View allAll Photos Tagged SustainableDevelopment
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (center) visits the historic centre of Quito Ecuador during his trip to attend the Second World Assembly of Local and Regional Governments and to address the opening of the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) on 17 October.
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe
Quito, Ecuador
Photo # 699250
Georgia: "Every morning we wake up at 5 or 6 o'clock. We have breakfast, wash up and head to the pastures. That's the life of a shepherd."
© Clima East
Climate change has taken its toll on rural Uzbekistan, degrading pastureland and depleting livestock. However, one remote village has demonstrated that it can adapt to the effects of climate change – and even increase people’s income at the same time.
The inhabitants of Kyzyl Ravat, a remote village in the Kyzylkum desert of Uzbekistan, have employed a range of techniques to improve herding and breeding practices for their sheep and cattle. In the process, they raised the productivity of their cattle by 36 percent and increased their income by 32 percent.
Find out more about sustainable livestock management in Kyzyl Ravat
Photo courtesy of UNDP in Uzbekistan
Azerbaijan: Over-grazing results in losses of organic carbon soil through wind and water erosion and soil impoverishment.
© Clima East
The programme can be a formidable challenge for the women. “In the beginning, many women face problems, since it is the first time they have left their children and village,” says Leela Devi, a teacher in the solar engineering department. “But we have to be like their sisters, and constantly remind them of the advantages of being here and learning solar engineering.”
Photo Credit: UN Women/Gaganjit Singh
People are watching High-level Signature Ceremony for the Paris Agreement from UN Web TV in the Delegates' Lounge.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5C_5SVCTsKQ
Seven days left to go: The Expo Zaragoza 2008 is a International Exhibition that will be celebrated in my town, Zaragoza (in the halfway of Madrid and Barcelona) from June 14th to September 14th, 2008 and whose topic is "Water and sustainable development".
On the sidelines of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, the Rwanda Green Fund and the Development Bank of Rwanda have launched Ireme Invest, a groundbreaking new green investment facility that will support Rwanda’s private sector to access green finance and increase the sector’s contribution to the country’s response to climate change.
Rwanda has set an ambitious climate action agenda to build the country's resilience and foster green growth. To achieve these goals, the country needs investments totaling USD 11 billion. Ireme Invest comes in response to this need by offering a range of financial instruments tailored to meet the needs of Rwanda’s private sector.
Photos from the WTO Public Forum 2017 photo gallery may be reproduced provided attribution is given to the WTO and the WTO is informed. Photos: © WTO/Jay Louvion
On the sidelines of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, the Rwanda Green Fund and the Development Bank of Rwanda have launched Ireme Invest, a groundbreaking new green investment facility that will support Rwanda’s private sector to access green finance and increase the sector’s contribution to the country’s response to climate change.
Rwanda has set an ambitious climate action agenda to build the country's resilience and foster green growth. To achieve these goals, the country needs investments totaling USD 11 billion. Ireme Invest comes in response to this need by offering a range of financial instruments tailored to meet the needs of Rwanda’s private sector.
Children fetch water from a makeshift faucet, which will be used to wash their hands or flush the toilet in school. They stand to benefit from an ILO Japan Water and Sanitation Project that aims to provide safe and clean water as well as promote peace and create decent work in conflict-affected areas of the Philippines.
Know more about the project implemented in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to promote peace and provide decent work, funded by the Government of Japan: bit.ly/ilowatsan
Photo ©ILO / Minette Rimando
28 January 2020
South Upi, Maguindanao, Philippines
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 IGO License. To view a copy of this license, visit creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/igo/deed.en_US.
Shahrashoub Razavi, Chief, Research and Data Section, UN Women, presents the The World Survey of the Role of Women in Development to the Second Committee of the General Assembly.
