Dr. Bhavani Rao, UNESCO Chair for Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment and Dean of the Amrita School of Social and Behavioural Sciences at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, participated in a special event organized by the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) celebrating 25 Years of Excellence, held in the presence of the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.
During the event, Dr. Rao took part in the formal exchange of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between SERP and Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, marking the beginning of a new collaboration aimed at advancing women’s empowerment initiatives across Andhra Pradesh.
The MoU was exchanged between Karuna Vakati, IAS, CEO of SERP and Ex-Officio Secretary to the Government (Rural Development Department), and Dr. Bhavani Rao. This partnership will focus on strengthening women’s empowerment through capacity-building and skill-training programs across the state.
The collaboration will begin with a women-led initiative on Integrated Land and Ocean Conservation and seaweed-based livelihoods across three coastal villages in Andhra Pradesh. By strengthening community ownership and empowering women’s Self-Help Groups (SHGs), participants will co-design and lead solutions related to aquaculture, seaweed cultivation, and the broader seaweed value chain.
Through the initiative, participating women will receive technology-assisted vocational and life-skills training, equipping them to become Environmental Change Ambassadors who promote sustainable livelihoods while supporting coastal ecosystem conservation and resilience.
On the sidelines of the event, Dr. Rao also met with several key collaborators and experts working in marine and environmental research, including Dr. L. Satish (Scientist), Dr. Arup Ghosh (Director, CSMCRI), Dr. G. Dharani (Deputy Director, NIOT), and Dr. V. V. Rao (Functional Expert, SERP). Their discussions highlighted opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration in strengthening sustainable coastal livelihoods and marine ecosystem stewardship.
The partnership reflects a shared commitment between Amrita University and the Government of Andhra Pradesh to build inclusive, community-driven solutions that empower women while protecting coastal and marine ecosystems.
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
| SDG | Goal |
|---|---|
| SDG 4 | Quality Education |
| SDG 5 | Gender Equality |
| SDG 8 | Decent Work & Economic Growth |
| SDG 13 | Climate Action |
| SDG 14 | Life Below Water |
| SDG 17 | Partnerships for the Goals |
