AsianNGO iMPACT | January - March 2018 19 Interview

Photo Credit: Pixabay.com A Case for Urban Density r. Kala Seetharam Sridhar, professor at the Centre for Research in Urban Affairs, Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), commutes about Dtwenty-five kilometres one-way for work, in Bengaluru, an Indian city that has inspired thousands of memes on its traffic woes.

It would seem her commute bucks Sridhar is also working on a book on the the surprising trend that her current urban transport governance initiative, research on the effective labour in association with the World Resources market has identified: Commute time Institute, to examine participatory has decreased over the past few years governance in urban transport. in Bengaluru. Sridhar has written several books, The two research projects, one refereed journal articles, and is a funded by the Indian Council of Social member of expert committees on Science Research (ICSSR) and the urban development. She has done other, by the Azim Premji Research extensive research for the Asian Grants Foundation, both slightly Development Bank and was senior overlapping, plot the effective labour advisor to Global Development market in cities by using commute time Network’s global project on as a measure of the same. The study has urbanization, and is empanelled as a shown that the average commute time visiting Indian Council of Cultural of the Bengalurean has decreased. She Relations (ICCR) Chair Professor of credits it to a few factors including, but Indian studies in foreign universities. not limited to, the Bengaluru Metro Rail Recently in Chennai for the Urban and the dominance of single income Thinkers Campus, organized by the households, and self-owned businesses. Madras Chamber of Commerce and

20 iMPACT | January - March 2018 www.asianngo.org/magazine Photo Credit: Pixabay.com “

Industry in association with just across the state border, In the context of India, cities UN-Habitat, Sridhar spoke one mile one way or the other, about the need for denser cities, enables firms to save millions of contribute to nearly two- which is traditionally viewed dollars, given differential state thirds of the country’s GDP. unfavourably. She, however, says policies regarding firm location I am very fond of seeing that not having a higher Floor and incentives offered. Space Index (FSI, also called Third, in the context of people in large numbers Floor to Area Ratio or FAR), is developing countries and Asia, and amazed at how dense simply poor public economics. cities are the future, since they She rues the fact that India’s contribute substantially to Asian cities are. I also think FSI is pegged between one and their economies, have better that density has a lot of four in most cities. She bats physical, knowledge and social advantages in terms of for an increase, or at least, an infrastructure, and make open mind for increases in the knowledge sharing, learning reducing crime and increasing same, for better urbanization, possible, especially due to their economic productivity.” keeping in mind the population density. In the context of India, that the city serves. She cites the cities contribute to nearly two- at it from an equitable example of Shanghai, whose thirds of the country’s GDP. I angle, how has this influx FSI goes up to eight. am very fond of seeing people in affected the urban poor? In an interview with Meera large numbers and amazed at how What are some of the Rajagopalan, she shares her dense Asian cities are. I also think unique challenges that research, ideas, and plans for that density has a lot of advantages they face because of this more inclusive city planning. in terms of reducing crime and rapid urbanization? increasing economic productivity. As cities expand, the periphery 1. What brought you to the That is certainly the one thing that of the cities gets populated by field of urban planning? explains my love for cities. migrants. I found that Indian cities What about it interests suburbanized significantly during you? 2. Cities are bursting 1981-1991, using Census data. First, cities intrigue me. They at the seams with However during 1991-2001, many are the centres to where the poor influx of people and Indian cities centralized, rather, flock in large numbers in the hope inevitably, infrastructure since many towns and outlying that it will improve their lives. development follows city peripheral areas of cities were Second, space, region and development. Eventually, merged into the central city. The cities interest me since in the the poor seem to get well-known examples are Bengaluru context of the United States, short shrift in the Mahanagara Palike which became where I first started my entry whole process. They the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara into this field, movement of a are often considered Palike, in 2006, and Chennai which firm from one state to another, “the problem”. Looking merged surrounding municipalities

/AsianNGO iMPACT | January - March 2018 21 “ Interview

There is a need to relax building height restrictions in India’s cities, 4. Are second-tier cities Second-tier cities should such that the poor can live in the the way forward, as be developed seriously, such there might be elbow that they are relatively more central parts, where their jobs room to get it right in attractive than large cities, for presumably are located.” those cities? residents and businesses to Second-tier cities may be move. Firms and households and became the greater Chennai viewed as the way forward, will move to secondary cities, area recently, with an area of given the primary cities such only if wage, attrition, training 1,189 sq kms. Hence whether as Chennai, Bengaluru are and land costs are lower there or not cities burst at the edges choking as their infrastructure compared to large cities, since depends on how the municipal is crumbling under the weight the agglomeration effects corporation is defined. The poor of population. It may be (advantages of similar firms do not always get short-changed noted that the primacy of located in proximity to each in the process, as they also get Bengaluru and Chennai in other) are likely to be absent in access to opportunities if they their states is unquestionable. second-tier cities to begin with. have the appropriate skills, or at Bengaluru is more than eight least they acquire some. Further, times bigger than the second 5. How will the Asian the future of their children biggest city in Karnataka, cities of 2030 be? Better in cities is better since they Mysuru, while Chennai is infrastructure and urban have access to much better about four times bigger than conglomerates, or is it educational opportunities in the Tamil Nadu’s second biggest going to be something form of schools and colleges. city, Coimbatore. Given their completely different? While I agree that the poor primacy there is a case for I envision the Asian cities of are considered “the problem” decongesting them. However, 2030 to be driven by people and because they are considered there is also an acute need for information and communications to be responsible for electricity investing in these large cities’ technology. As I have argued theft, unaccounted-for water infrastructure and public elsewhere, city residents have to

and encroaching on public land, transport, such that they may be more tolerant if cities have to

they indeed contribute a lot in leverage on their density and function smoothly. For instance, the form of their services as strengths. if commuters can be tolerant and “ cooks, drivers, maids, and other In India, to begin with, patient, they can share cab rides, essential occupations, to the cities when urban development which decongests the traffic. If to where they migrate. started happening, investment drivers are more tolerant towards pedestrians, we can reduce noise I envision the Asian cities of 2030 to be driven by pollution resulting from too much people and information and communications technology.” noise. ICT tools such as smart phones will guide the traffic, as will This is not to deny the in the large metropolitan areas smart technology guide the urban challenges the urban poor face— was neglected, since “rural households who remotely monitor they lack food security, unlike development” was the emphasis their gadgets and children. the rural poor who grow their in the newly independent India, While cities will continue own food; the urban poor face and towns were developed as to be thriving hotspots of economic challenges, given the long as they “were located at academics, business and costs of living, housing, health a minimum distance” from innovation, I expect them to care and transport which are the metropolitan cities of the be characterized by both better higher than those faced by the country. Hence, since the times infrastructure, but powered rural poor. In addition, the urban of independence, the second-tier by more tolerant people and poor also face social exclusion, cities have been promoted, while innovative ICT. given they cannot freely walk into the metropolitan cities neglected, anybody’s house and ask for help. with the effects showing now.

22 iMPACT | January - March 2018 www.asianngo.org/magazine Feature

The Power of One: Beth Terry’s Plastic-Free Life As organizations take a leap into green practices, here’s one woman’s story on living sans plastic

By Meera Rajagopalan eth Terry, 53, lives in California and works as an accountant. She also lives a plastic- free life, and has been doing so for the past Bten years. That means that she does not buy any new plastic, if she can help it. And for the most part, she can.

As we take in and wonder What she realized when about the sustainability of she saw it all logged, was life without plastic, the fact that she (and all of us) use that a person can go plastic- a lot of plastic. In one 2010 free is mind-blogging. We TEDx video, Terry brings in might also revert to that old a bag with all the plastic she question: What difference used that year: just under can one person make? four pounds (1.8 kilograms). It turns out plenty. An average American now Through her website and throws out many times that, various campaigns, Terry around 185 pounds (84 has encouraged hundreds kilograms), according to a of people to embrace a 2014 estimate. plastic-free life. She has When she started ensured that companies the plastic-free life, she start putting in place catalogued her plastic use sustainable practices, and online on a blog called www. has campaigned relentlessly fakeplasticfish.com. “The for changes in policies. whole reason I got on a Terry, however, says website was to do it publicly, the whole exercise was so I would be accountable,” meant to be a personal she says. “But a lot of quest, nothing more. “In people were interested in the beginning, it was just doing this too, and would about me,” she says, on ask me questions.” the phone from Maryland, Now her Facebook page U.S. “I began with the has 44,000 followers and thought, ‘How can I be her Twitter feed, just short part of the solution?’ I of 10,000. Her blog has didn’t even know much morphed into a resource plastic I was using, so I site for people looking at Photo Credit: Stephen Loewinsohn started collecting it.” minimizing plastic use in

/AsianNGO iMPACT | January - March 2018 23 Feature

their own lives. Her book, life. “Start small—first cut “Plastic-Free How I Kicked out plastic bags, and then the Plastic Habit and How move up.” She also suggests You Can Too” talks about cataloguing plastic use, to Trash in San Francisco Bay ways and tips to live a visualize it better. Photo Credit: Beth Terry plastic-free life. Terry rues the fact One of her earliest that while there is successes was in getting more awareness on the I knew I Clorox, Inc. to start sustainability front, there recycling Brita water filters are also many more wasn’t going in the U.S., something that a taste of the plastic-free plastic products in the to change the was being done in Europe. life. She says that as an market, many of them Terry started a signature organization, they can take unnecessarily so. She cites world, but I campaign and a filter it further than she ever the example of single- still thought donation campaign, through could. “I’d like to think I serve cookies, individually which she collected about helped plant that seed, as an wrapped in plastic. it was 16,000 of the former and individual,” she says. On her web site, users 611 of the latter, set up a It hasn’t been easy, post questions about important for web site, TakeBackTheFilter. though. One of the things where to find non-plastic me to do it.” org, and a year later, Clorox she has had to do was give up equivalents of everyday announced a plan to take on pre-packaged food. “But items: ice-cube trays and back and recycle used Brita it’s healthier for me as well, electric kettles, for instance. cartridges. so it’s a win-win,” she says. Amazingly, there are several She also works with While the usual recommendations. It’s a organizations to help suspects—carry bags, tight-knit community of amplify their cause. She has groceries in plastic, coffee people who would like to go collaborated on plastic-free cups—were easily tackled, plastic-free. campaigns with The Story she says one of the most As we involve ourselves Beth Terry of Stuff, a community that difficult things to give up in larger campaigns Beth Terry’s website is promotes sustainable living, was her favourite wine. “I and projects to promote www.myplasticfreelife.com most famous for its viral realized that the cork they sustainability, it is also video on consumerism. used was plastic, not wood, important to realize why Terry is involved with and that was tough to give we do so. Terry’s initial Australia’s Plastic-Free July, up,” she says. words come to mind: “I developed by the Earth She suggests people knew I wasn’t going to Carers Waste Education start small, instead of change the world, but I still Team. The campaign is making a giant leap into thought it was important Photo Credit: Micaela Preston aimed at getting people a completely plastic-free for me to do it.”

