1. Localization: Introductory thoughts and Justifications

Localization is a dynamic process aimed at empowering local communities by equipping them with the knowledge, technical skills, and a strategic mindset to harness local resources collectively. This approach serves a dual purpose: preventing and mitigating disasters while enabling proactive engagement in disaster response efforts. Through localization, communities shift from passive recipients of relief and support to active agents of societal change, ultimately bolstering their capacity to withstand and rebound from disasters. However, despite substantial investments and institutional initiatives in areas prone to both rapid and slow-onset disaster impacts, communities continue to endure recurrent challenges. This raises questions about the efficacy of institutional efforts, particularly at the local level. Our field-based experiences suggest that the localization process has often been misunderstood, poorly institutionalized and resulting in the failure to transform local communities into catalysts for change within their own societies. Furthermore, externally-driven institutional endeavors, such as those led by non-governmental organizations and international experts, have frequently overlooked the imperative of fostering genuine community participation in disaster risk reduction. Consequently, numerous interventions spanning areas like water, sanitation, hygiene, income generation, health, and education have faltered. Once project timelines conclude, resource mobilization ceases that result in these interventions abandoned and non-operational. The consequence of these poorly-perceived and inadequately executed external initiatives has been the emergence of new local elites who amass wealth and influence, while the broader populace remains largely unchanged. This harsh reality underscores the critical need for localization, where ordinary people are provided opportunities to generate locally-grounded solutions, taking social acceptance and ownership within their communities.

Figure 1: Coastal embankments are susceptible to cyclonic impacts, strong currents, water surges and Sea Level Rise. Sometimes the collective actions of local community members contribute in protecting the embankments from disaster impacts.

In this context, Climate Action Resource Network-Asia Pacific (CARN-AP) and its partner organizations aim to promote the localization process to ensure sustainable benefits for local communities in an era defined by emerging challenges in the Anthropocene. Many of these issues, such as local/national/transboundary environmental pollution/degradation, disaster impacts, energy shortages, climate change, and the management of fluvial systems across vast watersheds, transcend to local areas that are, in many cases, not originated in local areas. In such conditions, local communities have a pivotal role to play in addressing these challenges both immediately and over the long term. We firmly believe that addressing global challenges necessitates tackling local issues first, with active involvement from local communities, resulting in increased resilience. While regional, national, and international experts and resources can play supportive roles, the heart of these efforts must always remain rooted in the actions and agency of local people, communities, and organisations.

2. Objective of the initiative:

to promote the localization process to ensure sustainable benefits for local communities, mainly the younger generation in an era defined by emerging challenges in the Anthropocene.

3. Specific Objectives:

SO1. There will be at least 40 percent girls’/ women as participants (considering the accommodation for the women participants as in Madarihat 12 can be easily accommodated).

SO2. The organisers will give priorities to cover all the districts of West Bengal, Tripura, Bengali speaking Population of Assam and Bangladesh.

SO3. The participants will get an opportunity to understand the issues, like a) Humanitarian Charter, Protection Principles and Core Humanitarian Standards; b) Tiers of Government Response Mechanisms; c) Shelter and Settlement Management; d) Family Level Disaster Preparedness; e) Child Protection in Emergency and the need to create Child Friendly Space; f) Roles of Different Task Forces in DRR; g) Water, Sanitation & Hygiene Promotion; h) Livelihood Development and income augmentation; i) Biodiversity Conservation & Ecosystem Services in sustainable DRR; j) Psychosocial Counselling; k) Climate Smart Solutions in the Resilience Building Process; l) Data & Innovation in DRR; their relevance in the Disaster Risk Reduction activities and their roles to promote and ensure that the development initiatives at their localities should be sustainable.

SO4. To understand their role as community members and importance of their participation at different levels, right from the decision making to the execution of the plans and assessment activities.

SO5. To understand the gaps in the governance systems at different tangible versions,

SO6. To understand the differences between governance and government,

SO7. To understand how they pursue the importance of the communities to participate at all levels (lobbying & advocacy).

