## Pragya UK Annual Review 2021-22 


## 1. Context 

Pragya is a registered charity committed to the relief of suffering and disadvantage among marginalised communities living in extreme poverty and protection of fragile ecosystems in south Asia and east Africa. Working with our partner organisations in India, Nepal, Kenya, and Bangladesh, Pragya aims to secure better living standards and opportunities for the people we serve while also conserving the natural environment. Our work combats poverty and marginalisation across critical development themes: food, agriculture, and rural livelihoods; health, safe water, and sanitation; empowering women and minorities; disaster management and risk reduction; conservation and renewable energy; and education. 


**Our Vision** is one of marginalised communities living dignified lives free from poverty and injustice, fully enjoying the benefits of development in a manner harmonious with cultural heritage and the natural environment. 

**Our Core Values** are _development without destruction_ and _empowerment for enabling choices_ . We facilitate development in a way that maintains cultural integrity, respects the natural environment, and builds capacity at the grassroots for community and personal self-determination. 

## **Our Approach** 

## _Integrated development_ 

Our approach is comprehensive – combining research, advocacy, awareness raising, resource inputs, and training. We work with communities across interlinked themes such as water supply and agriculture, healthcare and nutrition, education and social norms – all of which are impacted by cross-cutting issues like climate change, gender, protracted conflict, and governance. By designing development solutions with mutually supportive elements, our projects have a track record of unaided continuity in the long term. 

## _Building relationships_ 

Pragya believes in bringing people together for collaborative action. We work in coordination with educational and research institutions, civil society, industry, national governments, and the United Nations. But just as important are the long-term relationships we foster with beneficiary communities. We engage across key pillars of community life, including schools, health centres, local authorities, cultural institutions, and employers, harnessing breadth and depth of ideas, skills, and experience for collective, efficient responses to development challenges. 

## _Research_ 

Pragya strives to advance global understanding of marginalised populations: undertaking ethnographic research, surveying remote, often little-understood geographies and climates, and informing policy debate on conservation and social development issues in national governments and international institutions. Our research also investigates how appropriate technologies might best be applied to improve the wellbeing of communities living in isolation. 

## **Brief History and Recognition** 

Pragya in the UK was founded in 2000. The organisation is part of a network of locally registered Pragya organizations comprising over 200 interdisciplinary staff across south Asia and east Africa, with operations beginning in India in 1995, Nepal in 2006, Kenya in 2011, and Bangladesh in 2018. Their combined work has benefitted more than 700,000 people to date. 

Pragya’s community-centred approach and track record of delivering positive impact have been recognised by several awards: the Whitley Gold Award for Nature Conservation (2000), an Energy Globe Award (2005), a STARS Impact Award (2010), USAID’s All Children Reading - Grand Challenge for 



Development Award (2012), a Top 20 Innovation in Risk Award (2015), and an ICT for Mountain Development Award (2016). Pragya holds Special Consultative Status with the UN ECOSOC. 

## **Our programmes span several themes supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals** 

## _Food, agriculture, and rural livelihoods_ 

Pragya works to improve food production and nutrition in rural communities, emphasising crop research and climate smart agriculture. Livelihoods projects span agriculture and livestock as well as handicrafts, and support ethical trade networks. 

## _Health, safe water, and sanitation_ 

Pragya builds capacity for local water resource management, provides safe water storage and filtration solutions, and implements targeted healthcare projects tailored to the last mile. 

## _Disasters_ 

Many of the regions in which Pragya works are highly disaster-prone. Projects cover the full spectrum of disaster management- risk reduction, emergency relief, post-disaster rehabilitation. 

## _Conservation and renewable energy_ 

Pragya views environmental stewardship, cultural identity, and socioeconomic development as closely integrated, designing projects that create synergies across these. Isolated communities are supported to access renewable, off-grid energy. 

## _Education_ 

Pragya runs educational programmes and provides teaching and learning materials to improve the prospects for children and adults denied education through isolation, social exclusion, and poverty. 

## _Empowering women and minorities_ 

Projects focus on economic & social empowerment of the disenfranchised – particularly women, migrant workers, displaced/ indigenous peoples – and includes prevention of gender-based violence. 

With the generosity of our supporters, 2021-22 saw key developments in existing and new programmes: 

## _**Promoting medicinal and aromatic plant (MAP) cultivation and conservation in Kenya**_ 

Pragya continued to expand its programme to promote sustainable livelihoods among impoverished smallholders living around Kakamega Rainforest via the sustainable cultivation of high-value MAPs, alongside awareness and training to drive grassroots environmental stewardship. More information on this programme can be found on Page 4 

## _**Building grassroots capacity in the Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs)**_ 

In Kenya’s ASALs, Pragya has initiated new projects to scale its education and WASH programmes targeting remote, pastoral communities in this severely underserved region uniquely threatened by climate change. Pages 7 (Education) and 14 (WASH) 

## _**Enabling resilience for remote and vulnerable mountain communities in Nepal**_ 

Building on past efforts to support rural communities still recovering from effects of the 2015 earthquake – and addressing challenges exacerbated by the recent Covid-19 pandemic – Pragya has launched a new project to prevent trafficking of women and girls and GBV in the region, while continuing to scale its WASH support for underserved mountain villages. Pages 7 (Prevention of trafficking and GBV) and 10 (WASH) 

## _**Global Labor Programme: An Innovative Platform for Organising Marginalised Workers in Asia**_ 

Working with regional partners, Pragya has joined an initiative to mobilise regional networks towards more effective and coordinated organisation of marginalised and informal labour across south and southeast Asia. Page 9 

## _**Improving WASH outcomes for flood-prone river-island communities in Bangladesh**_ 

Pragya completed its 2-year project to build grassroots WASH capacity and disaster resilience – including the provision of safe water and sanitation facilities – for flood-prone, impoverished river-island communities in Bangladesh. Page 12 

## _**Covid-19 Response in India**_ 

Pragya continued to support Covid-19 response efforts in India through 2021 via its network of staff and field offices – supporting front-line workers in relief and mitigation initiatives, and providing livelihood and psychosocial support to those most in need. Page 16 

## _**Scaling DMS-Himalaya**_ 

Pragya’s pioneering citizen-led disaster management system is being rolled out across India’s western, central, and eastern Himalayan regions, supporting remote, mountain communities to be active contributors across the disaster management cycle, from early warning to emergency response and relief. The programme’s replication across distinct hazard profiles in the region is generating proof of its efficacy and adaptability, towards greater collaboration with and adoption by government disaster management authorities. Page 19 

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_Pragya • www.pragya.org/uk • Registered Charity No. 1082476 • Annual Review 2021-22_ 



## 2. Tar et locations and o ulations g p p 


Pragya’s work in India is delivered in 8 states across northern, western and eastern regions. In northern India, we work with Himalayan populations addressing the development challenges particular to the region. Disaster management and emergency response is a major aspect of our work here, empowering isolated communities for improved disaster resilience, and lately focussing on Covid-19 response. We also work with Himalayan farming communities to enable climate-adapted agriculture for enhanced food security and nutrition. To the west of India, our work targets impoverished and ethnic minority communities in Rajasthan, with initiatives designed around women’s empowerment, as well as access to education. In eastern India, our focus is on climatesmart agriculture, prevention of GBV, and disaster management. 


In Nepal, Pragya’s work is focused on four districts severely impacted by the 2015 earthquake: Sindhupalchok, Dhading, Kavrepalanchok and Nuwakot. Our rehabilitation work here spans multiple aspects of poverty exacerbated by the 2015 disaster and the recently Covid-19. We deliver WASH solutions and capacity building for communities lacking safe drinking water, quality toilets or handwashing facilities. Our livelihoods work enables uptake of alternative vocations for rapid income generation and sustainable microenterprise development, and we support rural youth with vocational awareness and training. Within a wider patriarchal context, the target districts are hotspots for GBV and human trafficking, and our programme for prevention of GBV is rooted in our research on post-2015 trends in trafficking and GBV. 


Pragya’s work in Bangladesh focusses on supporting extremely poor and marginalised communities living on Bangladesh’s _Chars –_ river islands with unstable land subject to recurrent flooding and which lack essential services. Lack of adequate WASH facilities in Char communities mean high incidence of waterborne disease to which children are especially at risk, whist residents can have little option but to drink groundwater contaminated with arsenic, with its multiple adverse health impacts. Pragya’s Bangladesh programme is currently focussed on Dhaka division, which has the highest number of Chars, in the two districts of Munshiganj and Narayanganj, with interventions around site-appropriate WASH solutions, as well as local capacity building for disaster risk reduction and response, oriented around flooding. 