24 iMPACT | January - March 2018 www.asianngo.org/magazine What is the Babaenihan Campaign?

Babaenihan is a campaign to raise awareness and exclusion. Teenage pregnancy takes away her about the urgency of addressing teenage pregnancies capacity to achieve her own goals and contribute to through investments in education, health and her country’s development. economic opportunities. Urgent action is needed to enable women and Teenage pregnancy is on the rise in the Philippines. girls to expand their capabilities, secure their Of the 10 million girls aged 10-19 years old today, 1 reproductive health and rights, find decent work, and out of 5 girls will be a mother by age 19 (NDHS, 2013). contribute to sustainable economic growth. Teenage mothers become more vulnerable to poverty

philippines.unfpa.org /UNFPAph @UNFPAph @unfpaph /AsianNGO iMPACT | January - March 2018 25 Cover Story

Plenty of Fish in the Sea RARE program seeks to restore habitat

By Meera Rajagopalan

hilippines is a hotspot of biodiversity. When the country’s marine ecosystems were being depleted, the Fish Forever Pprogram stepped in to create sustainable fishing practices. It’s the story of how communities can restore the ecosystems that provide their livelihood, if they work together.

Twelve chairpersons of the also recommend a new rule: ban Barangay Fisheries and Aquatic on juvenile catch. The waters, i.e., Resources Management Council the table, are opened for fishing, of the MIMAROPA region of and the chairpersons resume Philippines stand around a table, fishing. Two of them net juvenile desperately collecting plastic fish, despite the restrictions and fish using tongs, spoons and are promptly fined for the same. shovels. They have just thirty Another is charged with the seconds to report their catch to duty of stopping the commercial the “Fisheries Manager.” They boat. At the end of the game, notice the presence of a plastic the chairpersons are excited. fishing boat, representing a This is no mere game, though. commercial boat, and most of For the players, typically fishers, them protest its presence, but no it is a window into the future, one moves to stop it. They fish if fishing practices continue as as much as they can, avoiding a they do. It’s a warning of the portion of the table marked out lurking dangers of unsustainable as the Marine Protected Area practices. It’s just one of the (MPA). When the clock runs out, pieces of the program employed the Fisheries Manager asks them by RARE Philippines, to ensure what could have been different, that fishing the archipelago and they now express their remains sustainable. dissatisfaction at the commercial Modified from materials from boat and suggest someone act as the Environmental Defense Fund, A Fish Game in progress law enforcement to stop it. They the Fish Game is typically played

26 iMPACT | January - March 2018 www.asianngo.org/magazine in conjunction with a related Tirona, vice president, RARE billion in retail sales in 2016, game called “Fisher Cards” Philippines. markets in Asia are now where participants are asked to Philippines is one of the warming up to the concept. identify good and bad fishing/ world’s largest fishing nations, While developing countries fisheries management practices. with 2.3 million tonnes of catch produce 80% of the seafood, The Fish Game is used by a year, and more than $3.3 they only account for 11% of RARE to “help communities billion in revenue generated. the sustainable seafood market, think about different fishery About 85% of the fishers are according to the 2016 report management strategies, how small-scale fishers who have “The SSI Review: Standards effective they are, their challenges seen the catch move further and the Blue Economy.” Fish landing in Mercedes etc., and start thinking about away with each passing year. RARE, known worldwide for Town in Bicol what they need to do to improve While the global sustainable their conservation efforts in fields Photo Credit: Jason Houston, RARE things,” says Rocky Sanchez seafood market hit $11.5 as varied as species protection,

/AsianNGO iMPACT | January - March 2018 27 Cover Story

Women at savings club meeting Photo Credit: Yasmin Arquiza RARE

cotton farming and units to create special fishing the period 2015-2017, fish watershed management, zones that are exclusive biomass increased in nine commenced operations in to local fishers who satisfy out of the 12 latest Fish the Philippines in 2010, stringent requirements and Forever sites. when it focused on marine no-take zones, where fish “These things do take habitat protection. However, supplies is replenished. time, and in a few years, we it soon became apparent that Two, they work with the hope to see a lot of positive marine habitat was but one communities, who are impact,” says Yasmin node of a complex web of incentivized to fish more Arquiza, senior manager, factors that was the fishing responsibly through a variety communications and events, ecosystem in the country. of programs aimed at them. RARE Philippines. Fish Forever, a partnership The impact of the RARE’s Fish Forever between the Environmental program is slowly becoming program works at several Defense Fund, RARE and apparent. Bindoy is a levels to ensure that fishing the Sustainable Fisheries municipality of about remains sustainable, while Group was launched in 40,000 people, and it fixing the focus on the most the Philippines in 2014, was the location of one important stakeholder: with the extended brief of RARE’s first projects. the fisher. RARE has of tackling overfishing, Bindoy is also known for agreements with 38 illegal fishing, dynamiting Mantalip Reef, and this municipal units where the and habitat destruction was what RARE’s first Fish Forever program is and ecosystems through a project sought to save. The being implemented. While two-pronged approach. municipality has now seen it is a long way to go for One, the program works an increase in available all 900 coastal government with the local municipal fish. Across the country, for units to adopt the program,

28 iMPACT | January - March 2018 www.asianngo.org/magazine Fish processing underway Photo Credit: RARE changes in national policy of the program,” says inaugural government seem within reach. Arquiza. “There is also award for sustainability, Support from the some accountability on the the Malinis at Masaganang local administration is government’s part.” Karagatan award. encouraging, as RARE One fellow, Vincent strongly believes that Dueñas, is a fisheries Community Matters change must come from technician in the Municipal The community of Cortes, within communities. Agriculture Office of which won the award, did Cortes, in Surigao del Sur, so not only because of its Fellows in Government a province on the eastern participation in the Fish Step Up coast of Philippines. He Forever program but also RARE’s model has the talks about the trouble he because it has been proactive Conservation Fellow as had with fishers who used in encouraging a community- the central changemaker, dynamite. He also talks led solution towards who works for two years about his journey as a sustainable fishing. The to operationalize the Fish RARE Conservation Fellow, mayor of Cortes, William Forever program in their and how participation from M. Angos, himself a scuba municipalities. While the community turned the diver, has long championed the initial fellows came tide in his favour. Duenas the cause of restoration of from civil society and continues to work in the marine habitats. nonprofits, RARE appoints local government, and in That the involvement fellows from within the fact, Cortes has become of the communities is government since 2015. of the most successful essential is driven home “This works better in Fish Forever sites in the time and again across terms of sustainability Philippines, bagging the all RARE sites. RARE’s

/AsianNGO iMPACT | January - March 2018 29

Cover Story “ The range of processed fish from Fishers and Changemakers, Inc. This drive, in addition that has great conjunction with potential to transform the government policies that fishers’ lives. Armed with When they (the fishers) saw the final promote registration have knowledge of fish processing resulted in an increase and drying techniques products, they forgot about the money in fisher registration. For and links to fair trade but valued the sense of pride and instance, the community companies that market of Looc received a prize premium seafood, fishers dignity gained from producing the from the Department of can eliminate middlemen high-quality product.” Agriculture—Bureau of and create better value for Dhang Tecson Fisheries and Aquatic their catch. Fishers and Changemakers, Inc. Resources for their One such social good fisher and boat enterprise is Fishers and program works directly registration. The number Changemakers, Inc. (FCI), with the fishers, who receive of registered fisheries went which makes and markets exclusive fishing rights in up by 33% from 1055 seafood products that are Managed Access Areas registrations in 2016-17. created using sustainable in return for adherence technologies and equitable to strict regulations, End-to-End Assistance business practices. Their including registration What makes RARE’s efforts partnership with RARE of boats and fishers. stand out is the fact that it is in six municipalities, The Conservation is fisher-centric. Two of its with a target of about 40 Fellows often travel to the initiatives—savings clubs kilos of assorted dried villages and work with and creating market links seafood per month. the community to identify and value addition to fish— Dhang Tecson is problems, part of which is have received great response. co-founder and chief the Fish Game. They then The first was the result marketing “mermaid” work out strategies to tackle of understanding the home of FCI says that their the identified problems. economics of fishers, whose partnership with RARE One of the campaigns economic vulnerability appeared at the right time, of RARE has been to during medical and other and having them as their support the government’s crises usually led them to technical team made it push for fisher registration. illegal fishing. With the help easier to understand the “Many of these fishing of savings clubs, they are sustainability part of the villages have no access to more financially stable. It equation. It also ensured that services. This is likely the also helps get the children the catch followed sustainable first ID card the fishers will involved in the community. practices, and it helped scale have and so that’s exciting The second, fish up operations, dovetailing for them,” says Arquiza. processing, is a value RARE’s expansion.

