Leading Country Climate NGOs: Foundation for Development Initiatives (FDI): Indian Non-Governmental Organization

Foundation for Development Initiatives (FDI) (https://www.developmentinitiatives.org/) is a national non-governmental organization in India focused on climate resilience interventions and activities. Over time, the organization has partnered with reputable organizations such as UNICEF, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, NatWest Group (formerly Royal Bank of Scotland), Swedish Institute, Sweden, Exide Industries, PI Industries, Times of India, DLF, and Deloitte, among others.

Broad areas of interventions that FDI participates in primarily include climate resilience, air pollution, health, climate education, water, sanitation, and precision agriculture, which impact communities in their adaptation and mitigation efforts across subregions and federal levels.

FDI, set up in 2000 by a group of like-minded professionals, has solidified and evolved into a fast-growing pan-India non-profit entity with a diverse range of local, regional, and international partners since its humble beginning. The organization also has signed partnership agreements with leading non-profits in Africa and the West to work on common areas and issues of interest and concern for reducing carbon emissions through climate programs and projects.

Steered by Vijay Singh, a seasoned development professional, the organization’s robust governance is enabled by eight senior professionals drawn from various walks of life, including the private sector, veteran status, media, and public policy, with 38 percent of women representation in its board.

Funding of FDI is routed through both national and international partners supporting the reduction of CO2 and its harmful impact on humans and the environment through effective programs and projects that focus on sustainable agriculture, drip irrigation, direct seeding of rice, water neutrality and precision irrigation techniques, leveraging technology and innovation aggregating bottom-up and top-down approaches. It also addresses and advances India’s agenda of climate change and green transition, aiding the fulfillment of national climate pledges aimed at reducing emissions by 50% with an installed renewable energy capacity of 500 GW by 2030, achieving a net neutrality goal by 2070 by India.

Over the years, the organization has steadily become financially self-sustaining, with its annual funding currently pegged at INR 3.25 Crore (circa USD 400,000) and growing. It has since been working strategically to double its projected funding by diversifying its work plan, enriching portfolios, and expanding its geographic coverage.

I have known the organization since its inception and have been its supervisory board chair for the past decade, providing strategic directions, input, and necessary support in accordance with non-profits’ governance rules and provisions, including management issues.

The common denominator between Climate Scorecard and FDI is that both organizations have been working in areas covering climate change and reducing carbon emissions, supporting the Paris Climate Treaty. What further stands out is the organization’s consistent and unequivocal pursuit of policy advocacy and reporting on climate issues that can adversely impact people, their lives and livelihoods, and conditions, amply supporting potential partnerships based on a shared understanding of issues and modalities.

This Post was submitted by Climate Scorecard India Country Manager Pooran Chandra Pandey.

Contact details:

Vijay Singh, Chief Executive Officer, Foundation for Development Initiatives (FDI)

E-mail id:   personal.vijay@gmail.com                       Mobile number: +91-9918455550

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