In Kenya, Pragya’s target areas include the Arid/Semi-Arid Lands of northern Kenya, spanning the counties of Turkana, Laikipia and Samburu. In this region, we work to address the socioeconomic challenges particular to nomadic and semi-nomadic pastoralist groups impacted by climate change, geographic isolation, and marginalisation; this includes enhancing access to quality education, providing locally-appropriate WASH solutions, as well as programmes supporting livelihoods and community health. In western Kenya, we work with communities in Kakamega county, where widespread poverty places unsustainable pressure on the majestic Kakamega rainforest. We empower communities to conserve biodiversity whilst simultaneously supporting poor smallholders to undertake high-value agriculture. 

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_Pragya • www.pragya.org/uk • Registered Charity No. 1082476 • Annual Review 2021-22_ 



. Pro ects in 2021-22 3 j 

## **Food, agriculture and rural livelihoods** 

## _Cultivating and conserving medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) in Kakamega Forest, Kenya_ 

In Kagamega Forest, western Kenya, several species of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) play an important part in the maintenance of the local ecosystem, whilst also contributing to the socioecological traditions of surrounding communities. Kenya’s only remaining rainforest, Kagamega’s rich biodiversity is under threat from the wild-harvesting of MAPs and other activities as impoverished communities and other actors encroach on and extract resources from the forest. The burgeoning global demand for herbal remedies and natural cosmetics means that these plants can fetch a much higher price at market than traditional crops cultivated in the region, and consequently represent an attractive source of income for poor smallholding farmers in the vicinity of the forest. Wild-harvesting practices, however, prevent the plants from regenerating, and current levels of the practice are unsustainable, putting ever greater pressure on the rainforest’s biodiversity. 

Pragya’s approach to tackling this problem is twofold. We empower communities adjacent to the forest for locally driven conservation, combining awareness-raising, direct community conservation action, and grassroots advocacy. Yet we understand the need for impoverished smallholders to boost their incomes through whatever resources are locally available. As such, we build the capacity of smallholder farming communities to undertake cultivation of high-value, indemand species of medicinal plants, with support for local value addition and formation of ethical trading linkages. This replaces the need to harvest these plants from the wild: a winwin for the environment and community prosperity. 


_Pragya UK Founder and Chair, Gargi Banerji, with Pragya Kenya staff and a farmers’ group representative_ 

Pragya has been working in Kakamega since 2011, developing its MAPs programme through research, community consultations, successive project cycles, and coordination and knowledge sharing with local farmers’ groups, the Kenya Forest Service, and other stakeholders. Key aspects of the model include: 

## 

- **Conservation Awareness.** We deliver community and school campaigns to build understanding of the importance of local biodiversity to the forest’s ecosystem, and the long-term benefits to the community of conserving the forest. 

- **Environmental Stewardship.** We support the development of Community Conservation Councils responsible for managing Community Protected Areas, zones of forest identified as being at high risk of plant depletion, and supported with social fencing measures and monitored / regenerated by the Councils. Community groups are also empowered to conduct environmental advocacy. 

- - **Cultivation Training.** We provide smallholders with comprehensive cultivation training and start-up inputs to enable them for uptake of cultivation of high-value, in-demand species of medicinal plants. 

- - **Cooperation and Value Addition.** We support smallholders with processing and packaging solutions, ensuring the smallholders can secure the highest prices for their produce. We establish ethical trading linkages and support cooperative working practices that enable access to larger buyers and fair prices. 


_Seedling and sapling distribution_ 


_A community nursery_ 


_Conservation awareness_ 

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_Pragya • www.pragya.org/uk • Registered Charity No. 1082476 • Annual Review 2021-22_ 



2021-22 saw the continuation of **Phase II** of Pragya’s scale vision for its MAPs programme in Kenya: 

|**Phase**|**Title**|**Years**|**Aims and methodology**|**Financing**|**Status**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|I.|Research and<br>piloting|2011-2019|Inventorying local MAPs status and researching current trade /<br>value chain. Identify optimum species for cultivation. Pilot testing<br>livelihoods model in targeted communities in Kakamega,<br>leveraging highly successful model as implemented by Pragya in<br>India. Establishing early-stage trading links. Results-based<br>model refinement.|Seed / pilot<br>funding for<br>Pragya.|Achieved|
|II.|Supported<br>scaling|2020-2025|Scale model to 30% (“critical mass”) of communities adjoining<br>Kakamega rainforest. Implementation by Pragya and other CSOs<br>using Pragya's IP-free published model & implementation guide.<br>Advocacy<br>/awareness<br>raising<br>across<br>Kakamega<br>forest<br>communities. Inter-community cooperative formation, enlarging<br>& strengthening trading networks.|Grant funding<br>for Pragya and<br>other CSOs.|In progress|
|III.|Comprehensive<br>adoption|2026-2030+|Model adopted by 80%+ communities adjoining Kakamega<br>rainforest. Replication by communities through peer-learning and<br>Farmer Expert support. Smallholders re-allocating land to MAP<br>cultivation. Alignment with Kenya’s Vision 2030.|Community-<br>driven<br>replication.|Goal|



With support from the Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust, the Open Gate Trust, the Gibbs Trust, the Margaret Hayman Charitable Trust, and the Brian Mercer Trust, Pragya has continued to roll out the _Supported Scaling_ phase to 2025. The Phase II outcomes as of March 2022 were as follows: 

- 3 nurseries were supported to initiate or increase MAP propagation and sales, with signed MoUs and support comprising appropriate tools and materials, including MAP seeds. 

- 141 small scale farmers were trained in MAP cultivation protocols, and were supplied with MAP seedlings/ saplings and assisted to initiate MAP cultivation on their farms. 

- 3 Community Conservation Groups (CCG) were constituted, with associated training and creation of monitoring processes for local biodiversity. 3 Community Protected Areas were also established, supported by biodiversity documentation and habitat monitoring, towards the prospective improvement in the conservation status of MAPs and other forest resources. 

- 1700 people were directly and indirectly reached through awareness campaigns conducted. Out of this, 870 (600 community members, 180 young school children, and 90 older school children) were reached directly while the balance of 830 (420 young school children and 410 older children / students) were reached via awareness efforts by the students. 

The programme builds on Pragya’s nearly three decades of research and programmes to promote sustainable MAP cultivation and conservation in India, and aligns with key strategic priorities identified by Kenyan conservation authorities for Kakamega Forest: the need for nature-based enterprises and conservation devolution to disincentivise land use activities currently threatening the forest. 

Going forward, Pragya will look to forge networks with experts and institutions to help in the formation and capacity building of cooperative enterprises to fulfil the market demand for MAP raw materials and products. Stronger farmer-to-market linkages will be sought to institutionalise supply of sustainably cultivated MAP materials and comprehensively replace current wild-harvesting with sustainable farming. This will include further value chain surveys and value addition training, and the arrangement of buyer-seller meetings. The project will also continue to work with local communities to develop community conservation action plans to reduce the impact of habitat destruction, pollution, and overexploitation. 


_Community Conservation Group Gathering_ 


_Cultivation training session at a nursery demonstration plot_ 


_CCG members, Pragya staff, and a Forest Officer surveying a Community Protected Area_ 

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_Pragya • www.pragya.org/uk • Registered Charity No. 1082476 • Annual Review 2021-22_ 



## **Education** 

Pragya works with some of the most remote and marginalised communities in the world, those existing on the fringes of society where basic services often fail to reach. Many people from these impoverished rural communities scrape a living through smallholder agriculture or pastoralism, in regions where climate change is rapidly diminishing the prospects of such traditional occupations, or as daily wage labourers with little or no income security. Children lack access to quality education and youth in these communities can face a stark choice between following in the footsteps of their parents and the bleak future this holds, or else to migrating to urban centres as unskilled labour with little education, facing low pay or unemployment and likely living in urban slums. We take a multifaceted approach to ensuring the disadvantaged have access to quality education and suitable vocational skills. 

- **Improved Access to Education.** Pragya collaborates with communities and local authorities to extend access to quality education in remote areas where schools are few and far between and heavily oversubscribed. We establish Education Resource Centres in community spaces, equipped with ICT facilities and age-specific books. For itinerant communities, we deliver mobile education solutions including schools on wheels and tent-based classrooms, towards ensuring that no child is left behind. 

- **Improved Pedagogy and Curriculum.** Pragya works with teachers and para-teachers to improve their teaching skills, enabling them to deliver more impactful lessons. We supply a range of Teaching and Learning Materials that enable more diverse teaching methods, enriching the learning experience of children towards improved attendance, attention span and learning outcomes. We collaborate with communities to ensure curricula in deprived areas is suitable and up to standard. 

