At the COP30 Summit in Belem, AJSA India was named a 2025 Local Adaptation Champion, honoring its pioneering work in empowering tribal women of western Odisha to lead climate action from the ground up. Over the past three decades, the grassroots nonprofit has transformed some of India’s most drought-prone and migration-affected villages into models of locally led resilience — where women drive electric carts, manage producer groups, and shape climate-smart farming.
In a detailed discussion with Nirmal Menon, Manoranjan Behera, Executive Director of AJSA India, reflects on how community-led innovation, gender equity, and convergence with government programs have turned the organization’s “from within” model into a national example of inclusive climate adaptation.
He discusses the journey behind the award-winning “Green Express,” the AGGA framework connecting adaptation, governance, gender, and accountability, and AJSA’s Vision 2028 — a roadmap to scale resilient, women-led transformation across rural India.
NM: Congratulations on AJSA’s selection as a Local Adaptation Champion. What does this award signify for your team and for the communities you serve in western Odisha?
MB: Thank you. This recognition as a Local Adaptation Champion is deeply meaningful to all of us at AJSA India, but even more so to the thousands of tribal women of western Odisha, whose courage and perseverance made this possible.
For over a decade, AJSA India has been working in the remote villages of Odisha, where climate change is not an abstract concept but a daily reality that amplifies existing gender inequalities. When we began, the women we met were among the most unheard voices — many facing domestic violence, poverty and a constant struggle just to feed their families. Yet even in those circumstances, they held an incredible strength and wisdom about their land, their seeds and their community.
This award is not just for an organization — it belongs to those women who refused to be defeated by droughts or discrimination. It is for the women who learned to drive electric carts, who now sit at the decision-making table, who have proven that resilience can grow from the toughest soil.
The journey of “Green Express” and our women-led producer groups was not built overnight. It took years of listening, learning and walking alongside the community — one village, one farmer, one season at a time. Today, when we see women leading climate-resilient farming, managing their own producer companies and driving their produce to markets in their own electric vehicles.
So, this award is a tribute to every woman who now leads her community toward a sustainable, more equal future. It tells the world that local leadership works and that true climate action begins when those at the margins become the center of change. Through “Green Express,” women not only gained control over transport — they gained control over their time, income and confidence. The simple act of driving an electric cart became a statement of freedom and leadership.”
NM: AJSA has worked for over three decades in drought-prone and migration-affected regions. What turning points helped transform this local movement into a nationally recognized model for climate resilience?
MB: Over the past three decades, AJSA’s journey in drought-prone and migration-affected regions has been one of constant evolution — from traditional relief and livelihood work to pioneering climate resilience. The real turning point came when technology began to intersect with local wisdom. We realized that innovation didn’t have to come “from outside” — it could grow “from within” the community.
By introducing simple yet transformative technologies — like climate-resilient irrigation systems, solar-powered micro-grids and most recently, the “Green Express” electric mobility model — we bridged the gap between innovation and inclusion. These interventions didn’t just solve practical problems like transportation or irrigation; they restored agency to people, especially women, who had long been excluded from decision-making spaces.
Another powerful shift was our success in converging government schemes with grassroots action. We worked hand-in-hand with departments of Horticulture, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, OREDA and Mission Shakti to translate policies into real, visible change on the ground. This convergence unlocked — showing that when government support meets community ownership, resilience becomes scalable and sustainable.
So, the transformation wasn’t the result of one big breakthrough — it was the outcome of years of trust-building, blending local knowledge with appropriate technology and aligning national priorities with village realities. That’s what made our model not just local, but nationally recognized.
NM: “Locally led adaptation” is a recurring theme at COP30. How does AJSA ensure that communities, particularly marginalized and indigenous groups, remain decision-makers rather than beneficiaries in this process?
MB: For AJSA India, “locally led adaptation” is the core — it’s the foundation of everything we do. From the very beginning, communities have not been “participants” in our work; they have been “the driving force” behind it. Every idea, every intervention and every solution has started with listening — sitting under a tree in a village meeting, understanding the lived experiences of women, farmers and indigenous families who face the direct impact of climate change.