30 iMPACT | January - March 2018 www.asianngo.org/magazine “

Tecson shares experiences of fishers being changed after their The community is experience with FCI. “When they saw the final products, proud of their mascots. they forgot about the money but valued the sense of pride For many fishers, and dignity gained from producing the high-quality it’s also a constant product,” she says. reminder of their Where’s My Mascot? While the most visible achievements in facet of RARE’s work has been the Pride campaign, protecting their featuring the (often) dancing local species as a mascot, coastal areas.” Arquiza says that is usually Yasmin Arquiza RARE one of the last pieces of the puzzle. “They (mascots) serve as a constant visual reminder to the community of what it is they are trying to save,” she says. People are likely to encounter the mascots in community started taking few roadblocks during nationwide policy. posters and billboards in pride in the parrot as one of the projects: consistent However, Belize’s the municipal building, in their own. supply of fish, logistics fishing population of nearly the fish market, and during RARE’s strategy has and transportation, and 15,000 fishers is a far festivals on floats. “The always been to work on expensive FDA norms cry from Philippines’ 1.4 community is proud of their building solutions with the has pushed the project to million small-scale fishers. mascots. For many fishers, community and bringing a corner. However, the The signs, however, are it’s also a constant reminder the government in as an teams are working on the positive. The most recent of their achievements in essential part of the process, supply issue with a seafood Philippine Development protecting their coastal before scaling up. calendar for each town, Plan emphasizes sustainable areas,” says Arquiza. which can better predict fishing and the amended The mascots are indeed What’s the Catch? the type and amount of Fisheries Code has increased one of RARE’s salient RARE’s efforts have been catch that FCI can expect. penalties for illegal fishing. features. RARE’s roots largely positive, but not Other species, such as “It’s a long-drawn lie in the social marketing without speed-breakers. flying fish, are also to be process,” says Arquiza. “We that helped RARE founder Since the initiative introduced to the market. are hoping that peer-to-peer David Hill save the St. Lucia is heavily dependent on The ideal situation, interactions between mayors parrot from extinction. Hill’s the local administration, perhaps is one that Belize, a will help us reach more local 1979 campaign rendered the helmed by an elected Central American country, government units so that parrot ubiquitous—it was official, a change in the has adopted. Aspects of we can build a critical mass everywhere from billboards mayor sometimes means the Fish Forever program, of partners and gear up for to stamps, from souvenirs that the new mayor needs to including managed access nationwide adoption.” to newspapers. The penalty be convinced of the efficacy and Pride campaigns, have for killing the bird was and need of the program. been adopted by the country’s increased, and soon, the FCI has also hit a Fisheries Department as a

/AsianNGO iMPACT | January - March 2018 31 Photo Feature

Swimming with the Whale Sharks in Oslob Photos by Tanawat Likitkererat, Ph.D.

slob is a small municipality in the Osouthern tip of Cebu Island, Philippines. It comprises 21 barangays (villages). In 2011, buoyed by a similar project in Donsol, a village about 600 kilometres north, Oslob began offering whale shark feeding and sighting tours. Its proximity to a natural waterfall, and guaranteed whale shark sighting meant that tourists flocked to Oslob.

32 iMPACT | January - March 2018 www.asianngo.org/magazine Tanawat has a Ph.D. in International Development from Tulane University. His expertise is in applications of spatial statistics in public health. Beyond academia, he is an award-winning photographer. His photography has been featured in magazines such as National Geographic (Thai Edition), and Popular Photography Magazine USA. He currently works with USAID Wildlife Asia Project to prevent illegal wildlife trade and trafficking.

There is a vital difference in the experience, however: while the Donsol project, born in 1998 after the Government of Philippines outlawed the killing of whale sharks, maintains the animals in their natural habitat, the Oslob project attracts the whale sharks by feeding them. Environmentalists have long protested the tourism in Oslob for various reasons: the whale sharks, traditionally migratory creatures who live in deep waters, are now seen in Oslob for most of the year, in shallow waters. The food they are fed are not nutritionally sound, and to make matters worse, the whale sharks are known to suffer from cuts from propellers and abrasions from contact with the boat. A 2015 report by Large Marine Vertebrates Project Philippines (LAMAVE) found that this practice may have unforeseen negative consequence for the entire marine ecosystem. However, tour guides and residents of Oslob argue that this keeps the whale shark from hunting. Tourism is now the area’s largest contributor to the economy, and locals are loathe to adopt any practice that stops the tourists from visiting.

/AsianNGO iMPACT | January - March 2018 33 Feature

Tale of One City: Surat and Its Quest for Resilience

A view of Surat by night Photo Credit: Rahul Bhadane, Wikipedia

34 iMPACT | January - March 2018 www.asianngo.org/magazine With the focus on sustainability training on corporates, multi- nodal civic authorities are also examining strategies to make their cities more sustainable. Surat, a city in India, has emerged from the shadows of its past to make giant strides in resilience, as part of the 100 Resilient Cities Network. Meera Rajagopalan talks to Kamlesh Yagnik, Chief Resilience Officer, Surat.

n paper, Surat by Surat. About 40% of the Chamber of Commerce, seems a city that synthetic textiles in India are Yagnik is a pick for the should not be from Surat. post for his expertise the Otrying so hard. So it seems counter- city’s civic and commercial To other cities it must seem intuitive that Surat would be topography. It’s also the like that topper in high so worried about its future. reason economic resilience school who is desperate to However, Kamlesh Yagnik, is even being considered by change his single bad grade. Surat’s Chief Resilience the city which, in normal After all, it is one of the Officer (CRO), thinks that’s circumstances, would first cities in the country one of the reasons Surat take pride in its unique to join the Asian Cities might not be so resilient: the economic status. Climate Change Resilience dependence of the city on According to the Network (ACCCRN), it two businesses. 100RC website, “100 was also the first city in the “What will happen if Resilient Cities, or country to have a city-level tomorrow, Africa changes 100RC, is a nonprofit group exclusively dealing its policy?” he says, organization dedicated to with climate change, Surat referring to the diamond helping cities around the Climate Change Trust, and polishing business, adding world build resilience to the first Indian city to join that economic resilience the economic, social and the 100 Resilient Cities is one of the factors he physical challenges that network, floated by the makes sure he addresses as are increasingly part of the Rockefeller Foundation. the city’s CRO, even if it 21st century. While many What’s more, it is does not directly relate to of the climate change, not particularly low in environmental concerns. sustainability and disaster human indexes. It grew in Yagnik is the person risk reduction strategies population by 65% in the entrusted with the task of may focus on adapting to first decade of the century, leading the city toward the shocks, resilience works and was reported to have resilience, as part of the toward a proactive plan to the highest annual family city’s engagement with the minimize the possibility of income among cities in the Rockefeller Foundation. A the shock, so that cities can country, in a 2008 study. graduate of Indian Institutes ensure and thrive, even in an Surat is where the world of Technology, Mumbai, imbalanced world.” goes to polish its rough with a specialization in The other cities in India diamonds. It is estimated that energy management, and that are part of the cohort nine out of ten diamonds in the former president of include Jaipur, Bengaluru the world have been polished the Southern Gujarat and Chennai.

/AsianNGO iMPACT | January - March 2018 35 Feature

Being one among a hundred: The 100RCs

The 100 Resilient Cities is spread over 603 square not just a group of cities, kilometres, and New says Yagnik, it is a network York, over 1,200 square where each city’s best kilometres. Some of Surat’s practices are put forward to identified challenges were the network, and collective in the areas of flooding, solutions sought. vector-borne diseases, Becoming part of and improving nutrition, the network requires water management and the an application process, electric grid.

and cities were chosen For Yagnik, it was

on several parameters interesting to note that including the nature of the other cities were dealing challenges, probable impact with similar issues, and “2013 Floods of the initiatives, and the that solutions were at Photo Credit: Rukn950, Wikimedia Commons leadership of the city. hand. Rotterdam, for The network also gives instance, whose resilience cities access to over 125 challenges include flooding, When disaster strikes, you solution providers, who work cyber attacks, migrants with the city on a pro bono and economic inequality, are typically on your own. or minimal cost basis, so the has proven itself a leader city can strengthen its policy in water management. So it’s good to build framework and solutions. It is now helping Surat capacities from the top- The 100RCs network also draw up its master plan provides access to funds for in water management. down and bottom-up.” select projects. Similarly, the city that However, the value that is closest to Surat in terms the group provides is far of the nature of challenges more than the sum of these, is Bangkok, which is also notable floods over the past response system based on says Yagnik. facing challenges in traffic century, Surat experiences the Indian Meteorological “Everyone wants management, housing and climate change (as most Department’s forecasts. collective good, and everyone economy, and economic cities do), in its increasing An additional service wants to participate. dependence on a few sectors intensity of rains—from also provides residents Platforms to engage with of the economy. 30-35 moderate spells to a with SMS alerts of the the process are not readily Based on the Resilience dozen intense spells. The dam’s water levels. What’s available,” he says. The Framework of the city was in dire need of a more, a volunteer-run 100RCs initiative is such a group, the country’s first comprehensive system that Facebook group, “Surat platform, he says, adding that comprehensive resilience did not involve reactions, Flood Information” such initiatives and platforms strategy was unveiled but rather, a strategy that provides accurate and need to be replicated so that on April 17, 2017. The involved planning and educated meteorological knowledge and experiences strategy lists twenty-one operationalizing an end-to- information. can be shared. goals in seven major end system for monitoring Other projects are Surat is a city spread areas, and 65 initiatives to and action. underway, and each over 325 square kilometres. achieve the same (See Box With expertise as part project corrals resources It is fed by the river Tapi, for priorities). of the Surat Climate from across the board, and is prone to flooding. Being a naturally flood- Change Trust, the city has making for a massive To compare, Mumbai is prone area, with over 25 now implemented an early exercise in collaboration.