- **Proper School WASH.** Poor quality or lack of sanitation in schools can be a substantial barrier to attendance, especially among girls. Pragya trains local masons for construction of high-quality, siteappropriate sanitation that ensure cleanliness and privacy, reducing the physical health implications and anxiety experienced by schoolchildren where sanitation facilities are inadequate. We also facilitate schools for the collection and storage of safe drinking water, and deliver school hygiene awareness and training, improving health and thereby learning among schoolchildren. 

- **Gender Equality in Education.** Girls face multiple barriers to enrolment and continued participation in school, including gender-based violence, child marriage and teenage pregnancy, a heavy burden of household duties, and lack of confidence in academic ability. Pragya works with communities to address the attitudes that underpin these social challenges, towards improved school attendance and achievement level among girls. 

- **Vocational Awareness and Skills Building.** A lack of awareness of vocational routes and poor access to vocational training mean children in remote areas are left with few livelihood options. Pragya builds awareness of alternative vocational routes available to adolescents as they transition into adulthood, and provides certified vocational training courses in locally-demanded occupations, diversifying the skills base in the community and enhancing income security. 


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_Pragya • www.pragya.org/uk • Registered Charity No. 1082476 • Annual Review 2021-22_ 



## _Improving access to education and vocational skills for pastoral communities in Kenya’s ASALs_ 

Pragya has been working with pastoralist communities in Kenya’s ASALs since 2011. Our projects address urgent needs in the region for better education, diversified livelihood options, WASH management, and maternal and reproductive health services. Pragya’s education programme in the region was designed based on extensive consultations across Laikipia, Samburu, and Turkana counties, and to date has established 10 educational resource centres (ERC), located in Turkana, Samburu and Kakamega Counties. 

In 2021-22, Pragya commenced work to deliver two additional ERCs in Samburu, a County characterised by among the worst educational outcomes in Kenya. The work is being delivered with support from the Gilchrist Educational Trust, the Oakdale Trust, the Haramead Trust, and the RG Hills Charitable Trust. 

The ERCs will be equipped with key teaching and learning materials, including gender sensitisation materials and ICT equipment. The project will also improve educational delivery and engagement via teacher training sessions, and will provide supplementary teaching kits to ensure lessons are engaging, diverse, and age-appropriate. The ERCs are projected to benefit over 1000 disadvantaged children and young people from remote, difficult-to-reach groups, who will have improved basic literacy and numeracy skills, increased access to quality education, and basic ICT skills. 30 teachers will also be engaged via skills-focused training programmes that will improve the teachers' confidence, engagement, and creativity, and enhance their capacity to deliver compelling, diverse, and age-appropriate educational lessons. 

The work will be completed in 2022-23, with sustained fundraising to scale the delivery of additional ERCs in the region. Pragya is also fundraising to deliver counselling and community engagement campaign events, as well as skills-focused vocational courses targeting students. The campaigns will support communities to gain a greater understanding of the value of educational attainment and gender equality, while vocational skill-building and awareness will promote post-16 vocational opportunities and diversified incomegenerating activities. 


_Primary school sessions supplemented by learning-through-play materials, Turkana County_ 


_Training session for audio-visual equipment supplied via an ERC, Turkana County_ 

## **Empowering women and minorities** 

## _Prevention of trafficking of women and girls in rural Nepal_ 

Pragya’s wide-ranging gender work includes a commitment to challenging and eliminating Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) in our countries of operation. Nepal is a highly patriarchal society, ranking 106 on the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index 2021, a worse ranking than the prior year; this patriarchy underpins multiple forms of gender based violence (GBV) in Nepal including physical, sexual, socioeconomic and psychological violence and abuse. Victims of GBV in Nepal typically lack the information and networks needed to support their physical and psychological wellbeing and recourse to justice. Nepal is a major source country for the trafficking of women and girls, usually into India and beyond. Victims are typically subjected to years of forced labour and sexual exploitation, suffering severe physical and mental trauma. Where victims are rescued from or escape their situation, reintegration with their home society can be challenging due to social stigma, and they may be left with few prospects for the future. 

A major driver of trafficking in Nepal is women’s poverty and lack of economic opportunity, which in desperation renders them highly susceptible to the lure of traffickers with promises of employment abroad. This situation is exacerbated in post-disaster contexts. As part of its rehabilitation programmes to date, Pragya has mobilised and trained 20 Women’s Vigilance Committees, comprising 385 members across 

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_Pragya • www.pragya.org/uk • Registered Charity No. 1082476 • Annual Review 2021-22_ 



Dhading and Sindhupalchowk and operating Helplines with an approximate outreach of 4000 women and girls. The work also assisted families in these districts that had lost their livelihood assets – rendering women and girls in these families at higher risk of GBV – through livelihoods assets and training. Pragya also undertook research in 2018 to assess patterns of GBV and trafficking in the region, which was compiled into a report and is available on Pragya’s website, entitled: _Trafficking of Women and Girls in Nepal: Study on Trends following the 2015 Earthquake_ . The research mapped the causes of trafficking in Nepal, its patterns and trends, methods and routes used by traffickers, the experiences of victims, as well as the current approaches by authorities and civil society to fighting trafficking. Pragya leveraged this research and pilot work to develop a multifaceted, integrated model for prevention of violence against women in Nepal, which addresses the full range of change mechanisms from addressing immediate response needs through to root causes. 

- **Building capacity for women’s active resistance** to genderbased violence and trafficking, which includes awareness campaigns around GBV and trafficking, peer-group based intervention and support initiatives, and education and assertiveness training for these groups. 



_Women’s peer support groups in Dhading district._ 

- **Improving income generation capacity** of vulnerable women and families – reducing their economic desperation and associated susceptibility to trafficking. Measures include capacity building for small rural enterprise development in animal husbandry and niche-sector agriculture, as well as vocational training and placements targeting young women in particular. 

- **Behavioural change initiatives** targeting gender-based violence, leveraging opinion-shapers and influential figures in local society, to challenge Nepal’s patriarchal norms and win hearts and minds around to more equitable and respectful attitudes to women. This also aims at gendering the social structures that perpetuate the patriarchy. 

- **Developing support facilities** for an informed population and responder network, including targeted information dissemination to key stakeholders, particularly rights information in GBV context for women along with information on women’s safe economic migration, and information / status updates for responders on local trafficking and GBV. 

- **Enhancing response networks** to trafficking and GBV, by building capacity of existing and potential support providers to improve service levels of victim support across protection, rescue and rehabilitation. 

Gender inequality in Nepal, as in other countries, has been worsened by the onset of COVID-19, indeed the World Economic Forum reports that as a result of COVID-19, closing the gender gap globally has increased by a generation. Nepal’s remittance and tourism economies have been decimated by the pandemic, and many women have lost husbands who are traditionally the main family earners. With few skills themselves due to the comparatively poor educational and training opportunities available to women and girls, this has deepened poverty levels and increased vulnerability to GBV and trafficking. 

In 2021-22, Pragya secured funding to scale this programme with support from the Kirby Laing Foundation. The project will be delivered in Sindhupalchok and Dhading districts into 2023, and aims to mobilise and train 8 women’s peer support groups, including 240 women and adolescent girls, who will be educated on GBV and trafficking, trained in peer support and operating community-level vigilance, protection and psychosocial support. The groups will be anchored by specially trained leaders drawn from the groups, as well as broader community-based Gender Equity Champions drawn from other community stakeholder groups, and representatives from village councils. The leaders will be assisted to conduct risk surveillance and activism, alongside Women’s Information & Assistance Cells (WIAC) that will be set up within a local NGO in each target district. The cells will be equipped with a purpose-designed Justice for Women kits, promoting a range of information on relevant laws and regulations. The WIACs will also be facilitated to operate helplines providing legal, medical and psychosocial support, including a database of institutions for protection, rescue and rehabilitation, conduct a quarterly GBV Watch, and liaise with formal responders at transit points on known trafficking routes. 

Pragya is continuing its fundraising for this programme through 2022 in order to scale its impact and generate further evidence of its effectiveness. 