Whether it’s designing a solar micro-grid, choosing climate-resilient crops, or introducing the “Green Express” electric carts, communities have led every step — from planning to implementation and now sustaining these changes themselves. We have built institutions, such as women-led producer groups and a producer company, so that decision-making power remains in their hands long after project timelines end.
Our role as AJSA is to “bridge” — to bring technical support, connect government schemes and amplify the voices of those often left unheard. This approach ensures that adaptation is not just happening “for” the community, but “by” the community — making the change deeply rooted, self-owned and sustainable.
NM: Gender inclusion is central to AJSA’s mission. How have women’s leadership and self-help groups contributed to strengthening local adaptation and community governance?
MB: At AJSA India, gender inclusion is the approach to any challenge, as this is a deeply social issue that must be addressed in every aspect of development and climate action. In western Odisha’s tribal villages, women were once seen only as field laborers — today, they are producers, decision-makers and climate leaders.
Through self-help groups and producer collectives, women have built powerful networks of solidarity and self-reliance. These platforms became the foundation for everything — from adopting climate-smart farming and managing irrigation systems to operating “Green Express” electric carts that connect farms to markets. By collectively managing these initiatives, women not only strengthened local adaptation but also reshaped how community governance works.
Their leadership has brought transparency, accountability and inclusion to local decision-making. They now sit in village meetings, negotiate with government departments and plan climate actions for their communities. What began as small self-help groups has grown into a movement where women are redefining what leadership looks like — not through power, but through participation and collective action.
NM: From promoting sustainable livelihoods to advancing WASH, education and health, AJSA’s approach is multi-dimensional. How do you align these efforts to build long-term climate and social resilience rather than isolated interventions?
MB: We have always believed that true resilience cannot be built in isolation. Climate change doesn’t impact livelihoods alone — it affects health, water, education and the very social fabric of communities. That’s why our approach has always been multi-dimensional, connecting every strand of community life into one strong fabric of resilience.
For example, when we promote sustainable livelihoods, we also ensure access to clean water and sanitation, because healthy families are more productive and adaptive. When we work on education, we focus on empowering girls and youth with the knowledge and confidence to lead local climate action. Each intervention — whether it’s in agriculture, WASH, or health — is designed to reinforce the others, creating a cycle of empowerment and sustainability.
We align all these efforts through community-led planning and strong convergence with government schemes. This ensures that every initiative — big or small — contributes to long-term social and climate resilience. Our goal has never been to deliver isolated projects, but to nurture ecosystems where communities can thrive, adapt and continue leading their own development journey.
NM: Your AGGA model combines adaptation, governance, gender and accountability. Could you explain how this integrated framework is shaping the way communities plan and act on climate priorities?
MB: The AGGA model is how AJSA turns climate challenges into opportunities for transformation. It’s more than a framework; it’s a way of working that ensures communities lead every stage of climate action with transparency, inclusion and purpose.
Adaptation means building practical, local solutions — from drought-resilient crops to solar carts— that help communities cope with changing climate realities.
Governance ensures these actions are embedded in village institutions, where decisions are made collectively and linked to local development plans.
Gender keeps women not just as beneficiaries, but as leaders shaping priorities, managing resources and driving innovation.
And Accountability ties it all together — ensuring transparency in resource use, participatory monitoring and shared responsibility among communities and local governments.
Through AGGA, planning is no longer done “for” the people but “by” the people. It helps communities articulate their own climate priorities, link them with government schemes and sustain results over time. This model has made women’s producer groups and village institutions more confident, organized and capable of driving long-term climate resilience from the ground up.
NM: AJSA’s “Vision 2028” outlines a path toward resilient and inclusive communities. What are the key goals you hope to achieve under this roadmap, and how do they align with India’s national adaptation agenda and the SDGs?