36 iMPACT | January - March 2018 www.asianngo.org/magazine Emerging from the shadows of the plague Surat’s priorities as a 100RC city Perhaps Surat’s where municipal bodies proactiveness in this area were in touch with can be explained by its people’s problems day initiatives around history: Surat has seen two in and day out. 11 Connectivity and major calamities: it was Rao’s tenure saw Surat Mobility the reported epicentre of emerge from the status of an outbreak of suspected “plague city” to “clean initiatives around plague in 1994, and the city”, bagging the title of 7 Affordable Housing floods of 2006 which, second cleanest city in initiatives around

like the 2015 flood in the country in a national 13 Water Availability Chennai, was caused by study by Indian National and Quality

massive amounts of water Trust for Art and Cultural discharge from a dam. The Heritage (INTACH), two initiatives around “ city bounced back from years after the plague. 5 Employment and Economic the plague epidemic with What was a major Dependency great speed and alacrity; it disaster turned out to be was as if a personal assault a massive reawakening initiatives around Everyone was made on the citizens of pride in the city, and 14 Environment and of the city. The then city Yagnik says this has helped Ecosystems wants commissioner, S.R. Rao, him in his quest to make initiatives around collective good, swung into action, creating Surat more resilient. Social Cohesion a transparent programme 10 and everyone initiatives around wants to 3 Public Health participate. Communities maketh a city Platforms to engage with While social cohesion is citizens pitched in. The “When disaster strikes, one of the goals of Surat’s people of the city funded the you are typically on your the process resilience strategy, the city project to the tune of $10 own,” he says. “So it’s good are not readily seems to have made giant million. And when the city to build capacities from the strides in that direction showed far-from-flattering top-down and bottom-up.” available.” already. Yagnik emphasizes statistics in the sex ratio of If we build capacities at the the fact that any strategy the state, more than one community and NGO level, must take into confidence the million took a public pledge the dependence on authority people it serves. that they would not commit is decreased, he says. Community participation female foeticide. The path ahead is high in a city like Surat, This, says Yagnik, for Surat is guided by whose pride took a massive community participation, the resilience strategy. hit. For instance, when the must be the fulcrum of However, Yagnik says, that police commissioner of Surat any city-wide development is not a set path; rather, it Kamlesh Yagnik proposed the Safe City Surat strategy. In fact, that is one is a guiding document that initiative that required the of the key takeaways from can and will be refined as installation of 104 CCTV the city’s engagement with the city travels along the cameras across the city, the 100RCs, he says. path to resilience.

/AsianNGO iMPACT | January - March 2018 37 Face Off

Where’s the Beef? Voices on bovine methane emissions

Photo Credit: Annie Spratt, Unsplash

here has been a lot of talk about cow belches and how they may be more harmful to the Earth than we had earlier assumed. Recent revised calculations of methane produced per head of cattle show that global livestock emissions in 2011 were 11% higher than estimates based on data from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC). T This has, predictably, resulted in varied opinions from all sectors. While a section of production: from plant- Dr. Marco Springmann researchers suggested that based meat substitutes (the Senior researcher on Environmental Sustainability and Public the feed may be the culprit, Impossible Burger comes to Health, Oxford Martin Programme on the Future of Food and suggested a return to mind) to Mootral, a probiotic Change to plant-based diet inevitable, must involve deliberate grass-fed cows, a report by that claims to reduce the policy changes an international group of methane in cow burps to help researchers led by the Food tackle this. Dr. Springmann is the author current meat consumption Climate Research Network Let’s cut through the of a 2016 research, “Analysis levels are unsustainable and (FCRN), based at the noise and look at the issue and valuation of the health that a shift toward a plant- University of Oxford in the from various perspectives, and climate change cobenefits based diet must be a deliberate United Kingdom, says that is some traditional, some not. of dietary change” which push from policymakers. not the case. concludes that a shift to Amidst this, corporations, plant-based diets that rely A switch towards more plant- not to be left out, have come less on meat has not just based diets would be a very up with various products environmental benefits, but gradual process that would to help reduce the carbon could also save as many as give farmers, consumers, footprint of current beef eight million lives. He says that and retails plenty of time

38 iMPACT | January - March 2018 www.asianngo.org/magazine to adjust. What is clear is nuts and seeds, and plenty Marg Will that current levels of meat of fruits and vegetables. CEO, Organic Systems & Solutions consumption are neither What specific foods are We have to be mindful of our choices and strive to be better healthy nor sustainable, chosen within those even in many low-income categories (rice vs wheat, Australia-based Marg Will reducing the amount of countries. A shift towards or beans vs tofu) depends has helped many farms go livestock feed required to a greater reliance on plant- on local preferences, organic and has seen first- produce beef! based food sources would be price and supply, which in hand an increase in awareness The desire by better for the environment turn depends on growing about the origin of food in the consumers for more and offer the opportunity to conditions and trade country. She cites research environmentally-conscious improve the healthiness of connections. If globalisation and practices that has and welfare-friendly diets. It will be a challenge in continues at pace, then one helped curb emissions in the production methods has particular for policymakers would expect an ever-greater Australian beef industry, and seen significant growth in to encourage and manage mix of diets than already says that could be a model for organic beef production in shifts towards sustainable found today. Plant-based the rest of the world. Australia. By converting to and healthy food systems by diets are already becoming organic beef production, passing carefully considered aspirational diets in many There have been significant producers are not only health, environmental and parts of the Western world. developments over the reducing emissions (and agricultural policies. In order not to fuel social past five years in Australia increasing biodiversity and The plate of 2050 will divides, it will be important to tackle the issue of carbon sequestration) but look different in different to create affordable and methane from cattle. This actively regenerating their

places. What sustainable nutritionally balanced plant- issue and the broader local communities through

diets would have in common based diets for different issue of environmental the increased profits.

is that they would mainly tastes, regions and socio- damage and emissions Any diet changes rely on plant foods, with a economic groups. are well and truly being based“ on research and “mix of whole grains, legumes, researched and alternatives considerations is a good implemented in Australia. thing. Just make sure that The Australian beef industry has just completed a sustainability road map to Any diet A shift towards a greater ensuring continuing better changes reliance on plant-based food environmental practices are being implemented. based on sources would be better for CSIRO (Commonwealth research and the environment and offer Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) considerations the opportunity to improve found that when is a good thing. the healthiness of diets.” introducing seaweed into the feed of cattle – instead Just make sure Dr. Marco Springmann of becoming methane, that all issues carbon in the gut becomes available for producing are taken into other types of energy molecules more useful to consideration cattle for their growth. before making It can almost eliminate methane emissions from food choices.” the digestive processes of Marg Will beef cattle. Great news for reducing methane and also

/AsianNGO iMPACT | January - March 2018 39 Counter Point

all issues are taken into George Jacobs consideration before making President, Vegetarian Society (Singapore) food choices: for example, Remove the problem from its root deforestation for cropping, pesticide and herbicide Jacobs advocates a complete and do not take any bags addressing all three of these leaching, impacts on cut in meat of all kinds, from the store. Similarly, objections to eating greener. biodiversity, and food miles. citing humane reasons as the maybe we should just not Firstly, health researchers Grass-fed cows: primary focus, buttressing his eat cows at all and let their increasingly include plant- Most beef produced in argument with facts on the calves be the only ones who based, also known as Australia is from grass- unsustainability of current drink their milk. vegan, diets as a variable fed production systems. diets, and debunking myths From a big picture in their studies, and results Internationally, the research about the taste, availability view, animal based foods, suggest that plant-based from the Savory Institute and health perspectives of a regardless of how we tweak diets are sufficient, and demonstrates how grazing non-meat diet. their production, constitute even beneficial, for health, can be used to regenerate an inefficient food source, as is explained in the 2016 soils. This practice is having As the effects of climate because many kilograms paper titled “Position of the great success with land change become more of food must be fed to the Academy of Nutrition and management. inescapably apparent, more animals, including farm- Dietetics: Vegetarian Diets” Interventions (probiotic and more people want to raised marine animals, As to taste, eateries or medicinal) to reduce know what they can do to produce one kilogram continue to develop a wide methane emissions in cows: to help. However, well- of food. Not surprisingly, range of plant-based foods Already in use in Australia, and intentioned, well-informed Drawdown, a book by Paul to fit virtually every culture real benefits to implementing people may disagree on how Hawken which evaluates 100 and palate. Mock meat in other countries. to help. climate change solutions, and lab-produced meat Veganism is a proposed The best solution may lie found plant-rich diets to be might become reality soon, solution. I think it’s wonderful in macro solutions, rather the 4th most powerful action rendering the argument that people are actively than micro solutions. For we can take. of taste void. Along similar researching their food example, when people Three of the prominent lines, to address the third choices and making decisions debated the use of plastic objections to switching from objection to starting the accordingly. Does consuming bags, people debated an animal based diet to a shift to plant-based foods,

highly processed white bread whether to ask for plastic plant rich diet stem from (i.e. convenience and

that uses a large amount of or paper bags at the store. the healthfulness, taste, availability-Ed.) going plant- power to mill the grain then People now realise that was and convenience of plant based is becoming less and bake and package, create “the wrong question. Instead, based foods. Fortunately, less of a challenge. more emissions than a free- we now bring our own bags, progress has been made in range chicken? We need to examine how what we eat is produced, the animal welfare considerations, the food miles Three of the prominent objections undertaken and where these to switching from an animal based all sit with our core beliefs. The plate of a human in diet to a plant rich diet stem from the 2050 will depend on the long- healthfulness, taste, and convenience of term effects health-wise on emerging technologies such plant based foods. Fortunately, progress as lab-created meats, plant- has been made in addressing all three of based substitutes and GMO technologies. these objections to eating greener.”

George Jacobs

40 iMPACT | January - March 2018 www.asianngo.org/magazine Commentary

Volunteering in the Age of Gigs By Matthew Boyd

Photo Credit: Vollie

I have worked in the NGO space for the best part of a decade, and it has transformed my perspective on life.

You meet the most inspiring “gig” volunteering? The What this means for the social sector people on a daily basis, and trend toward a “gig” I truly care about this sector economy has well and truly Digitisation and the entrance of the millennial and where it’s headed. begun, but is the NGO generation into the workforce is fuelling this This is why the future of sector prepared? change toward a gig economy. It is vital that volunteering is an issue close The way we consume NGOs effectively connect with millennial skill sets to my heart. In any industry, entertainment through to support their organisations’ work. it is vital to plan for longer Netflix rather than simply Taking a closer look at the gig economy, here periods—3,5,10 years from turning on the TV, how we are some quick facts: now. So what does the future now book taxis with Uber, • It is expected that by 2020, 40% of US of volunteering hold? It even the way we choose workforce will, at least partly, be involved in is my opinion that the gig accommodation for our next this method of work. economy will play a key role holiday through AirBnB, • Freelance work has been common for a in this future. are all symptoms of the way while in writing, consulting, design, but For those unfamiliar new age technologies are is now moving more broadly into other with the term, the gig transforming the way we live professions. economy refers to the and act. In this digital age, • Unemployment is driving demand for this growing number of the workforce is increasingly method of work to “fill the gaps” with workers abandoning their mobile and so are jobs. their wages. traditional 9-5 employment Modern-day professionals Whatever the motivation for this shift, it is in favour of gigs—working are able than ever before to indisputable that this mode of work is rapidly independently on a task-by- select temporary jobs, while growing alongside the emergence of digital freelance task basis. So the question I organisations can select marketplaces. Data from the Future of Work pose to you with this article the best individuals from a Research Monitor from Airtasker revealed 4.1 million is what if we considered larger pool. Australians had freelanced between 2014-15.

