Project Overview:
Change Alliance is supporting the Sundar Shakti Project in the Indian Sundarbans to address the interconnected challenges of climate vulnerability, energy poverty and fragile livelihoods. Building on a successful pilot in Mousuni Island, the initiative adopts an integrated, women-led approach combining decentralized renewable energy, climate-resilient livelihoods and ecosystem restoration to strengthen resilience among vulnerable households.
Project Objectives:
- Strengthen access to reliable and decentralized renewable energy through women-led solar microgrids.
- Promote climate-resilient livelihoods and women-led enterprise development.
- Restore degraded coastal ecosystems through mangrove plantation and nature-based solutions.
- Strengthen women’s leadership, community institutions and locally led climate resilience.
We support the project through an integrated approach combining:
- Women-led Decentralized Renewable Energy (DRE)
- Solar Microgrids and Productive Energy Use
- Climate-Resilient Livelihoods & Integrated Multi-Activity (IMA) Enterprises
- Mangrove Restoration & Ecosystem-Based Solutions
- Community Mobilization and SHG Capacity Building
- Gender-Responsive Climate Adaptation
Key Deliverables:
- Decentralized solar microgrids supporting household and livelihood needs
- Capacity building of women-led SHGs and Solar Sakhis for local management of energy systems
- Integrated Multi-Activity (IMA) livelihood units managed by women-led SHGs
- Mangrove restoration across degraded coastal areas, including nursery development and plantation
- Baseline, monitoring and evidence-generation systems to track changes in resilience, livelihoods, energy access and women’s empowerment
Projected Outcome:
The project is expected to strengthen climate resilience, clean energy access, livelihood security and women’s economic leadership among vulnerable coastal communities, while restoring ecosystems that provide natural protection against cyclones, flooding and other climate-related risks. The initiative is designed as a scalable model for inclusive and climate-resilient development in vulnerable coastal geographies.
