In a compelling and transformative event, Caritas India, in collaboration with UNICEF, the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), and SPHERE India, successfully hosted a two-day National Conference at the United Service Institution of India, New Delhi, on November 29th and 30th, 2023. This gathering marked the culmination of Caritas India’s We4Resilience campaign, a global program initiative aimed at fortifying disaster resilience and nutrition at a macro level.

Themed ‘Harmonized Action for Building Resilience,’ the conference addressed the pressing need for resilient building strategies in disaster risk reduction and nutrition and food systems. Recognizing the growing impact of hydro-meteorological hazards, the discussions delved into the escalation of these hazards due to climate change, affecting food security, infrastructure, and human well-being. According to the World Risk Report 2022, India ranks among the top three countries with the highest disaster risk, presenting both a challenge and an opportunity for transformative systems change.

Caritas India’s We4Resilience campaign, envisioned as an instrument to unite local communities, emerged as a robust platform. It brought together multi-stakeholders, including government representatives, to amplify the voices of local communities and ensure their active inclusion in the discourse.

The conference witnessed the convergence of officials from various government departments and organizations, including the National Institute of Disaster Management, the National Institute of Rural Development, the State Food Commission, the University of Patna, SPHERE India, and Action Against Hunger CROPC. Community leaders and selected staff from diverse cluster programs of Caritas India also actively participated.

Fr. Jolly Puthenppura, extending a warm welcome to delegates and participants, expressed pride in the We4Resilience conference evolving into a national-level networking fest. Father Jolly highlighted how the campaign has become a dynamic platform fostering multidisciplinary dialogues among stakeholders. It actively contributes to formulating effective strategies for disaster risk reduction, enhanced nutrition and food security, and innovative approaches to integrate social protection measures at the grassroots level.

Keynote speaker Mr. Dibyendu Sarkar, IAS (Retd), GoWB, comprehensively outlined the four pillars of the Global Program – Disaster Risk Reduction, Nutrition Food Security, Social Inclusion, and Civil Society Learnings. He presented a framework for Harmonized Action aligned with the 17 SDGs, emphasizing India’s climate change challenges and focusing on prevention, preparation, and mitigation. The speech included localized solutions for climate change adaptation, migration management, social protection, integrated farming systems, and community-based nutrition management.

Ms. Nandini Sarawati, WBCS (Executive), Secretary WB Right to Public Services Commission, shared her experiences from the Sundarbans during the inaugural address. She underscored the need for collaborative efforts between government and NGOs to enhance resilience, emphasizing the NGOs’ role as facilitators working alongside communities.

Mr. Abanikanta Sahoo, Chairperson (Odisha State Food Commission), Govt. of Odisha, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to share insights, addressing global concerns of malnutrition and highlighting Odisha’s efforts under the National Food Security Act.

The We4Resilence journey of Global Program was shared by Dr. Jaison Varghese, the Senior Program Lead of Global Program. He explained the campaign process and methodology and its impact on the local communities to be adaptive, sustainable and co-learned.

The conference comprised panel discussions and open sessions on themes connected to resilient building in Disaster Risk Reduction, Nutrition, Food Security, and Civil Society Engagement. It underscored the key strategy of localizing international and national agendas, encouraging traditional wisdom, and promoting risk transfer tools.

As Caritas India moves forward, the We4Resilience campaign will continue focusing on health and nutrition systems building, the importance of native seeds and natural farming, and improving soil quality in collaboration with communities. Wetlands conservation will be a major focus to reduce disaster impact and protect biodiversity in the changing scenario of climate change.

Shri Rajendra Ratnoo, IAS, Director of the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, provided concluding remarks, emphasizing the need to build the capacity of resilient actors across India and utilize available studies and technical resources.

The two-day conference successfully created an interface between community representatives, policymakers, and humanitarian actors, fostering coherence and integrating national-level strategies and solutions under the guidance of technical experts and development practitioners. The team from various programs of Caritas India showcased best practices and models through exhibition halls, highlighting the tangible impact of their initiatives.