/AsianNGO iMPACT | January - March 2018 41 Commentary

Where is the increasing demand coming from? Starting with young people 2015 survey of the future (18-39 years old), the of work revealed that 85% increasing demand is driven of Australians believe that by a desire for autonomous the traditional 9 to 5 office and flexible work. It also hours are inflexible. reflects a generational Let’s apply this working shift towards freedom and trend to a major issue Photo Credit: Vollie entrepreneurship. Although facing NGOs: connecting people over the age of 40 with the next generation of also have a desire for this volunteers (Millennials, and So why are young people not change and want to set their even Gen Z). The current volunteering as much? own schedules and choose volunteer rate among Through developing my The social sector could their tasks and work in an working is lowest among business, Vollie, some key leverage the power of young environment that suits them. millennials, at about 30%. points have emerged. First, millennials by providing A study by recruitment Volunteering Australia has there is a lack of flexibility them with volunteering firm Hays revealed that highlighted a need to engage in current volunteering options that are easy to find 55% of Australians would the next generation of programs. The mandatory and perform. take a 20% salary cut to volunteers more successfully requirement of committing Here’s the bottom line: work from home. A further and utilise technology to do to X number of days each Millennials and modern- 22% would sacrifice 10% so, but the next generation month is a major deterrent day professionals still want of annual income in of Australians aren’t to young volunteers. This to change the world, but return for flexible working volunteering as much (as kind of fixed commitment they want to do it in a way arrangements. Airtasker’s shown in the graph). puts people off in the initial that affirms their sense of stages of engagement itself. purpose. There is a huge Volunteering Rates Across Different Generations For example, with certain opportunity for all of us to NGO requirements, it isn’t be conduits of change by necessary that the volunteer making more connections 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 work on a fixed schedule between our society and the AGE and place; it could be that animals, plants, and people BRACKET the volunteer can work on in this world. To achieve this, 18-24 remotely around their own volunteering must evolve, schedule – this is the benefit and technology will be the of online volunteering. greatest enabler of this. 25-34 Second, considering people today generally have less time to volunteer, 35-44 it is vital that they clearly understand the scope of work. Third, and perhaps 45-54 most importantly, modern- day professionals don’t know where to start a lot 55-64 of the time when it comes Matthew Boyd is the Founder to finding a volunteering and Managing Director of Vollie, YEARS PERCENTAGE OF POPULATION THAT VOLUNTEER opportunity. They can be a platform that connects skilled overwhelmed by all the Australians with non-profit Source: Volunteering Australia, State of Volunteering Report 2016 organisations using a new available options. style of skills-based remote volunteering.

42 iMPACT | January - March 2018 www.asianngo.org/magazine Books

Hailed as an “eco-bible” by Time magazine, “Small is Beautiful”, Book Worm: A list of must- E.F. Schumacher’s riveting, richly researched statement read books on sustainability on sustainability has become more relevant and vital with The 2010s saw a sudden influx of books on the theme of each year since its initial groundbreaking publication sustainability, reflective of its surging relevance in the world. during the 1973 energy crisis. However, a call to sustainable living was not new, and many A landmark statement against books have explored it in detail, examining its various facets. “bigger is better” industrialism, the book paved the way for We present a list of five books that are a must-read on twenty-first century books Photo Credit: Vollie Small Is Beautiful: the theme. They are arranged in chronological order of Economics as if People on environmentalism and economics. first publication. (Book descriptions from publishers) Mattered By E.F. Schumacher Paperback: 352 pages Publisher: Harper Perennial; (First published 1973) Reprint edition (Oct. 19, 2010)

order to minimize damage. But in this provocative book, authors William McDonough and Michael Braungart argue that this approach perpetuates a one-way, “cradle to grave” manufacturing model that dates to the Industrial Revolution and casts off as much as 90 percent of the materials it uses The Greening of Asia: The The Age of Sustainable as waste, much of it toxic. Why Business Case for Solving Development (2015) not challenge the notion that Asia’s Environmental human industry must inevitably Emergency (2015) By Jeffrey D. Sachs Cradle to Cradle: Remaking damage the natural world? Elaborating their principles the Way We Make Things By Mark L. Clifford In this book, with a foreword from experience (re)designing by former UN Secretary (2002) everything from carpeting to In this book, Hong Kong-based General Ban ki-Moon, Jeffrey By Michael Braungart and corporate campuses, they make author Mark L. Clifford provides D. Sachs, a thought leader William McDonough an exciting and viable case for a behind-the-scenes look at what in sustainable development, change. companies in China, India, Japan, presents a compelling and “Reduce, reuse, recycle” urge Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia, practical framework for how environmentalists; in other Paperback: 193 pages Hong Kong, Singapore, and global citizens can use a holistic words, do more with less in Publisher: North Point Press Thailand are doing to build way forward to address the businesses that will lessen the seemingly intractable worldwide Planet”, sparking a revolution environmental impact of Asia’s problems of persistent extreme in our thinking about the social extraordinary economic growth. poverty, environmental and environmental impact of our From solar and wind power degradation, and political- food choices, Anna Lappé picks technologies to green buildings, economic injustice: sustainable up the conversation, examining electric cars, water services, and development. another hidden cost of our food sustainable tropical forestry, Sachs offers readers, system: the climate crisis. From Asian corporations are upending students, activists, raising cattle in industrial-scale old business models in their environmentalists, and policy feedlots to razing rainforests to home countries and throughout makers the tools, metrics, make palm oil for Pop-Tarts, the the world. Clifford paints and practical pathways they choices we make about how we detailed profiles of what some of need to achieve Sustainable put food on our plates, and what these companies are doing and Development Goals. Far more we do with the waste, contribute includes a unique appendix that than a rhetorical exercise, this to as much as one third of total encapsulates the environmental book is designed to inform, Diet for a Hot Planet: The greenhouse-gas emissions. Lappé business practices of more than inspire, and spur action. Climate Crisis at the End exposes the interests resisting fifty companies mentioned in of Your Fork and What You this crucial conversation while the book. Paperback: 352 pages Can Do about It (2010) she educates and empowers Publisher: Harper Perennial; readers and eaters committed to Series: Columbia Business Reprint edition (October 19, By Anna Lappé healing the planet. School Publishing 2010) Hardcover: 320 pages Nearly four decades after her Paperback: 352 pages Publisher: Columbia University mother, Frances Moore Lappé, Publisher: Bloomsbury USA; Press published “Diet for a Small Reprint edition (April 4, 2011)

/AsianNGO iMPACT | January - March 2018 43 Commentary

Pedalling hard, going nowhere By Bharati Ramachandran

“We want to make a start in This means that when conscious choice and go all non-profits invest only in the way. fundraising. We don’t have a donor acquisition, and not enough in communication What does it mean to go budget for communication.” to retain donors, non- “all the way”? profits are spending more money every year replacing Most not-for-profits that If I had a dollar for donors who just left. Or, I meet these days have a every time I’ve heard raising funds to replace barebones website, often both these phrases in the the money they would with a payment gateway. same conversation, I’d otherwise lose. But putting up a stand- be able to underwrite These donors don’t alone website – even with a non-profit’s annual leave because they had a payment gateway – does communications budget. strong motives to do so, not equal having an online Fundraising in most like a disagreement with fundraising strategy. non-profits is considered an the organisation’s mission A simple online activity that brings in income, or use of funds. They leave fundraising strategy could whereas communication because no one’s listening. be in place with three is treated as an expense. It’s important for non- basic tools: a website, a Even non-profits that have profits to pay attention to social media channel like fully functional fundraising donor retention. In other Facebook, and an email teams often invest in “donor words, in cohesive and newsletter. Together, these acquisition” but seldom in effective communication. It’s three can form a digital “donor retention.” also imperative to make a pipeline that helps a non-

Consider these statistics from the Fundraising Effectiveness Survey (2013) conducted by the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the Urban Institute in the US. Bharati Ramachandran runs Barapani, a commu- nications, campaign and • A gain of every 100 donors in a year is offset by fundraising agency that works with not-for-profit the loss of 105 donors who just stopped giving. organisations. She helps organisations tell powerful • For every $100 raised, not-for-profits lose $96 stories, change behaviour and policy, and raise funds. because of a drop in other donations.

44 iMPACT | January - March 2018 www.asianngo.org/magazine “

Fundraising in most non- Even non-profits that have

profits is considered fully functional fundraising an activity that brings teams often invest in “donor“ in income, whereas acquisition” but seldom in communication is treated “donor retention.” as an expense.

profit both acquire and current campaigns on the report-based newsletters retain donors. website, directing traffic to that are seldom read. A the website’s corresponding donor-friendly e-newsletter How does this work? landing pages, giving users is short, has a strong a qualitative experience story of change, some Let’s assume a non- of the work and its impact quantitative achievements, profit has a well-written, on the ground through a thank you and an appeal! professional website stories of change, and most Together, the website, in place. What does important, recreating the the Facebook page and this mean? This means flavour of the organisation the e-newsletter work to engaging content that with a distinctive voice, consistently engage the is tailored to the visitor, language and tone that visitor, until the visitor including a powerful case is uniquely its own! Most becomes a first-time donor, for support. Just having the Facebook pages are a repeat donor, and if the brochure content online impersonal and do not case is really compelling, an will not work in most cases. have a unique voice. They evangelist for the non-profit. Also, it is naivete to also largely post links, and Without doing all of this, assume that visitors will very little original content. just having a website is like visit the website often. Facebook, however, entering a cycling race with Once a visitor is on is increasingly making a stationary exercise cycle. the website, it is best to it difficult for an There’s good news here, capture contact details, organisation’s feed to show though. Any non-profit by leading them to social up on a follower’s timeline. organization that takes media channels, or have To reinforce, what is communication seriously, them subscribe to the needed is something that and is willing to go the organization’s newsletter. takes the message right to distance, will see an increase Now for the the donor’s email inbox – in its fundraising ROI, connections: The Facebook hence, an email newsletter! and a decrease in its donor page needs to work in an Again, most acquisition costs over the integrated manner with the organisations I work with long term. website, highlighting the send out event-based,