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_Pragya • www.pragya.org/uk • Registered Charity No. 1082476 • Annual Review 2021-22_ 



## _Global Labor Programme: An Innovative Platform for Organising Marginalised Workers in Asia_ 

In late 2021-22, Pragya joined several consortium partners to deliver a ground-breaking platform to organise marginalised workers across 7 countries in south and southeast Asia. The consortium will be led by Solidar Suisse, with Pragya delivering the programme’s India, Nepal, and Bangladesh components. Strongly based on principles of equity, inclusion, participation, and rights, the platform will look to address the multiple challenges faced by marginalised workers in the region, including: informal and vulnerable working conditions; growing inequality and wealth disparity; magnified vulnerabilities of women, marginalised groups; reduced spaces for bargaining, alongside marginalisation and exclusion; barriers to organising; and exacerbated health and safety vulnerabilities. 

The overall objective of the project will be to assess and promote new and innovative modes of organising for marginalized informal/precarious workers as a means to enhance workers’ agency and effective bargaining, regional solidarity and inclusion, and visibility of workers’ causes, while overcoming the impediments and restricted democratic space in their environments. Specific objectives include: the development of a regional platform for workers and/or their organisations in a participatory, 'bottom-up' process, comprising technological / virtual and on-the-ground networking; and participatory action research and evidence generation on alternative modes of organising, and their respective benefits in terms of agency, participation and access to rights. 

The programme will be delivered over the course of 5 years, and will broadly work across the following thematic components: 

- **Promoting marginalised workers’ agency:** The programme will follow the principle that marginalised workers are not passive ‘victims’ but possess the ‘agency’ to bring about positive change in their lives and work. By organizing into democratic organisations with ‘self’ leadership, these can become empowered and change-agents for their groups and can self-bargain to demand their rights. Organising will bring visibility to the workers and eventually lead to their inclusion and a process of change from below. 

- **Enabling innovation in organising and bargaining to build collective grassroots power:** Through grassroots applied research, the project will create and study new and innovative means of organizing that can overcome structural problems and hurdles posed by reduced space, and respond to new forms of labor relations including various forms of informal work, as well as the ‘gig economy.’ The proposed innovation would help facilitate effective lobbying, and eventually, bargaining by marginalized workers regionally. Multiple forms of bargaining will be explored, varying by the power-centers they target, and will seek to understand how marginalised workers may develop sustainable democratic organisations with self-leadership. 

- **Creating a tech-enabled, grassroots platform for sharing, organising, and negotiation:** The project will create an active sharing platform – comprising virtual/digital as well as offline (i.e. face-to-face) components – connecting workers from multiple sectors with a large informal worker base in each country, and at the regional level. The platform would anchor and propel a process of ‘shared learning’. Through the platform, otherwise dispersed fragmented groups of workers would experience solidarity, share organising experiences, discuss issues and strategies and aggregate for effective influencing and bargaining. The applied research will help in collection of valuable data and evidence to be fed back to grassroots bodies in the form of active tools for learning and capacity building. 

The broader project is projected to have an outreach of 420,000 infomal workers,  comprising an estimated 260,000 in South Asia and 160,000 in Southeast Asia, and will engage with over 30 informal workers’ organisations across the two regions, as well as 70 enabling institutions / actors towards developing crosssectoral advocacy alliances as well as communities of practice and knowledge-sharing. 

The consortium partners were selected based on experience in developing agency among informal workers in the target countries, and will leverage Pragya’s track record in mobilising and training marginalised groups – particularly its past work to support migrant and informal workers – in India and Nepal. The project will harness learnings from these experiences, while also leveraging existing grassroots organisations and networks of workers towards the creation of a ‘regional platform’ to engage with key actors such as industry associations and government bodies. Networks we have supported will also be connected via the platform. 

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_Pragya • www.pragya.org/uk • Registered Charity No. 1082476 • Annual Review 2021-22_ 



## **Health, safe water, and sanitation** 

## _Safe water and sanitation for marginalised mountain communities in Nepal_ 

In April 2015, Nepal was hit by a devastating earthquake that killed thousands of people and caused widespread destruction of homes and damage to key buildings and infrastructure critical to the functioning of society, including health, education and WASH infrastructure. Severe poverty and marginalisation in Nepal’s remote rural communities have meant lasting impacts; government resources have been unable to match the scale of the devastation, with many household and community WASH resources remaining unusable, propelling open defecation and contamination of water sources that result in high levels of waterborne disease transmission in communities with the least resilience and poor access to healthcare. For the most vulnerable community members, this can prove fatal - over 430 children die in Nepal every year from diarrhoea resulting from dirty water and poor-quality toilets. Damaged or lack of school toilets also causes stress among schoolchildren, resulting in poor performance and absenteeism. 

Since the earthquake, Pragya has been delivering rehabilitation and resilience programmes across Sindhupalchowk, Kavrepalanchowk, Nuwakot, and Dhading districts. In 2018, Pragya completed a WASH needs assessment in Sindhupalchowk and Dhading districts, which revealed exceedingly poor water access and sanitation infrastructure. This persisting situation demands continued support from the international development community, and Pragya maintains its commitment to serving those remote communities in Nepal that have failed to recover from the earthquake. 

Pragya’s comprehensive WASH rehabilitation programme in Nepal addresses the immediate infrastructure needs whilst building local WASH management capacity: 

- **Installation of robust and hygienic water storage tanks.** The tanks are fitted with high-capacity and low-maintenance water filtration technology, enabling nearby availability of safe water and reducing drudgery. 

- **Construction of high-quality sanitation blocks.** The block comprises separate male / female units designed to ensure privacy, and are constructed to earthquake-resistant designs. They reduce open defecation and hence spread of waterborne diseases, preventing avoidable deaths among children and other more vulnerable community members, an promote improved environmental hygiene. 

- **Community WASH awareness sessions** . The sessions cover common waterborne diseases and their transmission, household waste management, hygienic food preparation, household-level water purification methods, as well as menstrual hygiene sessions for women. The sessions have information for all the family, including content specifically oriented to children, learning in a fun and engaging way. 

- **Capacity building for local WASH management** . This includes the formation and training of community Water and Sanitation Committees, with a mandate to manage all local WASH facilities and empowered to advocate for enhanced WASH management at the district level. 

Its past work has included a £38,000 initiative, completed in 2019 and supported by the Overseas Aid and Development Commission, States of Guernsey, which supplied clean water, quality sanitation, and WASH awareness to over 3,200 people in schools and villages across four districts. 

In 2021-22, with the combined support of the Eleanor Rathbone Charitable Trust, the Drinking Fountain Association, the Harbinson Charitable Trust, and the Southall Trust, Pragya completed an additional project cycle across 5 remote villages located in Tripurasundari Rural Municipality, Dhading District. 

The project outcomes included: water harvesting, storage, and filtration systems benefitting 50 households, comprising circa 229 residents, who have access to safe drinking water; community toilet blocks benefitting 50 households, comprising circa 259 residents, who have access to decent sanitation; WASH awareness campaigns benefitting circa 642 residents, who have a better understanding of community and family hygiene; training of grassroots WASH committees comprising 50 local community members, who have improved understanding of WASH needs and greater leadership skills, and who will promote sustained WASH improvement in their communities. 



_Community toilet blocks_ 

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_Pragya • www.pragya.org/uk • Registered Charity No. 1082476 • Annual Review 2021-22_ 



The project conducted awareness campaigns to engage and mobilise the beneficiary communities. A Health & WASH Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) Kit was developed, along with a detailed training manual for conducting WASH awareness programmes in the beneficiary communities. The WASH awareness sessions educated the participants on community hygiene and sanitation, drinking water treatment, and waste management techniques. Educational inputs to women about menstrual hygiene and related practices were also included. These awareness sessions and campaigns helped Pragya reach 642 beneficiaries, including: 213 (33%) men, 259 (40%) women, 130 (20%) children and 40 (7%) adolescent girls. 

Five WASH committees were also formed in the villages, each consisting of 10 members from the local communities, with more than 65% women members (of 25-50 years age) and local community health workers. Members were trained on efficient management of water and sanitation resources and on advocacy for improved water and sanitation governance at the village and district level. 

Pragya staff, its local partners, and the WASH Committee members of the particular village participated in the site selection and the installation work at the sites. A 1000 ltr water tank (triple-layered) was installed at each site and fitted with a water filter system that have the capacity to remove suspended particles from the water and ensure that beneficiaries have access to safe drinking water. These are low-maintenance systems in that they need to be washed only once every month, and involve no additional maintenance costs. 

The sites for the construction of toilet blocks, each with separate toilets for males and females, were selected ensuring accessibility to residents, including consideration for the elderly and disabled, and distance from drinking water and groundwater sources. The construction followed standard guidelines with regard to design and material specifications, which have been developed by Pragya. The toilets are brick and mortar structures for longevity - with proper ventilation and roofing - and septic tanks that have been well cured to prevent waste leakage into the soil and covered with concrete slabs. The beneficiary households, as well as the local WASH committees, have been educated on proper use of the toilet and related hygiene practices. 