The World Survey is a UN Secretary-General’s report mandated by the Second Committee of the General Assembly and comes out every five years. This year’s report focuses on Sustainable Development and Gender Equality, with chapters on the green economy and care, food security, population, and investments for gender responsive sustainable development. The report comes at an important moment, in the emergence of the post-2015 development framework and as the global community grapples with the challenges of sustainable development and the definition of the Sustainable Development Goals. Against this context, the 2014 World Survey on the Role of Women in Development asserts the central role of gender equality and charts the rationale and the actions necessary to achieve sustainable development. The Secretary-General’s report is available online, along with other documentation for the Second Committee at www.un.org/en/ga/second/69/documentslist.shtml. It has been translated into all six official UN languages.
Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown
MENNA - meaning "from us", or "made by our hands" in Arabic - is a nation-wide network of over 650 rural and refugee women producers and cooperatives in Lebanon. In 2015, Amel Association International - a grantee of UN Women's Fund for Gender Equality - launched its first permanent MENNA shop in Beirut, giving network members a year-round space to sell their handmade goods to the public.
Pictured: Sofa M. Tofla works as a glass blower making products for sale to the public in the MENNA shop in Beirut.
Photo: UN Women/Joe Saade
See More: youtu.be/urs1bepyh1c
Almost 150 women’s rights advocates, members of UN Women’s Civil Society Advisory Groups from around the world gathered in New York City on 23–24 November for a two-day conference to discuss strategies for reaching a Planet 50-50 by 2030. The Global Civil Society Dialogue united women of diverse backgrounds to share their ideas on the regional and global implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in partnership with UN Women.
Read More: www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2015/11/civil-society-str...
Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown
Studies have shown that climate change will cause a shift of climatic zones in the ecosystems of Altai-Sayan, resulting in the migration of animals and plants. In response, a buffer zone of about 600,000 hectares of protected forests has been created between the Western and Eastern part of the region to protect the migration routes of globally threatened species, such as the snow leopard, lynx, European red deer, elk, argali, and more.
FInd out more about Adapting to climate change in Altai-Sayan
Photo courtesy of UNDP in Kazakhstan
This farmer grew corn for many years but was not able to produce much in the mountainous areas where he lives. Through the Changjiang/Pearl River Watershed Rehabilitation Project, he shifted to growing orange trees. His income has since increased 10 times. Chongqing, China. Photo: Li Wenyong / World Bank
A few times a year, Human Connections organizes GETs (Global Engagement Trips) for student groups, tourists, and other visitors eager to gain a better understanding of the local culture in Nayarit, Mexico. This particular GET group, from Northern Illinois University, participated in a week long program centered around social entrepreneurship, NGO management, and sustainable development.
Learn more about HC and our GET programs:
Solar energy systems providing power in remote, rural areas are installed by barefoot solar engineers trained by the Barefoot College.
© Anand Gopal / WWF-Canon
Statue of Christ the Redeemer. Iconic landmark of Rio de Jeneiro, Brazil where the Rio +2. Summit on Sustainable Development is taking place.
20-years on from the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, WWF returns to Rio to make the case for a sustainable future for us all - and to call upon the governments that represent us to have the courage to do what needs to be done.
“Currently we are a long way from where we need to be in these negotiations,” said WWF Director General, Jim Leape. “Heads of State still have a unique opportunity in Rio to set the world on a path to sustainable development – but they need to step up their game dramatically. As things currently stand, we are facing two likely scenarios – an agreement so weak it is meaningless, or complete collapse. Neither of these options would give the world what it needs.”
Christ the Redeemer (Portuguese: Cristo Redentor). Considered the largest Art Deco statue in the world and the 5th largest statue of Jesus in the world. It is 39.6 metres (130 ft) tall, including its 9.5 metres (31 ft) pedestal, and 30 metres (98 ft) wide. It weighs 635 tonnes (625 long,700 short tons), and is located at the peak of the 700-metre (2,300 ft) Corcovado mountain in the Tijuca Forest National Park overlooking the city. A symbol of Brazilian Christianity, the statue has become an icon for Rio de Janeiro and Brazil. It is made of reinforced concrete and soapstone, and was constructed between 1922 and 1931.