/AsianNGO iMPACT | January - March 2018 45 The Sector

Seamless Thailand conference to address essential trends transforming payments, retail and e-commerce industries in Thailand. Photo Credit: Terrapinn

With a US$2.9 billion from global institutions In the retail and e-commerce luxury market in the e-commerce market like Facebook, Big C, space, the discussions will be future of retail expected to grow at an Siam Commercial Bank, around: • A guide to overcoming annual rate of 15.9% through IndoSuisse, The Bank of • Creating seamless the challenges of until at least 2021, a new Thailand, Ascend Group, customer experiences in cultural nuances when national electronic payment Pomelo, Krungsri Bank, an omnichannel world expanding into local system with 18 million users Eatigo, Priceza, TMB Bank, • Urbanisation: The key markets already and a recovering The ETDA, Thai Fintech reason for the growth in • Evaluating 3PL retail sector with 2.6% Association, the National convenience formats strategies to reduce lead annual growth, Thailand Innovation Agency and more • Are pop up shops the times, improve reliability is an exciting example of who will be taking the stage future of retail? and enhance visibility the future potential for to exchange ideas and share • Redefining the retail • The effect of commerce in Southeast Asia. best practices. store in today’s e-commerce on the Seamless Thailand is Some of the payments omnichannel economy future of logistics an opportunity to meet discussion will centre around • Leveraging e-commerce • Retail distributors in with some of the breakout the following: to create new growth Thailand: Redefining the e-commerce, retail, • How machine learning options business model payments and logistics transforms the banking • Winning in retail in a The event also showcases businesses who have industry mobile first Thailand an exhibition featuring the transformed commerce • Are mobile wallets • The rise of local, latest products and services throughout the country, reaching a tipping point? on-demand food offered by leading players as well as some of the • Why cash is still king: delivery in this space. Key sponsors established players who have Factors limiting the • Customer service: How at this event include BPC had to innovate to survive. growth of e-payments in can retailers continue Banking Technologies, Seamless Thailand Thailand to compete in the age of Discover Financial Services, will bring together key • How a cashless society e-commerce Akamai, Emarsys, Infobip experts, innovators and opens the door to lasting • Inflection point: Scaling & VeritasPay as well as entrepreneurs to dive deep financial inclusion e-commerce in Thailand exhibitors. into how the payments, • The fintech driven • How to enrich retail and e-commerce transformation of merchandising Event details industries are going through the digital payment attributes and Seamless Thailand rapid transformation over ecosystem re-imagine stores as 5-6 Feb 2018 three tracks of content. • APIs and the future consumer magnets Centara Grand & Bangkok The conference will feature of fintech/financial • Chat apps and the rise of Convention Centre at over 60 financial, retail and institution in the social commerce CentralWorld, Bangkok e-commerce thought leaders payments sector • The critical role of the

46 iMPACT | January - March 2018 www.asianngo.org/magazine Feature

Eight Secrets to a Sustainable Workplace

eople spend most of their waking hours in their workplaces. As we continue to strive to be more productive and better at communication, we tend to forget, or not put in place, sustainable practices. PWhile the usual suspects—for instance, minimize use of paper and switch off lights Photo Credit: Terrapinn when not in use—may have run their course, there are other ways you can work toward becoming more sustainable.

1. Commute on a Greener Path 5. Renew Your Commitment Ideas: Encourage employees to walk, bike, use Ideas: Use solar energy. Even if the building is the public transport system, or carpool. rented, consider talking to the landlord about Other benefits: It’s healthy, and can act as going solar. exercise as well. Carpooling helps improve Other benefits: If able to produce extra and social interactions. supply to the grid, could mean some income as well. 2. Say No to Detrimental Daily Drivers 6. Save the Environment in an Idea: Use energy-efficient equipment Entertaining Way and machines--think cooling systems, Idea: Create teams and challenges around refrigerators, printers. going green—for green commute, practices in Other benefits:They save on energy bills in the office, less printing, etc. the long run. Other benefits: Boosts employee engagement and promotes concern for the 3. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle environment. Ideas: Apart from printing paper, consider reusing the back of business cards and other 7. Check Your Connections stationery. Save shipping boxes for reuse. Idea: Check your vendors and ensure you are If you buy newspapers, consider an online affiliated with good and credible suppliers subscription instead. Always recycle your old and partners who are also environmentally newspapers. conscious Other benefits: Recycled newspaper can be Other benefits: It creates a sustainable monetized. business ecosystem.

4. See Green in Plants 8. The Cup to Sustainability Idea: Grow indoor plants Idea: Do away with paper and plastic cups. Other benefits: Indoor plants increase ABC Provide staff with personalized cups to use for positivity. They also better air quality. water and beverages. Other benefits: Will increase pride in the organization, and also act as branding.

/AsianNGO iMPACT | January - March 2018 47 Commentary

Doing the Rounds: Circular Economy Need of the Hour By Nicholas Eng, Laura Allen, and Abishek Balasubramanian.

usiness and grows, the number can only individuals alike are get higher, fast. used to the linear This outdated and Bmodel of “take, make, inefficient linear model does dispose”. This is illustrated not make economic sense by the enormous landfills for businesses – an estimated we have, open dump sites US$ 2.5 trillion (about and waste leakage into the 80% of the total value) of ocean. Today humanity the global consumer goods uses the equivalent of sector is lost annually. A 1.6 Earths to provide the switch to a circular economy resources we use and absorb can save companies over our waste. And this amount US$1 trillion a year by 2025 is expected to double by if companies focus on supply 2050, according to data chain, distribution and from the United National brand communications that Environment Programme. increase recycling, reusing In addition, when and remanufacturing. primary materials run out, Photo Credit: Gone Adventurin they… run out. This poses Going Circular price risks globally that Instead of “take, make, While plastics are an now waking up the scale we are already seeing the dispose”, the Circular obvious candidate for the of the challenge. Add to effects of. Price volatility Economy aims to keep circular economy and this illegal transboundary for metals and agricultural materials in use for as long efforts are being made movements of e-waste output in the last decade as possible. For example, to address the issue, one and we get “dumping was higher than any one in the case of a phone, class of products has not grounds” due to waste decade in the 20th century. we should prolong its use, received as much attention from developed countries Waste generation rates reuse it, refurbish or repair as necessary: e-waste. being shipped to developing in developing markets, it and finally, recycle it, to Every year 27 million countries for illegal and particularly in Asia, are extract raw materials for tonnes of electronic unsafe “backyard recycling”. growing exponentially. further manufacturing. products are put on the Given that Asia is almost Take Indonesia which The objective is to stop the market in Asia (nearly half half of all electronic currently generates a material from entering the the global amount!), and sales, it’s not surprising staggering 175,000 tonnes ecosystem (i.e. keep the this number is growing by that Asia now generates of material ‘waste’ every materials out of landfill, 29% each year . And while the highest proportion of day (64 millions per year), dumps, or oceans) and OECD countries have e-waste in the world. according to data from the instead keep it in circulation. increasingly legislated for This is particularly Indonesian Environment the proper collection and baffling, since most of and Forestry Ministry. As E-Waste: The Silent treatment of e-waste, most the materials required to incomes and consumption Culprit Asian countries are only manufacture electronic

48 iMPACT | January - March 2018 www.asianngo.org/magazine “

The environmental and economic case for moving from a linear economy to a

to raw materials and circular economy are reused for manufacturing. Rethinking supply chain not only practical, practices and making recycling more accessible to but are increasingly consumers are two prongs of this approach. being demanded In Taiwan, used coffee grounds collected from by consumers and Starbucks cafes are made into T-shirts, socks and governments around soaps. Levi Strauss has also the world.” done the same, through in-store collection of old clothes and shoes from any brand, they get a steady “Looptworks” for example, are driving businesses to supply of raw material that repurposes leftover materials rethink product design, can then be transformed from premium goods supply chains, collection for other uses like insulation manufacturers to make systems, consumer for buildings and even new products. Another education, partnerships gadgets are rare-earth metals cushioning material. example is LanzaTech that with governments and the which are in short supply In a collaboration “uses a patented microbe waste management sector, and will soon run out. with OpenIDEO, Coca- technology to convert etc. The solutions exist Luckily, new legislations Cola crowdsourced ideas carbon-rich wastes and today. What is needed is the are being enacted to ensure in 2014 on how recycling residues into fuel and management will and the collection and proper rates can be increased at chemical products”. They desire to bring about change resource recovery, and home. From this came have also partnered with on a large scale. companies that manufacture “How do I recycle this?” Boeing to produce low these goods are starting to in 2015: an application carbon jet fuel from ethanol Edited from an article by create take-back programs where consumers can scan a derived from this process. Nicholas Eng, Laura Allen, and where consumers can return product’s barcode and input The environmental and Abishek Balasubramanian, Gone Adventurin team. the waste. their postcode to get up-to- economic case for moving Gone Adventurin enables date information on how to from a linear economy to companies to design circular The Beginning of Change recycle an item. a circular economy are business strategies, implement Businesses are starting to And with the increasing not only practical, but deployments to recycle post- realise the value in a circular trends of open innovation are increasingly being consumer waste and create closed loop supply chains so economy where products and collaboration, businesses demanded by consumers that nothing goes to waste, and are designed with the end are also tapping on startups and governments around engage stakeholders through in mind. Where they can be to find solutions to drive the world. While old habits storytelling. Online at www. sorted, processed, converted the circular economy. die hard, global trends goneadventurin.com

/AsianNGO iMPACT | January - March 2018 49 The Sector

For Goodness’ Sake, Donate! Giving festivals up their game By Meera Rajagopalan

he first time I reached over $274 million inherent in all of humanity. heard about in online donations in 2017, It has spread, albeit a bit #GivingTuesday, I a record high, with donors unevenly, over the years. For wasT already suspicious. After from 150 countries. Apart example, there are pockets all, it had a hashtag in front from donations, people in the rural parts of the state of it—how authentic could spent time volunteering, of Odisha that celebrate the it be? donated in kind, and festival with great fervour, As a volunteer of India’s performed other acts of owing to the enthusiasm Daan Utsav, a weeklong kindness as well. and galvanizing effect of festival of giving, this By no means is one volunteer. Much like seemed too sanitized. But #GivingTuesday unique, the country itself, Daan a casual look at the figures though. In the United States, Utsav festivities are usually told me all about the Minnesota’s Give to the diverse, organic, chaotic, success the festival has had, Max Day has been around and full of heart. This also in terms of donations. It since 2009. The homegrown means, though, that it is follows the path my career, holiday of giving raised a tough to “track” the festival. or running goals, should record $20.6 million this year In fact, official numbers as have, in an ideal situation: on the day, November 16. to the funds raised or giving steep. Very steep. Daan Utsav, celebrated activities organized are From $45.7 million from October 2-8 every tough to come by. donations in its inaugural year, was born as an idea to Across the waters is year, #GivingTuesday has celebrate the spirit of giving Singapore’s Giving Week,

50 iMPACT | January - March 2018 www.asianngo.org/magazine How to Create a Festival

Timing is key: All festivals need to consider the time in which the festival is to be conducted. #GivingTuesday started as a counter to Thanksgiving consumerism, and also kicked off holiday giving.