_Water harvesting, storage, and filtration installations_ 




_WASH awareness sessions_ 

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_Pragya • www.pragya.org/uk • Registered Charity No. 1082476 • Annual Review 2021-22_ 



## _Safe water and sanitation for river island communities, Bangladesh_ 

Bangladesh’s river islands, known as _Chars,_ are home to the country’s severely poor, the displaced and the marginalised. These islands are the last refuge for those who have nothing, where living conditions are extremely challenging and basic needs are not met. Housing commonly consists of ramshackle accommodation, land rights are extremely hard to secure, there are no local healthcare or educational facilities, and residents often scrape a living as daily wage labourers with no income security. The chars are subject to riverbank erosion and recurrent flooding, threatening lives, forcing repeated displacement and destroying meagre livelihoods assets. A substantial element of poverty and neglect on chars is the lack of safe drinking water and adequate sanitation. Char residents can have little option but to consume groundwater that is contaminated with arsenic, and which can lead to multiple short- and long-term health problems including abdominal pain, skin lesions, impaired cognitive development in children, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. Poor quality or absence of sanitation on chars results in open defecation, polluting the local environment and which, in combination with recurrent flooding, propels the spread of waterborne diseases such as dysentery that can prove fatal for children. 

In 2021-22, with support from the Overseas Aid & Development Commission, States of Guernsey, and the Allan and Nesta Ferguson Charitable Trust, Pragya completed its project among char communities in Munshiganj and Narayanganj districts. to enable access to safe water for drinking and household use, as well as providing high quality and locally-appropriate sanitation solutions. 

The programme design is based on extensive needs assessments and project feasibility studies delivered in 2018 in the two districts, which included: grassroots surveys; focus group discussions (FGDs); Hazard, Vulnerability, and Capacity Mapping (HVCM); and participatory project design (PPD) sessions with river island residents. 


_A community consultation session in Munshigang district, Dhaka Division_ 

The work directly benefitted over 6,500 char residents and comprised several components including: floodproof safe water and sanitation facilities; distribution of WASH awareness kits and campaigns; mobilisation and training of grassroots WASH committees alongside frontline workers, NGOs, and government staff in WASH technologies and management during emergencies; and district-level workshops on WASH in emergencies. 

- **WASH awareness campaigns:** These were conducted at the community level - for adults and children - to generate awareness of the need for safe drinking water and appropriate sanitation, as well as the prevalence of water borne disease and have triggered a positive behavioural change in the community with respect to safe drinking water, hygiene and sanitation. 

- **Sanitation blocks:** The sites for the construction of toilet blocks were selected based on: i) accessibility to residents, ii) location’s ease of maintenance iii) accessibility for the elderly and disabled, and iv) distance from drinking water/groundwater sources. Flood-proof latrine systems were designed with structures set at or elevated to a height above flood levels. A twin pit system was implemented that aligns with the expected frequency of desludging, along with a raised superstructure fitted with a ramp towards flood-proofing, while also making it accessible to persons with disability and the elderly. Each toilet block has two units – one for males and one for females. 

- **Drinking water facilities** : These were established at common points accessible to target beneficiary households. The water tanks are of a capacity of 500 litres, and are connected to water purifiers, with outlets at a height suitable for adults and children to ensure that safe drinking water is made available to the households even during floods. The water filtration technology is capable of removing dirt, rust and sand particles, chlorine and organic chemicals, as well as arsenic and other dangerous substances. 


_A toilet facility in Narayanganj_ 

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_Pragya • www.pragya.org/uk • Registered Charity No. 1082476 • Annual Review 2021-22_ 



Usage and maintenance trainings were conducted at all 30 WASH installation sites for the user groups. In order to ensure sufficient monitoring and maintenance of the WASH facilities and sustained spread of awareness regarding health and hygiene, Pragya established a WASH committee for each WASH installation area, which comprised community health providers, community leaders, and school teachers. 295 members of 30 WASH committees were trained in WASH surveillance and facility maintenance, disaster management skills, as well as leadership, advocacy and communication skills in the WASH domain. 

In collaboration with in-country WASH experts, a comprehensive, 4- session training programme was conducted for frontline workers, NGOs, and government staff mandated with WASH and humanitarian action. The programme covered: Flood-adapted technologies and designs for safe drinking water, toilets, drainage systems, and solid and liquid waste management; provisioning water and sanitation in post-disaster settings; Concepts of public health engineering and environmental health in emergencies and Sphere standards. 

The sessions were followed by a workshop during which the participants discussed the application of the various technologies and methods learnt. 



_Drinking water stations in Munshiganj_ 



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_Targeted WASH awareness sessions for children and adults_ 

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_Pragya • www.pragya.org/uk • Registered Charity No. 1082476 • Annual Review 2021-22_ 



## _’ Community-based water resource management for pastoral communities in Kenya s arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs)_ 

Over 7 million pastoralists living in Kenya's arid-and-semi-arid lands (ASALs) face severe water insecurity due to the effects of climate change. Increasing rates of drought and irregular rainfall patterns have accelerated the depletion and degradation of limited water resources, threatening traditional livelihoods, resource governance arrangements and land tenures. Past research delivered by Pragya with support from the Overseas Aid and Development Commission, States of Guernsey – involving participatory hydrology studies of 96 water sources across the ASAL counties of Samburu, Turkana, and Laikipia – highlighted severe water stress due to increasing climate volatility, seasonal water shortages, overdependency per water source, and poor quality of water laden with biological and chemical contaminants. Pragya’s research also assessed how these circumstances impact pastoral migratory routes and resource-sharing arrangements, propelling conflict as communities compete for water. 

Building on this research, Pragya has been implementing a WASH programme for pastoral ASAL communities that to date has benefitted over 7,200 people through the creation of Women’s Water & Sanitation Councils, water management training, spring revitalisation, regeneration of degraded pasturelands, and a range of community installations for improved water harvesting, de-silting of water sources, and improved transport and storage of water. A school sanitation intervention also involved provision of school toilets and hygiene awareness, whilst work with nomadic groups included distribution of portable water tanks. 

In 2021-22, with the support of the JAC Trust, Pragya launched a project to scale this work among pastoral communities in Samburu County. The project will build critical awareness and capacity among these communities, who have little access to essential infrastructure, knowledge, and resource networks – empowering them to enact long term change. It will comprise: water management training, including introduction to appropriate technologies; participative water conservation, including regeneration of water sources; and community- and house-hold level cooperative water budgeting. The project’s progress as of spring 2022 included: 


**Community Engagement:** 10 villages in Samburu West SubCounty were selected for the project through consultative meetings (20) with stakeholders. Thorough needs assessments followed involving Key Informant Interviews (40) and a participative baseline survey. 152 community representatives fromthe ten villages, including 64 women, were selected for leading in project participation and engaged with. 

**Water Management Training:** A comprehensive training on water management, is being delivered in 4 rounds by an expert trainer. The trainings are aimed at improving capacity of pastoralist communities for local water governance and sustainable water usage, and equipping the selected community representatives with knowledge 

_Surveying of water sources with Pragya staff and a local water officer_ 

of appropriate technologies and resource management strategies. Two rounds of training (20 sessions) have been completed covering: protection of natural water sources; water conservation measures; water management methods/technologies; water harvesting, storage, and purification; and sharing and conflict resolution. 

**Participative Water Conservation:** 10 key water sources were identified, one for each target community, and revitalisation measures determined for each, comprising vegetative or structural interventions. The participative process followed involved the evaluation of surface and sub-surface water sources, and physical surveys to map out the selected sources and their feeding grounds, and determining interventions suitable for enhancing the feeding/retention. Research and consultations also supported identification of suitable soil binding species for vegetative interventions. 

**Next steps:** The project will continue through 2022-2023, with additional programming planned to mobilise water budgeting strategies at the community and household level, train village-level Women’s Water and Sanitation Councils (WWSC), and support participatory interventions for improvement of selected water sources. 

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_Pragya • www.pragya.org/uk • Registered Charity No. 1082476 • Annual Review 2021-22_ 



## _- Developing a peer support based approach to maternal and reproductive healthcare in northern Kenya_ 

In the Arid/Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) of northern Kenya, communities suffer appalling maternal and infant mortality rates. Past research conducted by Pragya and funded by Comic Relief highlighted how this situation is driven by a combination of factors including poverty and marginalisation, extremely poor local availability of health clinics, mistrust among communities concerning state healthcare, and entrenched cultural norms that see pregnant women more likely to rely on their peers for pre- and post- natal support. 