SO8. To understand and identify the importance of Joint Rapid Needs Assessments (JRNA) and the importance of participating in such assessments with other government and non-government stakeholders after a disaster.

SO9. To understand the Gender equality and equity issue and the importance to make the development process inclusive and sustainable.

SO10. To understand the role of the communities in developing the Gram Panchayat Level Development Plans in a participatory process.

SO11. To understand the importance of innovations and identify the innovations and innovative approaches (this may include the traditional coping strategies).

SO12. To understand the importance and true meaning of Localization to achieve the SDG Goals and their roles in it.

SO13. To develop knowledge on the use of KOBO Tool for Socio Economic Survey.

SO14. To develop knowledge on GIS and using the smartphone how to prepare Geo-spatial databases to mitigate disasters as well as how the database would help them in the resilience building process.

SO15. To develop knowledge and understanding on First Aid including CPRs and Rescue through hand holding training programs.

4. The Activity Components

Promoting localization depends on several key factors. First and foremost, it involves the use of the local language (largely spoken in the area) to effectively engage with communities, ensuring they can comprehend both theoretical and technical aspects of their work. This enables them to actively participate, exercise agency, and contribute to the learning process. Now, let’s delve into the specific components of the localization process.

Table 1: The activity components of the localization process.

Steps Agencies

Step 1: Organising webinar sessions in the Regional Language – Bangla using Zoom in collaboration with Sphere India, CANSA, Rural Development Forum of the Institution of Engineers (India), State Inter-Agency Group-West Bengal, PRISM & CARN-AP (Continuing) CARN-AP, CANSA, Sphere India, State IAG-WB, RDF of the Institution of Engineers (India), PRISM and Science Connect (Bangladesh)

Step 2: Develop audio-visual learning materials like Podcasts (Proposed) SHAW, CARN-AP, PRISM and Science Connect (Bangladesh)

Step 3: Organise a 7-day residential training cum workshop for the village youth planning to take/ interested in developing careers in DRR using the webinar resource materials and Podcasts. The participants will conduct/ participate in a field trip and use the tools on which they received training.

The last-hour session will go online (like a webinar) so that people who are not present in the residential training may get engaged in the training process and experience the reflections of the participants. (Proposed) CARN-AP, CANSA, Sphere India, State IAG-WB, RDF of the Institution of Engineers (India), PRISM and Science Connect (Bangladesh).

5. Processes of Step 3 (Proposed)

A) Participants will be facilitated to divide into 4 groups and the group members will select their leaders for all actions.

B) They will be encouraged to watch the recordings of the webinars, organised with Sphere India Academy as refreshers (3 recordings per day). Timeline – 1 hour for each recording and for 3 it will be 3 hours a day.

C) They will raise questions and interact with the experts for probable answers (if the experts of the particular session fail to be physically present, then the questions will be shared with them for answers through online support systems). Timeline – 45 mins per session = 2:15 hrs (in 45 mins it will be 15 mins + interactions 30 mins),

D) The participants will be facilitated to learn GPS & Kobo Tool application by experts. Timeline – 2:45 hrs (this means in 4 days we can cover 3 themes x 4 = 12 themes and GPS and Kobo Tool use we get 11 hrs – for both theory and practice).

E) The participants will be facilitated to develop the skills of First Aider and Rescuer.
F) Each group member will nominate their Quiz Masters and Scorers (4+4) for organising quiz contests based on their learning each day.

G) Each team will also develop questions based on the day’s sessions.

H) Quiz contests will be organised on the first 4 days instead of debriefing/ recap sessions and the participants will decide the quiz masters/ mistresses, scorers, etc. and questions should be prepared by them. The program will be facilitated by the experts present..
I) Develop the proceedings of the day’s sessions (what they have learnt/ how/ gaps/ improvement of knowledge level etc.
J) On the 5th day the entire team will go for an exposure visit. They will be divided into theme based teams in different localities. Theme based teams will interact with the villagers for gap analysis and to learn more, get answers of their questions, take photographs and record their critical observations. They will apply the Kobo tools and GPS technologies.

