Reducing gender, economic, and environmental vulnerabilities in Andhra Pradesh: The case of the Timbaktu Collective

Keywords: Andhra Pradesh, best practices, economic vulnerabilities, environmental protection, ecosystem restoration, gender, India, participatory research, resilience, Timbaktu Collective
Abstract Type: Virtual Poster Abstract

Abstract

The purpose of this project is to determine best practices of the Timbaktu Collective in Andhra Pradesh, India, regarding strategies and outcomes in ecosystem restoration and decreasing gender and economic vulnerabilities. The methodology will use well-established participatory research approaches, developed in part in similar situations in India. The project is in two parts, the first completed in winter 2023, the second to be completed in winter 2024. Members of the Collective in the communities are assisting in providing information and helping design, conduct, and interpret the research and results. In the first phase, I have applied a participatory research approach to determine the focus of my project: the Collective’s work in financially supporting women’s small businesses, termed Swasakthi‚ specifically, “thrift-and-credit” based financial systems. Results include identification of countervailing pressures, individuals involved, types of diversified activities, unfulfilled objectives, and difficulties encountered. With a similar approach, I will subsequently identify and refine best practices gleaned in environmental protection and resilience, as well as in reducing gender and economic vulnerabilities, that might help sustain other women’s collaborative groups throughout Andhra Pradesh, as well as in continued research.