Based on its research findings, Pragya developed a model for peerled Maternal and Reproductive Health (MRH) support for the ASALs that leverages local strengths and addresses root causes of the problem. 

Pragya’s model comprises three pillars of support: 

## - _**Pillar 1 - Support Networks & Capacity Building**_ 

The model develops networks of women’s peer support groups anchored by Community Health Workers, which provide health surveillance, diagnosis and referral services to their communities using simple toolkits, and promote awareness of issues related to maternal and reproductive health via health information Kiosks. This pillar also empowers women leaders to advocate for health sector reforms to improve maternal and child heath in remote and marginalised areas. 

## - _**Pillar 2 - Social & Behavioural Change**_ 

This pillar includes culturally sensitive campaigns promoting sexual and reproductive health rights towards ending violence against women and girls; campaign design leverages community elders, local arts and mass media, and also has a focus on men and boys towards reducing risky and harmful sexual behaviours. The model empowers women leaders to educate adolescent girls, pregnant women and new mothers on preventative and promotive healthcare. Health programmes for schools promote awareness 



_Community consultations and research, funded by Comic Relief UK_ 

and sensitivity around reproductive health for adolescent girls and boys, towards improved personal hygiene and school attendance. 

## - _**Pillar 3 - Addressing malnutrition**_ 

CHWs and other women leaders are empowered to act as ‘barefoot nutritionists’ for their communities, conducting Hunger & Nutrition Watch schemes using basic nutrition surveillance toolkits. Education programmes for women promote proper family diet planning, in combination with training in NutrientDense Farming methodology for the development of kitchen gardens enabling diversified and nutritionally enriched household diets, whilst communities at large are supported to develop communal nutri-farms to tackle seasonal food insecurity. Children and adolescents are also engaged through educational programmes and school nutri-gardens that help foster the next generation of nutrichampions and ensure healthy, nutritious food for an energised and engaged leaning environment. 

The programme aims to: improve access to MRH support in Kenya’s ASALs; enhance capacity of local stakeholders to address MRH issues; enhance awareness in ASAL communities of issues and challenges related to MRH; and build capacity for community-anchored nutrition management. The programme’s midterm vision is that of improved maternal and reproductive health for approximately 0.6 million women and girls in the 3 ASAL counties of Turkana, Laikipia and Samburu, with a longer-term vision of expanding the programme and its benefits to Kenya’s 29 ASAL counties. 

In 2021-22, Pragya continued to explore avenues to launch the programme with potential donors, with a view to securing partnerships towards piloting and further evidence generation. 

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## **Disaster management** 

## _COVID-19 Response, India_ 

Pragya’s Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic was mobilised immediately following the WHO’s determination of the outbreak and lockdown in India, in March 2020. Initial activities included survival relief for urban and rural poor affected severely by the lockdown, and protective gear for frontline health workers. Subsequently, our strategy adapted to the crisis as it evolved, with targeted programmes continuing to be delivered up to the end of 2021. The work was delivered with the financial support of private donors, as well as in-kind support provided by Direct Relief, and comprised several thematic components: 

**Awareness campaigns on COVID-19:** Community awareness sessions were conducted for key influencers in communities. Leaflets were developed with information on COVID-19 do’s and don't’s and videos on COVID-19-appropriate behaviours, and these were shared via Whatsapp and SMSs along with local Helpline numbers with people without access to internet. Posters were put up on subjects including COVID-19 symptoms and measures for protection from COVID-19. A total of 1,233 small groups awareness sessions, 61 video/audio/SMS disseminations, and 36 different posters/leaflets were developed and used for the awareness campaigns. Direct individual outreach was over 12,000 people, while audio-visual and messaging outreach extended to over 150,000 people. Outreach was further expanded to over 420,000 through appropriately placed posters and leaflets. 

**Hand wash facilities and hand-hygiene awareness:** Pragya undertook the installation of contact-free handwash facilities in several slum colonies of Gurugram. Demonstrations were provided to the beneficiary communities on the proper usage of the hand wash facilities. In total, 16 handwashing stations have been installed in 7 urban slums and are providing access to safe handwashing facilities to an estimated 12,800 residents. Alongside the installation of hand-wash facilities, multiple rounds of a hand hygiene awareness campaign were conducted in the slum colonies. 

**Mask production by self-help groups (SHG) for protection and rapid income-generation:** A total of 40 women’s SHGs have been supported for undertaking mask-making in 6 districts. The SHG members were provided training on mask-making and sewing kits and raw material to assist them to undertake mask-production. 366 women are now competent in mask production, and have links to at least 15 pharmacies and retail stores for sales. The SHGs reached an average weekly production of about 6500 masks, of which about 1000 were being used by the communities themselves and the remaining were sold to support incomes. 


_A women’s self-help group training session for mask production, West Bengal_ 

**Support for State-run Quarantines:** The lockdowns and resulting shrinkage of the economy led to severe job losses among the migrant workers from rural areas. This in turn led to reverse migration by these migrants back to rural districts and considerable spread of the disease. Pragya supported state-run quarantine centres for returning migrant workers, aiding them with provision of face-masks, gloves, sanitisers, thermal scanners, and other materials and instruments for the quarantine staff, as well as food supplies for the quarantined migrant workers. Our field offices worked with district administrations in 9 districts, making immediate provisions available. 

**Medical supplies for frontline workers:** Continual efforts were made by Pragya to procure large quantities of facemasks, gloves, sanitisers, and other materials for use by frontline workers. 150,000 face masks, 21,000 Sanitizers, 15,200 Hand Gloves, 40 full-body PPE Kits, 500 goggles (eye protectors) were distributed, serving 116,562 frontline workers across 20 rural districts. 

**Medical equipment and instruments for rural health facilities:** Rural health facilities were severely under-resourced with respect to equipment and instruments, which left them unable to cope effectively with the large numbers of patients. Rigorous efforts at sourcing much-needed instruments and equipment were successful in delivering 35 oxygen concentrators, 370 pulse oximeters, and over 250 thermal scanners to under-resourced medical facilities across 13 rural districts. 


_Distribution of Covid-19-related medical supplies to a rural hospital, West Bengal_ 

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_Pragya • www.pragya.org/uk • Registered Charity No. 1082476 • Annual Review 2021-22_ 



**Educative sessions on COVID-19 by health experts:** Frontline health workers in rural districts were severely hamstrung by the lack of medical information and knowledge about the disease and its care. Pragya worked with medical professionals to develop a course on COVID-19 prevention, detection, treatment, and care, which was delivered to large numbers of frontline health workers through multiple teleconferences. 7 batches of frontline health workers were trained with a total of 2263 frontline workers having undergone the sessions across 6 districts. 

**Psychological health inputs to frontline health workers:** Coordinating with the National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, Pragya developed a series of psychological health sessions for frontline health workers entitled “Caring for oneself while caring for others – managing stress”, which were delivered by two psychological health experts from NIMHANS. A total of 2,748 frontline healthcare workers from across 14 rural districts participated. 

**Training frontline workers in psychosocial counselling & support:** In view of the high order of mental health issues arising from the pandemic, Pragya determined that frontline health workers should also be equipped to address these issues and ameliorate them in their own communities/ beneficiary base. Through dialogues with NIMHANS, an 8-module training course on psycho-social counselling was designed along with curricular materials, and two specialists from NIMHANS delivered the course. The course was developed for online delivery and while the initial virtual round was attended by 100 frontline workers, the course was thereafter made available on Pragya’s online learning platform on Thinkific (Learn with Pragya) and was attended by 2,648 frontline workers. 

**Campaigns to build awareness on and capacity to address compounded vulnerabilities:** Campaigns were conducted regarding the compounded vulnerabilities created by the pandemic, such as violence against women and children. These primarily targeted frontline workers, Village Health, Sanitation, and Nutrition Committee members, Women's village councils, and women's SHGs. Campaign content generated awareness on these issues and shared ways to promote mental health. A total of 727 small group awareness sessions, 40 video/audio disseminations, and 36 different posters/leaflets were developed and delivered. Direct individual focused outreach was 7,000+ people. Audio-visual messaging outreach extended to 10,000+ people, and the outreach was further expanded through posters and leaflets. 