K) The participants will write knowledge products on the lessons learned and experiences gathered in the residential training and field works.

L) On the 6th day based on the facts and their own observations each team would write reports, which should be of 3,000 words based on the templates prepared by themselves on Introduction, Methodology, Result & Analysis and Recommendations.

M) Finally, reports of the 4 teams will be compiled

N) Team members (of the 4 teams) will nominate their representatives to make a presentation.

O) On day 7 the participants will decorate, make plans on how to disseminate, make a presentation before the invited audiences and finally certificate distributions.
P) We will approach all collaborators to remain present during certificate distribution.

Q) A person will be assigned to write in detail the experiences and processes using a pre-defined paper framework so that enough materials are amassed which can be converted into a paper to be published in the peer reviewed academic journal.

R) The total process will be captured in audio-visual systems both in Bangla and English so that a short documentary film can be made for showing the usefulness and step-by-step process of localization to the people living in other parts of local areas of India and Asia-Pacific regions for further sensitization/promotion.

S) Experts on the issues (keep an eye to invite people worked as experts for 12 sessions, available in West Bengal) Surajit Neogi (1), Subhashis Debnath (2), Arkadeep Roy (3), Ashis Kumar Mondal (4), Debojyoti Chakraborty (5), Dr Koyeli Chakraborty Dutta (6), Susmita Guha (7), Jayanta Chakraborty (8), Dr Raktima Mukhopadhyay (9), Wash specialist (10), Abul Hassan (11), Nita Dhar (12).

We will hire Resource Persons on payment 1. Documentation – Hiru Mian, 2. Administrative works, 3. Kobo and GIS – Jubaer.

In Step 3 we will arrange interactions of the participants with the Guest Speakers of the Webinars as follows:

1a) Ms Debadrita Sengupta, Manager, Advocacy (East Hub), Save the Children (Bal Raksha Bharat) and 1b) Mr Surojit Neogi, Regional Manager, Kolata Regional Office, ActionAid Association;

2a) Mr Subhasish Debnath, CEO, SPADE;

3a) Mr Arkadip Roy, Emergency Shelter Specialist

4a) Prof (Dr) Sk Tawhidul Islam, Director, IRS, Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh; Co-Chairperson & Co-Convenor, CARN-AP and 4b) Mr Ashis Kumar Mondal, Secretary Cannig Swanirvar and Convenor IAG South 24 Pargans, WB

5a) Mr Ashis Kumar Roy, Asst Manager (Projrcts), Save the Chilren (Bal Raksha Bharat), 5b) Mr Debojyoti Chakraborty, Coordinator, State IAG-WB.

6a) Dr Koyeli Chakraborty Dutta, (Psychologist) District Program Manager, National Health Mission, CMOH Office, North 24 Parganas, WB and 6b) Dr Ketaki Das, Public Health Research Officer, WBVHA.

7a) Joachim Campoo, Research Coordinator, Spade, Director cum Secretary, Laity Commission (Diocese of Baruipur), Sundarban, West Bengal and 7b) Ms Susmita Guha, Sr Manager, West Bengal Operation Lead, Save the Children (Bal Raksha Bharat)

8a) Mr Jayanta Chakraborty, SDDMO, Diamondharbour

9a) Dr Raktima Mukhopadhaya, Executive Director, IBRAD and 9b) Dr Ashok Kanti Sanyal, Ex Chairman, Biodiversity Board, Govt of West Bengal.