By bringing solar power home, the women are also supporting a greener form of energy usage. Many live in villages without any electricity at all, where kerosene usage is high. Yet kerosene is not a sustainable resource, nor is it cheap or healthy. Barefoot College estimates that the initiative now saves around 160,000 litres of kerosene a month across South America, Africa and Asia.
Photo Credit: UN Women/Gaganjit Singh
An Ecological Living Module, a demonstration unit of eco-friendly and affordable housing, is being exhibited at UN Headquarters in New York. This structure, measuring about 22-square-meters, is a type of "tiny house", traditionally comprised of one room with a loft or pull-out bed, complete with hidden storage and condensed amenities, such as a kitchen, that maximize available living space. The idea behind the design, created by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Center for Ecosystems in Architecture at Yale University in collaboration with UN-Habitat, is to provide an example of decent, affordable housing that limits the overuse of natural resources and helps to combat climate change.
UN Photo/Loey Felipe
09 August 2018
United Nations, New York
Photo # 771562
MENNA – meaning ‘from us’, or ‘made by our hands’ in Arabic – is a nation-wide network of over 650 rural and refugee women producers and cooperatives in Lebanon. In 2015, Amel Association International – a grantee of UN Women’s Fund for Gender Equality – launched its first permanent MENNA shop in Beirut, giving network members a year-round space to sell their handmade goods to the public.
Pictured: Sofa M. Tofla works as a glass blower making products for sale to the public in the MENNA shop in Beirut.
Photo: UN Women/Joe Saade
See More: youtu.be/urs1bepyh1c
October 12, 2012 - Tokyo, Japan: Ministerial Dialogue on Sustainable Development. World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim and IMF Deputy Managing Director Min Zhu will lead a discussion with over 20 Finance Ministers and Vice-Ministers of Finance and International Development focused on green fiscal poliies and the reforms needed to achive inclusive green growth. Photo: Simone D. McCourtie / World Bank
Photo ID: 101212-AM2012-MinSustainDevlpmnt005F
Many farmers in Bangladesh are now growing new plant varieties developed by scientists at the Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA). These scientists have worked closely with the IAEA to develop new plant varieties of crops, such as rice, using nuclear and other conventional plant breeding techniques. These new plant varieties are selected for their improved traits, such as shorter growing times, better tolerance to salty soils, and higher yields. These plants mean farmers can grow more food to feed their families and to sell at the market.
Mymensingh, Bangladesh, October 2016. Photo credit: Nicole Jawerth/IAEA
Photos from the WTO Public Forum 2017 photo gallery may be reproduced provided attribution is given to the WTO and the WTO is informed. Photos: © WTO/Jay Louvion
Newcastle Disease (ND) vaccinators in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha state in India can today look towards bright prospects. The demand for their services has not only spawned new employment opportunities within their locales, but has also helped farmers protect their poultry flocks which would routinely be ravaged by Newcastle Disease outbreaks. In addition, the chance to become a poultry vaccinator and the income that comes along with it has empowered rural women, who can now use their hard earned money to invest in a better future for their families. Access to ND vaccination training in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha has been facilitated by the Bhodal Milk Producers Co-operative Society (BMPCS), a local NGO, and Heifer International in partnership with non-profit Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicines (GALVmed).
Thirty-seven-year-old, Govardhan Naik from Suryapada always wanted to set up his own business. A university graduate, he first heard of an opportunity to be an ND vaccinator through a friend. After a four day training course that covered vaccination and first aid, he ventured into the field as a trained vaccinator. This was about four years ago.
Govardhan gets his supplies of the ND vaccine from a market at a nearby town, Kosta. He has also procured a refrigerator to store the vaccines and a motorcycle to help him reach the farmers. He serves around 400 households vaccinating close to 5,000 chickens every month. Providing additional services such as deworming and first aid, Govardhan brings home a net income averaging INR 8,000 (US $ 122) monthly, which has positively contributed to the economic well-being of his family.