MB: At AJSA India, Vision 2028 focuses on translating national and global climate goals into practical, community-led action on the ground. We aim to strengthen the resilience of villages across Odisha and other parts we are working — environmentally, socially and economically — with women and youth at the forefront.
We plan to scale up climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy solutions while ensuring that local institutions — especially women-led producer groups, SHGs and “panchayats” — drive and sustain these changes. By aligning our field initiatives with India’s National Adaptation Framework and “panchayat”-level climate action plans, we ensure that community efforts contribute directly to national and global priorities.
Our approach is closely linked with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those on poverty reduction, gender equality, climate action and ecosystem restoration. Through Vision 2028, AJSA aims to demonstrate how integrated, locally led models can turn policies into practice — building stronger, self-reliant communities that form the foundation of India’s climate-resilient future.
NM: Partnerships have been a hallmark of AJSA’s work, be it collaborating with local “panchayats” and CBOs or engaging with national and international networks. How critical are these alliances in scaling up community-driven adaptation?
NM: We’ve learned that no single actor can build resilience alone — it takes collective strength. Our collaboration with “panchayats,” community-based organizations and women’s collectives ensures that adaptation begins at the grassroots, where people understand their realities best. These local partnerships make every intervention rooted, relevant and sustainable.
At the same time, alliances with national and international networks help us bring in technical expertise, innovative models and platforms for policy dialogue. Whether it’s working with government departments to converge schemes on the ground or sharing our lessons through platforms, each partnership multiplies the impact of community action.
These collaborations have turned small pilots into scalable models — like the “Green Express” and women-led producer groups — that can now be replicated in other districts. Partnerships, for us, are not just about resources; they are about shared vision and mutual learning. They help bridge the gap between local action and national policy — ensuring that the voices of tribal women farmers can influence how India shapes its climate future.
NM: Climate finance and loss-and-damage mechanisms are under renewed focus at COP30. What structural or policy changes would help organizations like AJSA access these funds more equitably and effectively?
MB: Accessing climate finance at the grassroots remains one of the biggest challenges for community-based organizations like AJSA. While global commitments on loss and damage and adaptation finance are growing, the real test is ensuring these funds actually reach the villages that face climate impacts every day.
We believe the most meaningful change will come when climate finance is decentralized — allowing local governments, community institutions, and women’s collectives to directly access and manage resources. Funds should be simplified, flexible and designed to support “locally led adaptation” rather than top-down projects.
Policies must also recognize the role of civil society organizations as trusted intermediaries — those who can translate global frameworks into real action on the ground. A dedicated “Local Climate Adaptation Window” within national and state budgets, accessible through simplified procedures, could make a tremendous difference.
Finally, integrating loss-and-damage mechanisms with India’s social protection and rural development systems would ensure faster recovery for vulnerable households after climate shocks. Equitable climate finance is not just about money — it’s about trust, transparency and ensuring that those who protect our planet’s frontlines have the means to continue doing so.
NM: Looking beyond COP30, how does AJSA plan to sustain and expand its model for locally led adaptation? Are there plans to replicate it in other states or integrate technology and data for wider impact?
MB: Looking beyond COP30, AJSA’s vision is to deepen and expand our locally led adaptation model so that it becomes a living example of how resilience can grow from the ground up. Sustainability for us means “ownership at the community level” — ensuring that local producer groups, women’s cooperatives and “panchayats” continue leading action long after project cycles end.
We’re now planning to replicate the “Green Express” and climate-resilient farming models in other climate-vulnerable states, adapting them to local contexts. Technology will play a major role in this next phase — from using digital dashboards to map village-level climate risks, to integrating mobile-based market and weather information systems for farmers.
Our goal is to blend “data and dignity”: using technology to strengthen local decision-making, not replace it. Through continued partnerships with governments, research institutions and climate networks, we aim to build an ecosystem where innovation, inclusion and indigenous wisdom move together.
Ultimately, sustaining this model is about proving that when adaptation is led by communities — especially women — it not only endures, it multiplies.