10) Dr Aniruddha Dey, Chairperson, PRISM and Chairperson & Convenor, CARN-AP

11a) Dr Abul Hassan, Principal Scientist, Central Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore and b) Mr Tapas Ranjan Chakraborty

12) Nita Dhar, Senior Program Coordinator, PRISM and Director, Barnali Pello Jukki Foundation

Step 4: National conference on the localization process in the Anthropocene era. (Proposed)

6. Concluding Remarks: The Implications Localization and Global Imperatives

The process of localization emerges as an indispensable strategy for building resilient communities, with a particular focus on empowering youth as active agents of change. The step-by-step localization process begins by providing local communities with the tools and understanding to take ownership of disaster risk reduction, participatory planning, preparedness and implementation of efforts. It enables them to craft locally grounded solutions that resonate with their unique needs and cultures, fostering social acceptance and a sense of ownership. Moreover, localization addresses a persistent issue: the ineffectiveness of externally-driven initiatives in disaster-prone areas. By actively involving local communities, these initiatives gain authenticity and sustainability, reducing the likelihood of interventions becoming unattended and non-functional once external support concludes. Furthermore, in an era marked by global challenges like environmental pollution, climate change, energy crises, and pandemics, localization proves its worth by recognizing that these issues often transcend local origins. However, local communities remain central in coping with these challenges, both in the short and long term.

Ultimately, the importance of localization lies in its potential to address global challenges through the empowerment of local communities. By embracing localization, communities can take the reins of their own destinies, making resilience a shared endeavour. While regional, national, and international expertise and resources play crucial roles, the heart of the matter always remains the actions, agency, and engagement of local people, communities, and organisations. In this symbiotic relationship, localization stands as a beacon, guiding the way toward a more resilient and interconnected world.

In this context, Climate Action Resource Network-Asia Pacific (CARN-AP) and its partner organizations aim to promote the localization process to ensure sustainable benefits for local communities in an era defined by emerging challenges in the Anthropocene. Many of these issues, such as local/national/transboundary environmental pollution/degradation, disaster impacts, energy shortages, climate change, and the management of fluvial systems across vast watersheds, transcend to local areas that are, in many cases, not originated in local areas. In such conditions, local communities have a pivotal role to play in addressing these challenges both immediately and over the long term. We firmly believe that addressing global challenges necessitates tackling local issues first, with active involvement from local communities, resulting in increased resilience. While regional, national, and international experts and resources can play supportive roles, the heart of these efforts must always remain rooted in the actions and agency of local people, communities, and organisations.

2. Objective of the initiative:

to promote the localization process to ensure sustainable benefits for local communities, mainly the younger generation in an era defined by emerging challenges in the Anthropocene.

3. Specific Objectives:

SO1. There will be at least 40 percent girls’/ women as participants (considering the accommodation for the women participants as in Madarihat 12 can be easily accommodated).

SO2. The organisers will give priorities to cover all the districts of West Bengal, Tripura, Bengali speaking Population of Assam and Bangladesh.

SO3. The participants will get an opportunity to understand the issues, like a) Humanitarian Charter, Protection Principles and Core Humanitarian Standards; b) Tiers of Government Response Mechanisms; c) Shelter and Settlement Management; d) Family Level Disaster Preparedness; e) Child Protection in Emergency and the need to create Child Friendly Space; f) Roles of Different Task Forces in DRR; g) Water, Sanitation & Hygiene Promotion; h) Livelihood Development and income augmentation; i) Biodiversity Conservation & Ecosystem Services in sustainable DRR; j) Psychosocial Counselling; k) Climate Smart Solutions in the Resilience Building Process; l) Data & Innovation in DRR; their relevance in the Disaster Risk Reduction activities and their roles to promote and ensure that the development initiatives at their localities should be sustainable.

SO4. To understand their role as community members and importance of their participation at different levels, right from the decision making to the execution of the plans and assessment activities.

SO5. To understand the gaps in the governance systems at different tangible versions,

SO6. To understand the differences between governance and government,

SO7. To understand how they pursue the importance of the communities to participate at all levels (lobbying & advocacy).

SO8. To understand and identify the importance of Joint Rapid Needs Assessments (JRNA) and the importance of participating in such assessments with other government and non-government stakeholders after a disaster.

SO9. To understand the Gender equality and equity issue and the importance to make the development process inclusive and sustainable.