Provide avenues for support/celebration: Just which seems like a mix Day, and fittingly, the focus What’s the Point? announcing a festival may of online and offline is both on donations and #GivingTuesday was not move people enough to charitable giving. It’s a participation in events. founded to direct people do something. Make finding weeklong festival inspired to charitable giving after events to participate easy to by #GivingTuesday, but What happens? the consumerism of the find, as well as donating to with more activities that #GivingTuesday is Thanksgiving holiday. causes. people can be part of, rather streamlined with online Daan Utsav’s volunteer than simply click-and- donation options made Aarti Madhusudan said Make connections easy: donate. The country was easily available. Local non- the Indian festival is “an Rather than create large the first in Asia to organize profits organize their own opportunity for everyone to events, creating connections #GivingTuesday in 2013. events to take advantage of celebrate inherent kindness between givers and “It received such a great the goodwill floating around and experience the joy that receivers will result in more response that we thought and raise funds as well. comes from giving.” meaningful and longer- it might be worthwhile to Daan Utsav is a bit of a Beh says that Singapore’s lasting engagement. extend it into a week so mixed bag, as giving events Giving Week aims to “reach that more Singaporeans include charity dinners, out to new givers, to help Start small: People are and their families can public place painting, kick-start their giving getting creative in giving take part,” said Cherisse villages coming together journey by creating fun back, and use their skills Beh, assistant director of to celebrate, corporations and simple opportunities to do good. In Singapore, marketing communications engaging with non-profits to give.” She also says that a floral arrangement at National Volunteer through their employees and the festival will hopefully hobbyist who conducted & Philanthropy Centre blood donations as well. deepen the engagement of flower arrangement classes, (NVPC), the organization Singapore’s Giving Week current givers, so that they donated the resulting that coordinates the festival. has a range of activities, can become galvanizers who arrangements to the staff of This year, the festival apart from easy donation encourage those around a non-profit. has raised nearly SGD 1.3 options on the website. them to give back. million through the website. Events offer an opportunity There are concerns Take that first step:Once Around 180 organizations to give, or increase about whether these special you get started, people participated and 86 awareness for a cause or “festivals” simply redirect will come forward to offer activities/opportunities for issue, says Beh. For instance, the giving that would have support and resources. giving were conducted. It an adventure tours company happened over the year. straddles the week between also sensitized participants Regardless, it does feel good (with inputs from Cherisse #GivingTuesday and to the issue surrounding to see those numbers in Beh) International Volunteer migrant workers. green!

/AsianNGO iMPACT | January - March 2018 51 Feature

SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING TRENDS: Thinking About the Box While consumers demand sustainable packaging, there are several hurdles to be overcome by the corporations, finds Ian Jamotillo.

Photo Credit by Guus Baggermans, Unsplash

ustainable packaging industry. The term is used they find least understood is making waves in to refer to unsupported or confirmed that the term the corporate scene; misleading claims about they considered least andS it is offering a fresh the environmental benefits understood was “Circular take on what environmental of a product, service, Economy.” Defined as a compliance really means. and technology or even a regenerative system where However, a recent study company practice. resources are kept in use revealed that the world isn’t Lack of proper for as long as possible and fully maximizing the benefits understanding, on the extracting its maximum of sustainable packaging. other hand, is still prevalent value, circular economy According to the 2017 and many terms related serves as an alternative to a Sustainable Packaging Study, to sustainability are still traditional linear economy conducted by Packaging not understood in their (make, use, dispose). Digest and Sustainable entirety. A survey from the “Circular economy” got Packaging Coalition, 2017 study where people a rating of 3.98 followed “greenwashing” is still are asked to rate each area by life-cycle analysis, prevalent in the packaging of sustainable packaging a systematic inventory

52 iMPACT | January - March 2018 www.asianngo.org/magazine Photo Credit: www.greenerpackage.com

technique used to assess of brand managers felt that for Packaging and environmental impacts social media was the most Processing Technologies, associated with all the effective way of educating threw some light on how stages of a product’s life people on the packaging’s people treat sustainable with 3.4. (one being “best sustainability. packaging as a practice. understood” and five being “The impact usually PMMI discovered that the “in need of explanation”). can’t be measured or increased public awareness Other areas of sustainable quantified in tangible towards environmental packaging that need proper business results, i.e. bottom issues led to a greater education are responsible line profits. However, being demand for sustainable sourcing, carbon footprint, a successful influencer in a packaging and processing. renewable materials and B2B industrial domain such For instance, industries recycling. as packaging affords you the are now warming up to When it comes to the ability to rally like-minded the idea of sustainable most effective way of followers to act on your packaging. With a share educating consumers about behalf,” said George Szanto of 54%, as expected, the sustainable packaging, of Packaging Digest, about food packaging industry most respondents went the impact of social media has the lion’s share of the the traditional way: on the on sustainable packaging. sustainable packaging packaging. The surprising A separate report piloted market. Healthcare is also result here was that only 5% by PMMI, The Association upping its sustainable game,

/AsianNGO iMPACT | January - March 2018 53 Feature

with four of twenty most sustainable packaging in retailer Kroger Co. recently In an effort to promote sustainability in the fast food sustainable companies from remarkable ways. In 2010, joined the Sustainable industry, Pizza Hut unveiled the healthcare sector. GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Packaging Coalition and its redesigned pizza boxes in Costa Rica that can be Adding to the big switch unveiled a redesigned reiterated their commitment broken into smaller pieces to sustainable packaging, the packaging made of high- to stop excess packaging for used for leftovers. study showcased the specific density polyethylene the next three years. “Our Photo credit: sustainable packaging goals supplement bottle in a bold, membership in this coalition http://slice.seriouseats.com/ of some respondents from full-body shrink-sleeve label is an important part of different industries such as that contained all product Kroger’s vision for achieving food, household products, information. GSK claims Zero Hunger | Zero Waste, beverages, personal care/ that the new package saves a key component of how cosmetics, electronics, and approximately 208 tons of we are living our purpose medical supplies. Reducing paper, or 1,440 trees; and driven by our Restock packaging weight, building eliminates nearly 330,000lb Kroger Plan. We look recovery infrastructure, of CO2 emissions in the forward to collaborating increasing recyclability of atmosphere. with other brands, packaging, and reducing In Costa Rica, Pizza packaging manufacturers energy consumption are just Hut designed pizza boxes and other stakeholders to some of their sustainable which can be broken down drive positive change in packaging goals. into plates and smaller packaging sustainability,” Several companies boxes for leftovers. Jessica Adelman, Kroger’s and organizations have As part of its 2020 group vice president of already switched to Sustainability Goals, grocery corporate affairs, said.

54 iMPACT | January - March 2018 www.asianngo.org/magazine The Sector

Integrating Country Strategy Papers into your Acquisition Process

overty alleviation, peace building, quality education and Pclimate change are just a few of the major concerns set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. DevelopmentAid is the world’s leading Reaching the 17 goals listed in this online platform that provides comprehensive Agenda by the year 2030 would not be information services related to Tenders&Grants, possible without a clear coordination development sector companies and their track and harmonization of International record, an updated database of individual Financial Institutions (IFIs) strategies consultants and many more. For additional and National Governments’ priorities. information visit www.developmentaid.org IFIs use Country Strategy Papers (CSPs) to establish a selective program of indicative interventions based on the Governments’ priorities and own vision for the long-term development. Therefore, each CSP is prepared individually for each partner country and clearly identifies future needs and challenges facing the partner government and the budgets IFI will be allocating to tackle them. A Country Strategy begins with a country diagnosis– analysis of the political, economic, social and environmental situation, previous market failures, cultural implications – and studies of constraints for sustainable development and poverty reduction. Then, IFIs turn these studies of constraints into opportunities by identifying key areas where they have a comparative advantage, and where their assistance can have the most advantage of positioning themselves impact. CSPs, through such initiatives, through foresight accorded by these become a roadmap for the IFI’s CSPs, resulting in higher chances of support to the country and have the being successful in their future bids potential to range across the entire for projects. spectrum of issues. All the updated Country Strategy Through careful study of CSPs, it Papers from over 30 bilateral and is usually possible to foresee future multilateral donors can be found projects. Spotting projects early and downloaded from https://www. allows leading companies to have the developmentaid.org.