His work as a vaccinator has brought him recognition from the locals and several of his friends have now shown an interest in the occupation, with one of them now an active vaccinator. “I will continue as a vaccinator even after this current project ends,” he says, referring to the ongoing GALVmed sponsored initiative, much to the relief of numerous households who are grateful for his services and want him to continue.
The effects of the poultry vaccinators’ work on the local economy are visible. When Govardhan first began vaccinating, an average village consisting of about 20 households would have a maximum of 70-80 chickens. After the first year of vaccination, the number skyrocketed to over 1,000. Farmers’ earnings from poultry rearing increased.
“If you work as a vaccinator, you can have an independent enterprise,” he adds.
A vial of the ND vaccine costs between INR 75 (US $1.16) and INR 100 (US $1.55). One vial can vaccinate up to 100 chickens. A vaccinator can charge INR 2 (US $ 0.03) per vaccination. There is also additional income derived from services such as deworming and first aid. For example, Govardhan earns another INR 3,000 or (US $46) from these additional services.
The involvement of women as vaccinators has also contributed to their economic empowerment and participation in decision making within the family unit and their communities. Mamata Mandal, 42, from Tikayatpur village in Ras Gobindpur block, is one such vaccinator. Mamata first got to know about vaccination from Anup Behra, the team leader of Unnayana, a local NGO. Coming from a family that has traditionally reared poultry and having witnessed high mortality of the birds, she readily took up the occupation.
Mamata procures her supplies from a small shop, about 7 km away from her village. Carrying a cool box to store the vaccines, she serves around 250 households in a 3km radius and vaccinates around 5,000 birds. Her services get her an income of INR 3,000 (US $ 46) every month. “With this income I can school my children and buy agricultural inputs for the farm,” she says.
BMPCS started the programme with just 7,500 families in 2011. By December 2016, the NGO had already reached more than 175,000 households. Today BMPCS supports more than 320 vaccinators in the project area.
Heifer International’s project was launched in September 2015. By May 2017, they had served as many as 62,316 households. Today, Heifer International supports more than 218 active vaccinators in the field.
Newcastle disease vaccination has helped turn around the lives of many individuals in Mayurbhanj. The vaccinators stand at the frontlines in the fight against the deadly poultry disease and their services are benefitting many smallholder farmers. And with a stable demand for their services, the vaccinators can hope for a better future.
Written by: Deepak Bhadana and edited by Prasenjit De of Alternatives for GALVmed.
Photography by Prasenjit De.
A panel discussion held at UN Headquarters launches the publication The World Survey of the Role of Women in Development. The discussion featured Melissa Leach, Director of the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, UK, contributing author; Isha Ray, Professor of Energy and Resources at University of California, Berkeley, contributing author; Hilal Elver, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food; Zenebework Tadesse, independent researcher, Ethiopia; and was moderated by John Hendra, Assistant Secretary-General, Deputy Executive Director for Policy and Programme at UN Women.
The World Survey is a UN Secretary-General’s report mandated by the Second Committee of the General Assembly and comes out every five years. This year’s report focuses on Sustainable Development and Gender Equality, with chapters on the green economy and care, food security, population, and investments for gender responsive sustainable development. The report comes at an important moment, in the emergence of the post-2015 development framework and as the global community grapples with the challenges of sustainable development and the definition of the Sustainable Development Goals. Against this context, the 2014 World Survey on the Role of Women in Development asserts the central role of gender equality and charts the rationale and the actions necessary to achieve sustainable development. The Secretary-General’s report is available online, along with other documentation for the Second Committee at www.un.org/en/ga/second/69/documentslist.shtml. It has been translated into all six official UN languages.
Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown
In this year’s Salterbaxter MSLGROUP Directions Report, look at the most significant movements, models and philosophies in sustainable business.