SO10. To understand the role of the communities in developing the Gram Panchayat Level Development Plans in a participatory process.

SO11. To understand the importance of innovations and identify the innovations and innovative approaches (this may include the traditional coping strategies).

SO12. To understand the importance and true meaning of Localization to achieve the SDG Goals and their roles in it.

SO13. To develop knowledge on the use of KOBO Tool for Socio Economic Survey.

SO14. To develop knowledge on GIS and using the smartphone how to prepare Geo-spatial databases to mitigate disasters as well as how the database would help them in the resilience building process.

SO15. To develop knowledge and understanding on First Aid including CPRs and Rescue through hand holding training programs.

4. The Activity Components

Promoting localization depends on several key factors. First and foremost, it involves the use of the local language (largely spoken in the area) to effectively engage with communities, ensuring they can comprehend both theoretical and technical aspects of their work. This enables them to actively participate, exercise agency, and contribute to the learning process. Now, let’s delve into the specific components of the localization process.

Table 1: The activity components of the localization process.

5. Processes of Step 3 (Proposed)

A) Participants will be facilitated to divide into 4 groups and the group members will select their leaders for all actions.

B) They will be encouraged to watch the recordings of the webinars, organised with Sphere India Academy as refreshers (3 recordings per day). Timeline – 1 hour for each recording and for 3 it will be 3 hours a day.

C) They will raise questions and interact with the experts for probable answers (if the experts of the particular session fail to be physically present, then the questions will be shared with them for answers through online support systems). Timeline – 45 mins per session = 2:15 hrs (in 45 mins it will be 15 mins + interactions 30 mins),

D) The participants will be facilitated to learn GPS & Kobo Tool application by experts. Timeline – 2:45 hrs (this means in 4 days we can cover 3 themes x 4 = 12 themes and GPS and Kobo Tool use we get 11 hrs – for both theory and practice).

E) The participants will be facilitated to develop the skills of First Aider and Rescuer.
F) Each group member will nominate their Quiz Masters and Scorers (4+4) for organising quiz contests based on their learning each day.

G) Each team will also develop questions based on the day’s sessions.

H) Quiz contests will be organised on the first 4 days instead of debriefing/ recap sessions and the participants will decide the quiz masters/ mistresses, scorers, etc. and questions should be prepared by them. The program will be facilitated by the experts present..
I) Develop the proceedings of the day’s sessions (what they have learnt/ how/ gaps/ improvement of knowledge level etc.
J) On the 5th day the entire team will go for an exposure visit. They will be divided into theme based teams in different localities. Theme based teams will interact with the villagers for gap analysis and to learn more, get answers of their questions, take photographs and record their critical observations. They will apply the Kobo tools and GPS technologies.

K) The participants will write knowledge products on the lessons learned and experiences gathered in the residential training and field works.

L) On the 6th day based on the facts and their own observations each team would write reports, which should be of 3,000 words based on the templates prepared by themselves on Introduction, Methodology, Result & Analysis and Recommendations.

M) Finally, reports of the 4 teams will be compiled

N) Team members (of the 4 teams) will nominate their representatives to make a presentation.

O) On day 7 the participants will decorate, make plans on how to disseminate, make a presentation before the invited audiences and finally certificate distributions.
P) We will approach all collaborators to remain present during certificate distribution.

Q) A person will be assigned to write in detail the experiences and processes using a pre-defined paper framework so that enough materials are amassed which can be converted into a paper to be published in the peer reviewed academic journal.

R) The total process will be captured in audio-visual systems both in Bangla and English so that a short documentary film can be made for showing the usefulness and step-by-step process of localization to the people living in other parts of local areas of India and Asia-Pacific regions for further sensitization/promotion.

