Dr. Bhavani Rao, UNESCO Chair for Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment and Dean of the Amrita School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, recently visited the Center for Women’s Empowerment & Gender Equality (CWEGE) WADI Project in Odisha as part of an ongoing collaborative research initiative with the Nitsan Lab at Tel Aviv University.
During the visit, Dr. Bhavani and the extended team—including faculty and students from Tel Aviv University, members of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, and the WADI field team—conducted extensive field assessments across multiple project villages.
The team’s field engagement focused on several key areas: assessing orchard development and tree-care practices, studying the impact of human–elephant conflict on agricultural lands, reviewing goat-rearing as a livelihood strategy, and understanding food security and nutrition among farming households.
In-depth interactions were held with local farmers to gain first-hand insights into on-ground challenges and opportunities. These discussions are expected to inform practical, research-driven interventions aimed at strengthening rural livelihoods and improving community resilience.
Through continued field visits, interviews, and focus group discussions, the collaboration seeks to generate actionable insights that directly benefit WADI communities while advancing sustainable rural development models.
The WADI project is implemented by Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham with the support of NABARD.
| SDG | Goal Name | Focus Area |
|---|---|---|
 SDG 1 |
No Poverty | Strengthening rural livelihoods |
 SDG 2 |
Zero Hunger | Food security and nutrition |
 SDG 5 |
Gender Equality | Women’s empowerment in WADI communities |
 SDG 13 |
Climate Action | Climate-resilient agriculture practices |
 SDG 15 |
Life on Land | Orchard development and biodiversity protection |