Joined by thought-leaders at the very cutting edge of their adoption and popularisation, we explore the context in which the movements has sprung up, from consumer pressure to the UN’s sustainable development goals.
Read our report here: msl.gp/SBDirections
IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim has highlighted the Organization’s strong commitment to helping achieve the UN SustainableDevelopment Goals and explained how shipping and ports can play a significant role in helping to create conditions for increased employment, prosperity and stability through the promotion of maritime trade. Mr. Lim was speaking at a seminar as part of celebrations in Veracruz, Mexico (21-22 August) focused on IMO’s World Maritime Day theme for 2017 –"Connecting Ships, Ports and People".
The Secretary-General also discussed IMO measures to reduce harmful emissions from ships, the management of ballast water and goal-based standards. He was hosted by the Secretary of the Navy (SEMAR), Admiral Commander in Chief Vidal Francisco Soberón Sanz, who introduced the strategy and capabilities of the Mexican Maritime Authority.
The seminar was attended by the maritime authorities of Argentina, Chile, Panama and the United States, as well as representatives from the Tokyo Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control, World Maritime University (WMU) in Sweden, the IMO International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI) in Malta, and various national government ministries.
The celebrations also included an opportunity for participants to observe a search and rescue exercise and to visit Mexico’s Naval Academy.
A panel discussion held at UN Headquarters launches the publication The World Survey of the Role of Women in Development. The discussion featured Melissa Leach, Director of the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, UK, contributing author; Isha Ray, Professor of Energy and Resources at University of California, Berkeley, contributing author; Hilal Elver, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food; Zenebework Tadesse, independent researcher, Ethiopia; and was moderated by John Hendra, Assistant Secretary-General, Deputy Executive Director for Policy and Programme at UN Women.
The World Survey is a UN Secretary-General’s report mandated by the Second Committee of the General Assembly and comes out every five years. This year’s report focuses on Sustainable Development and Gender Equality, with chapters on the green economy and care, food security, population, and investments for gender responsive sustainable development. The report comes at an important moment, in the emergence of the post-2015 development framework and as the global community grapples with the challenges of sustainable development and the definition of the Sustainable Development Goals. Against this context, the 2014 World Survey on the Role of Women in Development asserts the central role of gender equality and charts the rationale and the actions necessary to achieve sustainable development. The Secretary-General’s report is available online, along with other documentation for the Second Committee at www.un.org/en/ga/second/69/documentslist.shtml. It has been translated into all six official UN languages.
Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown
A panel discussion held at UN Headquarters launches the publication The World Survey of the Role of Women in Development. The discussion featured Melissa Leach, Director of the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, UK, contributing author; Isha Ray, Professor of Energy and Resources at University of California, Berkeley, contributing author; Hilal Elver, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food; Zenebework Tadesse, independent researcher, Ethiopia; and was moderated by John Hendra, Assistant Secretary-General, Deputy Executive Director for Policy and Programme at UN Women.
The World Survey is a UN Secretary-General’s report mandated by the Second Committee of the General Assembly and comes out every five years. This year’s report focuses on Sustainable Development and Gender Equality, with chapters on the green economy and care, food security, population, and investments for gender responsive sustainable development. The report comes at an important moment, in the emergence of the post-2015 development framework and as the global community grapples with the challenges of sustainable development and the definition of the Sustainable Development Goals. Against this context, the 2014 World Survey on the Role of Women in Development asserts the central role of gender equality and charts the rationale and the actions necessary to achieve sustainable development. The Secretary-General’s report is available online, along with other documentation for the Second Committee at www.un.org/en/ga/second/69/documentslist.shtml. It has been translated into all six official UN languages.
Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown
Newcastle Disease (ND) vaccinators in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha state in India can today look towards bright prospects. The demand for their services has not only spawned new employment opportunities within their locales, but has also helped farmers protect their poultry flocks which would routinely be ravaged by Newcastle Disease outbreaks. In addition, the chance to become a poultry vaccinator and the income that comes along with it has empowered rural women, who can now use their hard earned money to invest in a better future for their families. Access to ND vaccination training in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha has been facilitated by the Bhodal Milk Producers Co-operative Society (BMPCS), a local NGO, and Heifer International in partnership with non-profit Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicines (GALVmed).
Thirty-seven-year-old, Govardhan Naik from Suryapada always wanted to set up his own business. A university graduate, he first heard of an opportunity to be an ND vaccinator through a friend. After a four day training course that covered vaccination and first aid, he ventured into the field as a trained vaccinator. This was about four years ago.
Govardhan gets his supplies of the ND vaccine from a market at a nearby town, Kosta. He has also procured a refrigerator to store the vaccines and a motorcycle to help him reach the farmers. He serves around 400 households vaccinating close to 5,000 chickens every month. Providing additional services such as deworming and first aid, Govardhan brings home a net income averaging INR 8,000 (US $ 122) monthly, which has positively contributed to the economic well-being of his family.
His work as a vaccinator has brought him recognition from the locals and several of his friends have now shown an interest in the occupation, with one of them now an active vaccinator. “I will continue as a vaccinator even after this current project ends,” he says, referring to the ongoing GALVmed sponsored initiative, much to the relief of numerous households who are grateful for his services and want him to continue.
The effects of the poultry vaccinators’ work on the local economy are visible. When Govardhan first began vaccinating, an average village consisting of about 20 households would have a maximum of 70-80 chickens. After the first year of vaccination, the number skyrocketed to over 1,000. Farmers’ earnings from poultry rearing increased.
“If you work as a vaccinator, you can have an independent enterprise,” he adds.
A vial of the ND vaccine costs between INR 75 (US $1.16) and INR 100 (US $1.55). One vial can vaccinate up to 100 chickens. A vaccinator can charge INR 2 (US $ 0.03) per vaccination. There is also additional income derived from services such as deworming and first aid. For example, Govardhan earns another INR 3,000 or (US $46) from these additional services.
The involvement of women as vaccinators has also contributed to their economic empowerment and participation in decision making within the family unit and their communities. Mamata Mandal, 42, from Tikayatpur village in Ras Gobindpur block, is one such vaccinator. Mamata first got to know about vaccination from Anup Behra, the team leader of Unnayana, a local NGO. Coming from a family that has traditionally reared poultry and having witnessed high mortality of the birds, she readily took up the occupation.
Mamata procures her supplies from a small shop, about 7 km away from her village. Carrying a cool box to store the vaccines, she serves around 250 households in a 3km radius and vaccinates around 5,000 birds. Her services get her an income of INR 3,000 (US $ 46) every month. “With this income I can school my children and buy agricultural inputs for the farm,” she says.
BMPCS started the programme with just 7,500 families in 2011. By December 2016, the NGO had already reached more than 175,000 households. Today BMPCS supports more than 320 vaccinators in the project area.
Heifer International’s project was launched in September 2015. By May 2017, they had served as many as 62,316 households. Today, Heifer International supports more than 218 active vaccinators in the field.
Newcastle disease vaccination has helped turn around the lives of many individuals in Mayurbhanj. The vaccinators stand at the frontlines in the fight against the deadly poultry disease and their services are benefitting many smallholder farmers. And with a stable demand for their services, the vaccinators can hope for a better future.
Written by: Deepak Bhadana and edited by Prasenjit De of Alternatives for GALVmed.
Photography by Prasenjit De.
From intensifying hurricanes to melting icecaps, climate change is causing unprecedented disruption around the globe.
And it is the largest single threat to sustainable development.
Our region, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, is no exception. In the last three decades alone, floods, droughts and melting glaciers have caused 50,000 fatalities, affected nearly 25 million people and resulted in over US$80 billion in damage.
In Belarus, we helped build the country’s biggest wind-farm. Wind energy could help Belarus become energy-independent by 2050.