_Information posters addressing psychological and social impacts of covid-19_ 

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_Pragya • www.pragya.org/uk • Registered Charity No. 1082476 • Annual Review 2021-22_ 



**Survival assistance during lockdowns for rural and urban poor:** Each wave of the pandemic and its associated lockdown resulted in loss of livelihoods for the daily wagers in urban slums and migrant labourers from rural areas. Through each of the pandemic’s waves, Pragya mobilised and delivered relief to the poorest families in several urban slums and rural towns. In each of the target districts, food and hygiene items were procured and distributed. Each kit contained rice, wheat, pulses, sugar, salt, cooking oil, biscuits, and soap. Over 2,100 migrant labourer and daily wager households (ca. 10,690 people) across 7 urban slums and 20 rural districts were supported during the two waves of the pandemic. 

**Convalescence Support for COVID Patients:** For selected severely impoverished populations, Pragya also worked to aid convalescence of COVID-19-recovered patients. In two districts, the Pragya team coordinated with district medical officers to identify hospitalised COVID-19 patients discharged in the recent past and in need of convalescence support. 50 patients were identified from particularly disadvantaged groups with low resources/capacity to meet the nutritional needs prescribed by doctors for full recovery and prevention of relapse/ re-infection. A Nutrition Supplementation Package was developed and Pragya reached out to the patients’ families through door-to-door visits. 



_Survival assistance and convalescence support packages_ 

**Livelihoods assistance to out-of-work poor:** A livelihoods needs assessment survey was conducted across multiple slum colonies in Gurugram. Based on the findings, several out-of-work migrant workers were assisted to rehabilitate as hawkers or to set up home/cottage enterprises. Daily wage workers who had undertaken reverse migration to their rural districts and were now without any income source were provided with start-up inputs for livelihood generation in their home locations. A total of 350 out-of-work daily wage workers were aided to set up alternative livelihoods and thus support their families, comprising an estimated 1750 people. 

**Agricultural support for rural poor:** Pandemic-induced job losses in urban areas and reverse migration led to shrinkage of family incomes in rural areas. Disruption of agricultural markets and transportation of agricultural produce also resulted in wastage of harvests and revenue losses. Pragya supported small and marginal rural farmers to cope with the pandemic’s impacts on their livelihoods. Seeds/saplings of high-value crops with longer shelf-lives were procured and distributed in some of the poorest districts. A total of 740 small and marginal farmers across 4 districts were thus supported, with linkages to buyers of agricultural produce facilitated. 

**Helplines for livelihood information dissemination:** The government launched several schemes to relieve pandemic-induced stresses on the economy. However, awareness and outreach of these schemes was particularly low in the rural hinterlands. Pragya offices installed and operated helplines to provide information on government schemes to rural communities. A total of 11,836 individuals were aided through these helplines. 

**Sustainability and way forward:** Pragya’s efforts have primarily focused on supporting communities, local governments, and frontline workers. Pragya’s continued connection with the communities it supports enables it to continue to handhold them as needed. 

The pandemic’s fallouts, social and economic, are severe and will persist and have compounded effects for a long time, hitting the poorest and most vulnerable groups the most. The out-of-work population has multiplied and incomes have shrunk, pushing many households into severe poverty. Women and children and socially excluded groups are suffering much higher rates of violence and adverse social practices, and this is estimated to increase further. 

Pragya’s sustained commitment to its beneficiary communities – via its offices and field staff spanning 8 states – will continue to support the resilience of severely affected communities and undertake measures to prevent violence against vulnerable groups, while also continuing to work to prevent further outbreaks and aiding governments to improve health services and capacity. 

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_Pragya • www.pragya.org/uk • Registered Charity No. 1082476 • Annual Review 2021-22_ 



## _- - DMS Himalaya Strengthening disaster preparedness in the Himalaya_ 

The Himalayan region is extremely disaster-prone and subject to multiple types of hazards including flash flooding, landslides and glacier collapse, earthquakes, and forest fires. Global warming is having a disproportionate impact on the region, with warming at up to three times the global average, driving ever more erratic weather events, disrupting monsoon patterns and exacerbating the frequency and intensity of disasters. The populations affected are remote and marginalised communities that have little disaster resilience, whilst government disaster management authorities are hampered by lack of incident information and geographic constraints. 

Pragya has pioneered the Disaster Management System (DMS)-Himalaya, an information and capacity building programme that enables remote Himalayan communities to reduce their disaster risk and to respond effectively in disaster scenarios. It reimagines the accepted (but ineffective) roles for disaster management, building capacity at every point in the disaster management chain and networking communities, responders, and government, fostering a collaborative community-state approach to disaster management, supported by appropriate technology. 

DMS-Himalaya aims to address the prevailing issues with respect to effective disaster management (DM) in the Indian Himalayan Region through the implementation of a _Citizen-led Disaster Management System_ , uniquely adapted to the Himalayan region, its geography, and hazard profiles. The innovation establishes a network and infrastructure to link communities at the local level through to government authorities. It comprises: 

**Disaster Response Teams (DRT):** These are in-community observation nodes and responders comprising local youth responsible for: weather and geological data monitoring and alerting communities; assisting in community evacuations; acting as first responders in emergency; and supporting post-disaster data collection and needs reporting. 

**Points of Presence (PoP):** These are proximal communications points, typically police/army outposts equipped with satellite communications technology for disaster information relay from local levels. 

**Local Disaster Management Units (LDMU):** Local government disaster management (DM) offices are equipped with a DMS-Himalaya Resource Directory and connected with the DRTs and PoPs for information relay. These are also connected with scientific institutions for relay of regional weather warnings to the PoPs. 

## **Two Pillars of Support for Effective Community Based Disaster Management:** 

- Tools for Hazard Monitoring, Early Warning and Relief Needs Communication: This comprises local hazard monitoring frameworks including weather monitoring tools for local observational data. Recording and communication of the observational data is via the DMS-Himalaya App which comprises: 

   - Go-Risk: location-specific pre-disaster environmental alert tool using grassroots measurement grids 

   - RnR-Comm: a Relief & Response communication tool for post-disaster community use 

- Capacity building of community / responders: Training for stakeholders (DRTs, village councils, government DM officers) to perform their functions; conducting of village-level Hazard, Vulnerability and Capability Assessments and mapping of hazards, safe spaces and evacuation routes; and conducting village-level disaster awareness drives and evacuation drills. This is enabled via a DMS-Himalaya Training Toolkit comprising modules for various stakeholder groups. 

In Phase I, which culminated in 2019-2020, DMS Himalaya was piloted in 4 districts in the state of Uttarakhand in the central Himalayan zone in India. This pilot phase built an effective base for adoption of DMS-Himalaya across 800 villages - comprising 80 clusters with trained Disaster Response Teams (DRT) in each cluster, equipped with the DMS-Himalaya App’s digital tools (Go-Risk and RnR-Comm). Interventions during this phase built the capacity of the DRTs as well as key stakeholders across the 4 districts to enable them to carry out their envisaged role in community-based disaster management. The digital tools also proved their worth, improving early warning, response, and post-disaster relief. 

Phase II of the project, which commenced in 2021, is expanding coverage to the eastern and western Himalayan zones in India. The expansion covers 8 new districts, comprising 4 districts in each of the 2 zones of eastern and western Himalaya. This phase of the project is supporting the modulation of the project’s tools to the variations in hazard profiles between the central Himalaya and the eastern and western Himalaya, thereby ensuring robustness and area-appropriateness of the tools. Demonstration of the efficacy of the model across all 3 zones, with an equal footprint for demonstration in each, will further prime it for uptake across the entire length of the Indian Himalaya. 

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_Pragya • www.pragya.org/uk • Registered Charity No. 1082476 • Annual Review 2021-22_ 



The project team has worked intensively to scale the project in 202122, overcoming hurdles and delays due to the pandemic. The programme has reached implementation in over 2000 villages comprising 240 clusters, and across 12 districts spread over 4 states and 1 union territory, spanning the central, eastern, and western Himalaya. MoUs were signed with multiple governmental agencies, and linkages with nodal institutions were strengthened, as these contributed significantly to developing hazard profiles for the new Himalayan zones and to conducting intensive training for new DRTs as well as various other stakeholders across both the Phase I and Phase II districts. 

**Adaptation of DMS-Himalaya for new areas:** Rigorous research was undertaken through 2021-22 on the hazard profiles of the new zones for implementation (eastern, western) in the Himalaya, and these were finalised and shared (including with the wider DM community, and with the development community, and are available online at: https://www.elrha.org/researchdatabase/dms-himalayahazard-profiles-in-the-western-and-eastern-Himalaya/). The DMSHimalaya app was adapted to incorporate the changes required for the new hazard profiles, with new indicators, parameters, and protocols. Research was also conducted on appropriate weather monitoring instruments for the Himalaya in view of the learnings from Phase I of the project. Extensive study and search for Automated Weather Stations (AWS) - with greater robustness and coverage - involved discussions with institutions and vendors globally, and informed the selection of an AWS developed by Campbell Scientific that was much esteemed by district governments and nodal agencies. 