S) Experts on the issues (keep an eye to invite people worked as experts for 12 sessions, available in West Bengal) Surajit Neogi (1), Subhashis Debnath (2), Arkadeep Roy (3), Ashis Kumar Mondal (4), Debojyoti Chakraborty (5), Dr Koyeli Chakraborty Dutta (6), Susmita Guha (7), Jayanta Chakraborty (8), Dr Raktima Mukhopadhyay (9), Wash specialist (10), Abul Hassan (11), Nita Dhar (12).

We will hire Resource Persons on payment 1. Documentation – Hiru Mian, 2. Administrative works, 3. Kobo and GIS – Jubaer.

In Step 3 we will arrange interactions of the participants with the Guest Speakers of the Webinars as follows:

1a) Ms Debadrita Sengupta, Manager, Advocacy (East Hub), Save the Children (Bal Raksha Bharat) and 1b) Mr Surojit Neogi, Regional Manager, Kolata Regional Office, ActionAid Association;

2a) Mr Subhasish Debnath, CEO, SPADE;

3a) Mr Arkadip Roy, Emergency Shelter Specialist

4a) Prof (Dr) Sk Tawhidul Islam, Director, IRS, Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh; Co-Chairperson & Co-Convenor, CARN-AP and 4b) Mr Ashis Kumar Mondal, Secretary Cannig Swanirvar and Convenor IAG South 24 Pargans, WB

5a) Mr Ashis Kumar Roy, Asst Manager (Projrcts), Save the Chilren (Bal Raksha Bharat), 5b) Mr Debojyoti Chakraborty, Coordinator, State IAG-WB.

6a) Dr Koyeli Chakraborty Dutta, (Psychologist) District Program Manager, National Health Mission, CMOH Office, North 24 Parganas, WB and 6b) Dr Ketaki Das, Public Health Research Officer, WBVHA.

7a) Joachim Campoo, Research Coordinator, Spade, Director cum Secretary, Laity Commission (Diocese of Baruipur), Sundarban, West Bengal and 7b) Ms Susmita Guha, Sr Manager, West Bengal Operation Lead, Save the Children (Bal Raksha Bharat)

8a) Mr Jayanta Chakraborty, SDDMO, Diamondharbour

9a) Dr Raktima Mukhopadhaya, Executive Director, IBRAD and 9b) Dr Ashok Kanti Sanyal, Ex Chairman, Biodiversity Board, Govt of West Bengal.

10) Dr Aniruddha Dey, Chairperson, PRISM and Chairperson & Convenor, CARN-AP

11a) Dr Abul Hassan, Principal Scientist, Central Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore and b) Mr Tapas Ranjan Chakraborty

12) Nita Dhar, Senior Program Coordinator, PRISM and Director, Barnali Pello Jukki Foundation

Step 4: National conference on the localization process in the Anthropocene era. (Proposed)

6. Concluding Remarks: The Implications Localization and Global Imperatives

The process of localization emerges as an indispensable strategy for building resilient communities, with a particular focus on empowering youth as active agents of change. The step-by-step localization process begins by providing local communities with the tools and understanding to take ownership of disaster risk reduction, participatory planning, preparedness and implementation of efforts. It enables them to craft locally grounded solutions that resonate with their unique needs and cultures, fostering social acceptance and a sense of ownership. Moreover, localization addresses a persistent issue: the ineffectiveness of externally-driven initiatives in disaster-prone areas. By actively involving local communities, these initiatives gain authenticity and sustainability, reducing the likelihood of interventions becoming unattended and non-functional once external support concludes. Furthermore, in an era marked by global challenges like environmental pollution, climate change, energy crises, and pandemics, localization proves its worth by recognizing that these issues often transcend local origins. However, local communities remain central in coping with these challenges, both in the short and long term.

Ultimately, the importance of localization lies in its potential to address global challenges through the empowerment of local communities. By embracing localization, communities can take the reins of their own destinies, making resilience a shared endeavour. While regional, national, and international expertise and resources play crucial roles, the heart of the matter always remains the actions, agency, and engagement of local people, communities, and organisations. In this symbiotic relationship, localization stands as a beacon, guiding the way toward a more resilient and interconnected world.