The learning session on ‘Addressing the unpaid childcare crisis for women and girls: How can we build better after COVID-19?’ held in December last year, as part of the learning series started by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, aimed at fostering learning, exchanging ideas and establishing connections across partners working on evidence, advocacy, policies, and interventions related to COVID-19’s social and economic impacts on women and girls. As part of the larger mandate, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and IWWAGE at LEAD are collaborating to undertake an evidence review of the current childcare crisis and the road for post-COVID recovery and resilience. A paper is underway outlining the different pathways in which COVID-19 is impacting women’s care burden, with recommendations for policy solutions and measures that could be explored in different contexts by governments, the private sector, and other key development actors, with a focus on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Category: Action Station
REBUILD: COVID-19 and women in the informal economy in India, Kenya and Uganda
Soumya Kapoor Mehta (Head – IWWAGE) was part of an expert panel organised by the International Center for Research on Women, sharing insights on the impact of COVID-19 on women in the informal sector in India. The panel discussion was part of an upcoming collaborative research, REBUILD, focuses on the current challenges faced by women in the informal economy under COVID-19, with the aim to understand better the social and economic impact of policy responses to the pandemic in India, Kenya and Uganda. View recording here.
AVPN SAICF 21: Reimagining India’s Social Protection Architecture
LEAD at Krea University hosted a session “Re-building a dynamic and durable blueprint for India’s Social Protection Architecture” at AVPN Asia’s South Asia Impact Capital Festival. The panel featured Executive Director Sharon Buteau and Soumya Kapoor Mehta (Head – Initiative for What Works to Advance Women and Girls in the Economy), and was moderated by Vivek Bhandari (Visiting Professor of History, Krea University). The discussion revolved around reimagining India’s social protection architecture in the new normal, using emerging design elements that are research, data, and systems driven.
LEAD at IFI Summit 2021: Exploring meso-level insurance for farmers
The Inclusive Finance Summit went virtual this year and presented a series of exciting events for two days. LEAD at Krea University was a technical partner at the Summit. As part of the engagement, LEAD hosted a panel discussion on ‘Mitigating Agricultural Risks: Meso-level Insurance in Agriculture’ moderated by Fabrizio Valenti, Head, Financial Inclusion. Research Fellow, Sabina Yasmin, presented insights from an ongoing study on the potential of meso-level insurance in protecting farmers from various agricultural risks, supported by CIIE.CO under the Bharat Inclusion Initiative. Other panellists included Mangesh Patankar (Swiss Reinsurance Company) and Enamul Mazid Khan Siddique (Oxfam, Bangladesh). Watch it here.
Masterclass on sea turtles with experts from India, Germany and Australia
Dr Kartik Shanker from the Indian Institute of Science – Bangalore, Dr Lisa Onaga from the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science – Berlin, and Dr Leah Lui-Chivizhe from the University of Sydney, came together for a highly engaging session on sea turtles and the marine environment. Participants were introduced to the various angles of approach to sea turtles, with the speakers delving into history, conservational efforts, and research strategies. From exploring how turtles have helped guide various groups of people related to the wisdom of the earth to deep-diving into how living turtle species today manifest that wisdom, the session was informative and eye-opening for students and faculty alike.
How to think like an Economist: Krea Engage with Dr Sunder Ramaswamy
| An international development economist, a renowned academic, a seasoned educator, and higher education administrator — Dr Sunder Ramaswamy (Vice-Chancellor of Krea University) interacted with students, counsellors and parents of students, sharing his expert insights on what it takes to think and become an Economist in today’s world. Dr Sunder shared in detail about all the career possibilities that come with pursuing the subject, drawing from his rich career experience, whilst elaborating on the right tools that help make one an exceptional Economist. |
Catalyst AIC chooses 10 startups to offer incubation support
| The Catalyst Atal Incubation Centre has selected its first cohort of 10 startups, from 110 applications. The 10 shortlisted startups are at the forefront of delivering disruptive and innovative solutions for artisan communities and clusters in India. Over the next six months, the startups will receive focused support from the incubator grounded in a curriculum-based approach. Learn more about the program here. |
Exploring career paths for psychology majors
As part of the Krea Engage series, Prof Amrita Narayanan in her session titled ‘What can you do with a degree in Psychology?’, discussed in detail about all the career possibilities that come with pursuing the subject in today’s world. Addressing students and counsellors, Prof Amrita shared insights drawn from her career experience and shed light on where a training in Psychology can take a student after graduation. The session also highlighted the specific skills necessary for clinical practice and how the degree serves as a great starting point for careers in science and the arts.
‘Gender Watch’ – an informative video series by IWWAGE
IWWAGE brings to you a video series called, “Gender Watch” which presents in a capsule format news stories, data highlights and the latest research and thinking on gender issues in India, particularly related to initiatives and interventions to empower women economically. The launch episode can be viewed here. For upcoming episodes, visit the Gender Watch section.
Examining the barriers to women’s employment
IWWAGE and IndiaSpend have come together for a year-long partnership to examine and analyse issues around women empowerment and strengthen the narrative that will encourage and allow for equal participation of women in economic activity. The partnership kicked off with a video interview featuring Soumya Kapoor Mehta, Head – IWWAGE, as part of the Women@Work 2.0 series, examining barriers and solutions to getting more women in paid work. Watch the interview here.