Read more: bit.ly/3bZ3GMU
Photo: Sergei Gapon/ UNDP in Belarus
Newcastle Disease (ND) vaccinators in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha state in India can today look towards bright prospects. The demand for their services has not only spawned new employment opportunities within their locales, but has also helped farmers protect their poultry flocks which would routinely be ravaged by Newcastle Disease outbreaks. In addition, the chance to become a poultry vaccinator and the income that comes along with it has empowered rural women, who can now use their hard earned money to invest in a better future for their families. Access to ND vaccination training in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha has been facilitated by the Bhodal Milk Producers Co-operative Society (BMPCS), a local NGO, and Heifer International in partnership with non-profit Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicines (GALVmed).
Thirty-seven-year-old, Govardhan Naik from Suryapada always wanted to set up his own business. A university graduate, he first heard of an opportunity to be an ND vaccinator through a friend. After a four day training course that covered vaccination and first aid, he ventured into the field as a trained vaccinator. This was about four years ago.
Govardhan gets his supplies of the ND vaccine from a market at a nearby town, Kosta. He has also procured a refrigerator to store the vaccines and a motorcycle to help him reach the farmers. He serves around 400 households vaccinating close to 5,000 chickens every month. Providing additional services such as deworming and first aid, Govardhan brings home a net income averaging INR 8,000 (US $ 122) monthly, which has positively contributed to the economic well-being of his family.
His work as a vaccinator has brought him recognition from the locals and several of his friends have now shown an interest in the occupation, with one of them now an active vaccinator. “I will continue as a vaccinator even after this current project ends,” he says, referring to the ongoing GALVmed sponsored initiative, much to the relief of numerous households who are grateful for his services and want him to continue.
The effects of the poultry vaccinators’ work on the local economy are visible. When Govardhan first began vaccinating, an average village consisting of about 20 households would have a maximum of 70-80 chickens. After the first year of vaccination, the number skyrocketed to over 1,000. Farmers’ earnings from poultry rearing increased.
“If you work as a vaccinator, you can have an independent enterprise,” he adds.
A vial of the ND vaccine costs between INR 75 (US $1.16) and INR 100 (US $1.55). One vial can vaccinate up to 100 chickens. A vaccinator can charge INR 2 (US $ 0.03) per vaccination. There is also additional income derived from services such as deworming and first aid. For example, Govardhan earns another INR 3,000 or (US $46) from these additional services.
The involvement of women as vaccinators has also contributed to their economic empowerment and participation in decision making within the family unit and their communities. Mamata Mandal, 42, from Tikayatpur village in Ras Gobindpur block, is one such vaccinator. Mamata first got to know about vaccination from Anup Behra, the team leader of Unnayana, a local NGO. Coming from a family that has traditionally reared poultry and having witnessed high mortality of the birds, she readily took up the occupation.
Mamata procures her supplies from a small shop, about 7 km away from her village. Carrying a cool box to store the vaccines, she serves around 250 households in a 3km radius and vaccinates around 5,000 birds. Her services get her an income of INR 3,000 (US $ 46) every month. “With this income I can school my children and buy agricultural inputs for the farm,” she says.
BMPCS started the programme with just 7,500 families in 2011. By December 2016, the NGO had already reached more than 175,000 households. Today BMPCS supports more than 320 vaccinators in the project area.
Heifer International’s project was launched in September 2015. By May 2017, they had served as many as 62,316 households. Today, Heifer International supports more than 218 active vaccinators in the field.
Newcastle disease vaccination has helped turn around the lives of many individuals in Mayurbhanj. The vaccinators stand at the frontlines in the fight against the deadly poultry disease and their services are benefitting many smallholder farmers. And with a stable demand for their services, the vaccinators can hope for a better future.
Written by: Deepak Bhadana and edited by Prasenjit De of Alternatives for GALVmed.
Photography by Prasenjit De.