This
module The DA Group
The SDCN
This
module
DAWater
was created out of the need to highlight our experiences in water
management over the past twenty years. We originally intended to
incorporate this information into the SDCN Water Module
which we were developing along with three of our network partners
in Africa, Sweden and Central Europe. However, as we gathered
information for the joint project, we soon realized that much of
our work dealing with water issues fell outside the scope of the
SDCN Module. As our current website did not directly address our
experiences in water management, we decided to develop a separate
site for our organization that would illustrate some of the
lessons we have learned over the years working in rural and urban
India. Hence, DAWater was born.
The information in this module is based on a combination of
theory and practice. We felt that concentrating solely on the
problems surrounding water management in India would not be
interesting without showing some of the successful solutions we
have used in various regions around the country. Our work is
certainly not exhaustive, so we added a number of online resources
where more in-depth information about many of the issues discussed
on this site can be found.
The module was prepared over a period of six months by our
guest researcher Stephanie San Miguel. Many hours of researching
on the web, reading through books and manuals, speaking with DA
staff and conducting site visits were spent developing this
website. We would like to thank everyone involved in the
production of this module for their input and support.
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The
DA Group
When Development Alternatives (DA) was established in 1983,
there was no other organization of its kind in India. Even
today, almost twenty years later, few have chosen to tackle the
job of creating large-scale sustainable livelihoods in rural
India through the innovation and dissemination of appropriate
technologies.
Over the years, our scope has evolved beyond the creation of
rural technologies to include looking at sustainable devel
opment
in a more holistic fashion. From natural resource management to
human rights advocacy, our work has given us a deep
understanding of the issues facing India both in the present and
in the coming years. Consequently, our organization has also
grown to allow us to address these issues more thoroughly.
Currently the DA Group consists of three principal units and
two field operations units in Jhansi and Bangalore. In addition,
Technology and Action for Rural Advancement (TARA) and its
affiliates handle the corporate and marketing side of our
organization. The DA units are:
Environmental Systems Branch
(ESB)
: ESB looks after
environmental issues spanning from agricultural production in
India to global climate change. Our professionals work on
in-house projects and also as consultants on other endeavors
with non-governmental organizations or the private sector from
India and abroad.
Institutional Systems Branch
(ISB): ISB is responsible
for all communications related work at DA, both internal and
external. The library is the repository for all print
information on topics related to Sustainable Development. Video
production and media outreach is conducted through the
Communications Unit, who are also responsible for creating the
monthly DA Newsletter. Finally, maintenance and development of
our website and other online communications are the domain of
our DAINET team.
Technology Systems Branch
(TSB): The engineers,
technologists and architects in TSB work to innovate and develop
technologies that will make a difference in the lives of rural
Indians. Their work includes designing new mud brick kilns and
concrete roofing tiles, as well as developing new energy
solutions like biogas units and solar cells.
Additional information on these groups and their work can be
found on the Development
Alternatives website.
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The
SDCN
Development Alternatives (DA) has been a member of the
Sustainable Development Communications Network (SDCN) since it
was first established in 1998. The SDCN is a partnership
of 16 leading civil society organizations working worldwide in
the field of Sustainable Development. The goal of the SDCN is to
promote communication between
these organizations and to
disseminate knowledge about sustainable development issues to
government, academics, civil society and individuals in both
under-developed nations and countries in transition.
As a founding member, DA has a responsibility for ensuring
that the original vision of the SDCN is maintained through the
review of on-going and proposed projects undertaken by our
network partners. We also like to take a more active role by
initiating projects of our own and collaborating with other
members on joint modules. To date, we have produced on-line modules on
Sustainable Livelihoods,
Sustainable Cities and
Water with our partners in Africa, Latin America,
Europe, and Canada.
The SDCN’s main forum is the SD Gateway: an online
resource for information on Sustainable Development topics. The
SD Gateway features the work of the SDCN partners as well as
other organizations working in the field. Additional information
on the network and contact details can be found on the SD
Gateway website.
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