Dr. Jeeban Jyoti Mohanty
, MicroSave Consulting (MSC) and Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Govt of India, India
17 April 2026
This is an inspiring and deeply impactful initiative that beautifully demonstrates how community-led solutions can address multiple development challenges simultaneously. Converting waste into a source of livelihood while strengthening climate resilience is both innovative and scalable, especially in vulnerable coastal ecosystems.
What stands out is the strong emphasis on women’s leadership and grassroots ownership. By integrating women into every stage from waste segregation to enterprise management, this model not only creates income opportunities but also builds agency, dignity, and long-term resilience.
At the same time, as the initiative evolves, continuous mentoring, incubation support, and stronger market linkages will be critical to help women-led enterprises move beyond the pilot stage and achieve sustainable scale. Enabling access to finance, building business capabilities, and creating supportive policy ecosystems can further unlock its transformative potential.
A powerful example of how environmental sustainability, economic empowerment, and social inclusion can come together to drive meaningful change from the ground up.
This is an inspiring and deeply impactful initiative that beautifully demonstrates how community-led solutions can address multiple development challenges simultaneously. Converting waste into a source of livelihood while strengthening climate resilience is both innovative and scalable, especially in vulnerable coastal ecosystems.
What stands out is the strong emphasis on women’s leadership and grassroots ownership. By integrating women into every stage from waste segregation to enterprise management, this model not only creates income opportunities but also builds agency, dignity, and long-term resilience.
At the same time, as the initiative evolves, continuous mentoring, incubation support, and stronger market linkages will be critical to help women-led enterprises move beyond the pilot stage and achieve sustainable scale. Enabling access to finance, building business capabilities, and creating supportive policy ecosystems can further unlock its transformative potential.
A powerful example of how environmental sustainability, economic empowerment, and social inclusion can come together to drive meaningful change from the ground up.