/AsianNGO iMPACT | January - March 2018 55 Humour in Development

No Monkey Business, This! By Nandhini Shanmugam

Lesson 1: make sure you beat the Know your target group ragpicker to it. • Every day around noon Baseline studies and needs schoolchildren open assessment are expected their lunch box, make to be factored in while sure to be around. developing interventions. This analysis of theirs is However, sometimes, no purely experiential. Decades matter how genuine the ago, women and children intent, activities designed would generously feed the run the risk of prioritising Rhesus monkeys, an act the donor expectations, the locals believe is responsible NGOs’ human and financial for removing the fear of this Photo credit: pixabay.com crunch, rather than meeting group in monkeys. target group expectations. Since it understands its he development I dreamt of clear blue skies, Now, the Rhesus monkey has target group so well and sector often mighty mountains, chirping understood its target group – has answers to the Ws and T takes you far and of birds, a star-studded you and me – very well. And H – What, Why, Where, wide—to places you may not skyline, and beautiful it acts based on its analysis Who and How – it is assured necessarily find on Google weather. Dehradun did not of this group. This is the its daily bread and butter. Maps, where electricity disappoint and gave me all of message one monkey passes So next time we design is still a rarity, where the it. What I had not foreseen on to another: any kind of activity be it discovery of a toilet is cause was the nitty gritty of the • Fearlessly approach an event or intervention enough for celebration. endeavour: coexisting with women (preferably let’s relook the way we Typically, these are places nature in general and with a single) or young answer our Ws and H! you reach after bumpy rides bunch of simians in particular. children; grab from them make you aware of your The next 18 months as you please, be it a bag anatomy like never before. were spent honing my of veggies or a corn cob. Of course, what makes professional skill sets and • When amongst families it worthwhile are the many developing some important or couples – give out wonderful and beautiful strategies to co-exist with your most heart-melting experiences you encounter my cohabitants viz. the expression and be rest during every visit. I’ve always brown Rhesus monkeys. And assured of a stake from believed that my travels have they returned the favour by their platter; it’s a win- prepared me to deal with just reminding me of some best win for all. about any situation. practices that tend to slip • Food waste is dumped That was until I landed in our mind as we rush from into large bins every day, the Valley of Dehradun, all one project to the other. the way across the country.

56 iMPACT | January - March 2018 www.asianngo.org/magazine Sometimes in our rush to show results, we miss respecting both the space we are entering and the opinions of its inhabitants.

Lesson 2: As we go about brandishing were their weakest. But Show respect our noble intentions of together they were capable providing them a better of anything and everything How much of a threat can an life, haven’t we faced – rummaging through your animal that barely measures resistance? We blame it on personal belongings, making up your thighs be? Well, quite ignorance, illiteracy, attitude, a daring entry into your a bit, as it turned out. My a conservative mind-set unattended home, snatching first close shave was when and what not. But maybe food items you carried, or a baby monkey ran towards that resistance also has to uprooting vegetables you me, undeterred by my size. do with the fact that the planted. It always reminded What began as an enjoyable target community has not yet me of one fundamental truth morning walk turned into warmed up to our presence – alone we can do so little, a helpless sprint downhill. I in their sanctum sanctorum. together we can do so much! learnt my lesson. The next That sometimes in our rush There’s so much time I went for a walk and to show results we miss promising work happening found a bunch of monkeys respecting both the space in our sector. Imagine the on my path, I simply did an we are entering and the difference we can make if about-turn and marched off opinions of its inhabitants. we increase the exchange in the opposite direction. However, if we do navigate of resources, ideas, and I call it “respecting our way around this sanctum knowledge amongst us. their space”. sanctorum in harmony The monkeys taught me to I also realised that for the with the people we intend look for partners wherever monkeys, their space was to serve then we and our expertise already exists. To their sanctum sanctorum, good interventions will be work with, rather than work and any intrusion into it was received with open arms. alongside. After all, like the seen as a threat; perhaps monkeys, we are trying to that’s why the monkeys Lesson 3: shake things up. believed attack was the best United we stand, divided It’s been a year since I form of defence. we fall left Dehradun. Do I miss In simple words, you mind the place? Very much. your business and they will In general, I noticed that My friends? Even more. mind theirs. monkeys moved in groups. Mountains, the weather, the As development Together, they would find chirping of birds, the star-lit professionals, we often food, rest, pick ticks off sky? Undoubtedly. And the find ourselves entering each other, play, and scare monkeys? Now that’s a guess the sanctum sanctorum of helpless passers-by (again, for you to take! underserved communities. me)! When alone, they

/AsianNGO iMPACT | January - March 2018 57 Book Excerpt

Leap of Reason: Managing to Outcomes in an Era of Scarcity

By Mario Morino

Culture is the Key

n my forty-plus years of experience in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors, I have come to see that there’s a common denominator among organizations that manage to outcomes successfully: They all have courageous leaders who foster a performance culture. IAn organization’s culture has a huge impact on whether the organization can achieve what it hopes to for those it serves. Paperback: 149 pages To me, all organizations should strive not only to foster a Publisher: Venture Philanthropy Partners (2011) healthy culture, where their people understand the mission and feel appreciated for their role in fulfilling it. They should also strive to nurture a performance culture. A Great Culture Starts with Great People Once again, I use the term “performance culture” with some trepidation. I know it’s radioactive for some, especially those Nurturing a performance culture begins with recruiting, in the education field. developing, and retaining the talented professionals you need to fulfill your mission. But the term as I’m using it shouldn’t be threatening. I mean simply that the organization should have the mindset to do Failure to do so is, to me, literally a dereliction of duty of board what it does as well as it possibly can and continually seek to and management—from executive director to line supervisor. do even better. Board and management need to “get the right people on the bus, in the right seats,” in the famous words of management For example, there are many teachers I know who would not expert Jim Collins. naturally see themselves as representing or contributing to a performance culture per se. And yet they stay after school I’m a big believer in the notion that what makes things happen to tutor or counsel; grade papers late into the night; care is people. Best practices are wonderful, but they are most immensely about helping students learn and grow; and even effective in the hands of highly talented people. I’d take the show up to cheer their students on at games, plays, and other best talent over best practices and great plans any day of the events. These teachers may not see what they do as being week. Too many of us think that organizations and systems driven by a performance mentality, but their actions in serving solve our challenges. They play a vital role, but the key lies in their students speak louder than words. the people who execute those plans.

58 iMPACT | January - March 2018 www.asianngo.org/magazine “

Do you have the right talent, leadership, and To amplify this point, I will share Why? For one thing, we generally a long quotation from a leader of lack effective ways to assess the judgment in place great distinction in the educational, performance of staff so that we can philanthropic, and nonprofit sectors: I help them improve or move on. More to execute your despair over the money being expended important, executives just don’t want by our sector on evaluation, measurement, to deal with the confrontation that’s mission? Next etc. The simple truth is that if you don’t sometimes required when we know stay focused on the quality and energy of a staff member’s performance isn’t to questioning leadership, all the rest is beside the point. good enough. We avoid providing We all continue to avoid the tough but vital the honest, constructive feedback the mission itself question of gauging... the assessment of the people need to improve. When steps human element... My own experience that for improvement don’t work, we are periodically, this is now stretches over fifty years is that we loath to make changes, especially are a long way from quantifying the critical terminations, lest we rock the boat. the most important element of judgment. Too many of us allow appeasement and accommodation to override doing our question boards So this is the basic question: Do you best for those we serve. have the right talent, leadership, and and management judgment in place to execute your It’s a delicate balance when you’re mission? Next to questioning the dealing with someone’s career (and must ask mission itself periodically, this is the livelihood). Candidly, there are times most important question boards and I’ve made the go/no-go call too quickly. themselves.” management must ask themselves. I’ve seen people develop to become solid performers, even leaders in their Asking and answering this “hot potato” organizations, after I thought they question is difficult. It might require weren’t going to make it. Fortunately, change and improvement on the part of others saw something in them that those already on the bus, including the warranted going the extra step. person driving it. It might require bringing different people on the bus. Most often Such decisions are never to be taken it requires a combination of the two. lightly, and there’s no checklist of steps. Mario Morino It comes back to the quality of judgment The truth is that we’re not good at this of those making the decisions. Intuition type of change in our sector. We often and instincts are an important part of sacrifice the quality of our programs and the equation. services in order to protect those who aren’t doing their jobs well.

Copyright 2011 by Morino Institute. Morino Institute encourages and grants permission for the distribution and reproduction of copies of this work for non-commercial purposes. Such copies, in whatever form, must be unmodified, in their entirety, including copyright notice and full attribution. Any adaptation, derivative work, or any other modification requires prior written approval by Morino Institute.

/AsianNGO iMPACT | January - March 2018 59 Contribution

Everlasting Beauty: Awards Highlight Sustainability Efforts of Industry The recent Sustainable Beauty Awards recognized the change in the products and processes adopted by the cosmetics industry. By iMPACT Staff

inners of the 2017 Sustainability WBeauty Awards, announced in Paris on November 6, provided insights into the ways cosmetics companies are embracing the principles of sustainability in various facets of their businesses. The winners of the different categories—Green Formulations, Sustainable Packaging, Sustainable Ingredient, Sustainability Pioneer, and Sustainability to its various corporate Extract, made from spent promised to remove plastic Leadership—demonstrated philanthropy projects. resin from the distillation of microbeads from their a commitment to change In the Green frankincense oils in Oman. products. The campaign within and without. Formulation category, The Sustainable Beauty also promotes the idea of While AAK of Sweden organic roses sourced for Awards, organized by a “Zero Plastic Inside” bagged the Sustainability a skin care range were the Ecovia Intelligence, aims to logo, where brands and Pioneer award for its key to Alteya Organics of recognize organizations that companies that do not use sustainable sourcing Bulgaria winning the award. are pushing the boundaries microplastic ingredients programmes for its shea Sulapac of Finland won of sustainability in the declare the same on their butter range of products, the Sustainable Packaging beauty industry. packaging. where it works with award for its packaging The beauty industry Campaigns such as over 115,000 women in made from renewable wood has been taking giant steps Beat the Microbead have West Africa, Aveda USA chips from sustainable in addressing the issue of catalysed change, as bagged the Sustainability managed forests. The sustainability, especially after governments around the Leadership award, for its company has earlier also the spotlight on microplastic world have kickstarted wide range of initiatives. won the Green Alley award, ingredients in cosmetics legislation to ban Aveda is involved in a an award focused on the contributing to the plastic microplastic ingredients variety of sustainability circular economy. soup in the oceans. in cosmetics. As more initiatives in its entire Neal’s Yard Remedies According to Beat the governments follow suit, production cycle and of the U.K. won the Microbead, a campaign by the industry is poised beyond, from sourcing of Sustainable Ingredient the Plastic Soup Foundation, for another round of the ingredients to waste award for its Frankincense more than 448 brands from innovation, this time in the management, continuing Boswellia Sacra Resin 119 manufacturers have field of sustainability.

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