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| Cross border trade between neighbouring countries plays an important role in the lives of poor cross border traders of developing economies. To help Government of Rwanda and Trade Mark East Africa design interventions to promote cross border trade, Athena is providing an assessment of opportunities and constraints for cross-border traders and export–oriented SMEs between Rwanda and its neighbours. |
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| Rural sanitation in India’s most populated state |
| As unused rural toilets face public scrutiny, the discourse has shifted from building toilets as a panacea for all sanitation related woes to understanding sanitation behavior. Athena has been commissioned by the World Bank to research behavioural traits towards sanitation in Uttar Pradesh. Insights from the study will help the state craft an evidence based sanitation marketing and communication strategy. |
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| Planning and governing cities powered by data |
| For African cities on a rapid growth trajectory, there is immense pressure on local authorities to plan infrastructure, allocate resources, implement service deliveries and plan for future growth. Athena’s latest project with Development Gateway for The United Nations Office for Project Services involves developing data toolkits to help their authorities govern and plan better for the future.
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| Corporate Engagement with Start-Ups |
| While Indian start-ups find themselves in a favourable ecosystem in terms of financial support, there is a shortfall in non-financial support areas, leaving a role for Corporates to pitch in, by directly engaging with start-ups or through incubator models. Athena is working with GIZ and Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs to study and recommend successful models of engagement. |
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Insights |
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| If last year’s floods that brought Chennai to its knees were attributed to climate change, how would we classify the damages? Our associate Adarsh Mathew raises pertinent questions on measuring loss and damages caused by climate variability. |
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| To strengthen legislative action on sustainable development, mainstreaming climate change discourse and bringing legislators to the forefront of climate action is needed, writes our consultant Uttara Narayan. |
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| Despite the growing awareness of the role that women entrepreneurs play in catalysing economic and social development, lack of financing support continues to ail women owned businesses in India, notes our senior consultant Radhika Asrani. |
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Highlights |
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| It was a great honour for Athena to host Dr TCA Anant, Chief Statistician of India and Secretary, Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation. Our team engaged in a fruitful discussion on emerging trends in statistical systems and how to employ data for making better decisions. |
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Last month, we co-hosted a roundtable discussion in New Delhi on local low carbon initiatives, with our partners Climate Parliament. The event was inaugurated and chaired by Shri Rajeev Pratap Rudy, Honourable Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Parliamentary Affairs. The Honourable Speaker of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly, Dr Kodela Siva Prasad Rao made a presentation on 'Mainstreaming the climate change discourse and low carbon opportunities for the sunrise state of Andhra Pradesh.' The event was attended by key stakeholders of sustainability including donors and implementation agencies. |
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