Field surveys and consultations - both with communities and with the local governments - helped in the identification of suitable monitoring sites for the installation of AWS to monitor weather at the micro-scale in the target clusters. AWS instruments have been procured to cover 96 target village-clusters and installations begun, with 46 village clusters receiving coverage. The AWS were launched through official events held by the respective district governments, which also received local media coverage. 

**Implementation of DMS-Himalaya in new areas:** MoUs were elicited with district and state authorities in all the new implementation areas. 160 village-clusters for guided implementation were selected across the 8 target districts from the eastern and western zones, and each new cluster has been thoroughly mapped and key stakeholders and resources identified. Village Preparedness Committees (VPCs) were formed in all target districts and members were provided training on: role, structure, and processes for VPCs; existing hazards, vulnerabilities, and capacities of respective districts; and the need for embedding disaster management mechanisms at the local level. Women leaders in the target clusters, representatives of other vulnerable groups, frontline workers and people with disabilities (PwD) are also being mobilised for audience-specific leadership training. 



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An AWS installed in the field<br>A digital tablet at a DMS Himalaya<br>Information Kiosk<br>DM Kit provision and orientation for a<br>Disaster Response Team<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>




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A meeting held with a Village<br>Preparedness Committee<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


Hazard, Risk, Vulnerability, and Capacity Assessments (HRVCA) were carried out for nearly all selected village-clusters. Kiosks were designed and equipped with all necessary information for effective DM education and information in each respective district. These were installed in the Pragya field offices and are being promoted locally towards enhancing their use. 

**Mobilisation and Training of Disaster Response Teams:** DRTs and their leaders recruited in the new districts were trained in collaboration with nodal institutes for DM in the country. 1420 DRTs 

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participated in a comprehensive Training Agenda and Calendar, comprising nine modules, and delivered by the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). Self-learning modules and short booster programmes were also provided by Pragya. 

Selected DRTs were also provided with DM Kits that include search & rescue components, survival components, personal protection components, and operational components, branded to communicate the role of the DRTs to observers and other stakeholders, while also motivating the DRTs and helping them identify with their role. 

The trained DRTs have begun monitoring weather and hazard parameters at monitoring sites in their village-clusters using the DMS Himalaya App. In disaster cases, they have been instrumental in alerting their communities, evacuating the vulnerable, and communicating for response and relief. 

**Widening community awareness and enhancing preparedness:** Multiple approaches were used to enhance community awareness of DM and various preparedness measures specific to Himalayan hazards, including radio programmes, Whatsapp campaigns, audio-visual materials, and posters/leaflets. An estimated outreach of over 600,000 was achieved. While these helped to overcome the constraints in outreach due to the pandemic, the use of digital modes also helped to generally enhance the model’s capacity for broader outreach. 




_A training session with State Disaster Response Force staff in Meghalaya_ 

**Sustainability and progress towards strength of the initiative:** The scale goal through to 2022-23 is to extend the innovation’s impact to 900,000 people across 12 local authorities in India – saving livelihoods, saving lives. This project is made possible through the generosity of Pragya’s major supporters. In particular, DMS-Himalaya is funded and supported by Elrha’s Humanitarian Innovation Fund (HIF), a programme which improves outcomes for people affected by humanitarian crises by identifying, nurturing, and sharing more effective and scalable solutions. Elrha’s HIF is funded by aid from the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Elrha is a global charity that finds solutions to complex humanitarian problems through research and innovation. Visit www.elrha.org to find out more. 

## . Advocac Work 4 y 

Pragya promotes awareness among the international development community and the general public about the needs of remote and marginalised communities living on the fringes of society, and environmental crises in remote and ecologically fragile areas. Towards this, Pragya participates in various forums and exhibits its work at conferences and events, in addition to publishing our research on certain issues and the impacts of our approaches. 

In 2021-22, Pragya continued its participation in Philanthropy for Social Justice and Peace’s (PSJP) forums to explore how philanthropy can strengthen communities in the face of COVID-19 and how we might build back better in a post-COVID-19 world. The forum brought together academics and representatives from philanthropic entities across the world, and addressed questions such as “What does it take to build resilience in our communities and our organisations? How do we build a resilient, vibrant and strong civil society?” Inputs to these forums led to the publication of two reports, _Building resilience in international development_ and _Understanding resilience in international development_ , which are available on PSJP’s website. 

Pragya maintained its membership of the BOND network in 2021-22 and continued to engage with the community at its London office within The Foundry Social Justice and Human Rights Centre. We also promoted our work via our website and social media platforms. 

## . Partner Or anisations 5 g 

> _[21]_ 

_Pragya • www.pragya.org/uk • Registered Charity No. 1082476 • Annual Review 2021-22_ 



Pragya UK is part of a network of locally-registered Pragya organisations around the world with a common purpose and vision. The UK branch of Pragya is primarily a fundraising, communications and project management function, we do not have staff based oversees. Instead, to implement our programmes we work in partnership with our global sister organisations and where appropriate we leverage the expertise of experienced and carefully vetted third party NGOs with whom we have long-established MOUs. This set-up ensures our work is delivered by staff with a depth of knowledge and experience concerning the local context, whilst contributing to local labour markets. 

In India, Pragya UK delivers its projects in partnership with Pragya India; founded in 1995, Pragya India is headquartered in Gurugram and operates across western, northern and eastern India via an extensive network of field offices. Pragya India has a substantial research and advocacy function, and delivers a wide variety of projects across the full breadth of Pragya programme areas. 

Pragya UK has worked with Pragya in Nepal since 2006; based in Kathmandu, they coordinate the delivery of projects across rural districts, harnessing the highly localised expertise of NGOs situated in the vicinity of project sites. Since 2015, Pragya’s work in Nepal has focussed on various aspects of rehabilitation in communities deeply impacted by the earthquake, and lately where this now intersects with the impacts of COVID-19. 

Pragya UK began delivering projects in Bangladesh in 2018. We work in partnership with in-country NGOs to improve the desperate situation of river island communities facing multiple severe challenges. Following research and pilot work in 2018-19, Pragya secured grant funding in 2019-20 to launch its Bangladesh programmes, beginning with WASH interventions continuing in 2020-21 but with wider programming also planned across disaster management, livelihoods, prevention of trafficking and violence against women, and education. 

In east Africa, Pragya UK works with Pragya Kenya, an NGO founded in 2011 and based in Nairobi and delivering projects in tandem with selected localised NGOs in Kakamega county in western Kenya, as well as in the northern Arid and Semi-Arid counties. Pragya Kenya are experienced in conducting research and development interventions encompassing water and sanitation, agriculture and livelihoods, healthcare, education, and inter-community conflict. 

## Thank you to all our supporters without whose generosity and vision our vital work would not be possible. 

> _[22]_ 

_Pragya • www.pragya.org/uk • Registered Charity No. 1082476 • Annual Review 2021-22_ 



## **PRAGYA** 

_**Development without Destruction Empowerment for Enabling Choices**_ 

## **FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022** 

_**Charity No. 1082476**_ 

_1_ 



**PRAGYA** _**Financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022**_ 

**Reference and Administrative Details** 

**_________________________________________________________________________________________________________** 

|**R E F E R E N C E    A N DA D M I N I S T R A T I V ED E T A I L S**|**R E F E R E N C E    A N DA D M I N I S T R A T I V ED E T A I L S**|
|---|---|
|**Company number**|N.A.|
|**Charity number**|1082476|
|**Registered office**|The Foundry|
||17 Oval Way|
||London|
||SE11 5RR|
|**Trustees**|Gargi Banerji - Chairperson|
||Arasan Aruliah|
||Pratap Rughani|
|**Bankers**|HSBC|
||176 Camden High Street|
||London NW1 8QL|
|**Solicitors**|N.A.|



_**Charity No. 1082476**_ 

_2_ 



**PRAGYA** _**Financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022**_ 

**Contents** 

||**C O N T E N T S**||
|---|---|---|
|**Report of the trustees**||4 - 7|
|**Report of the independent examiner**||8|
|**Statement of financial activities**||9|
|**Balance sheet**||10|
|**Notes to the financial statements**||11-14|



_**Charity No. 1082476**_ 

_3_ 



**PRAGYA** _**Financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022**_ 

**Trustees’ Report** 

**______________________________________________________________________________________** 

## **T R U S T E E S’ R E P O R T** 

## **INTRODUCTION** 

The Trustees are pleased to present their Report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022. 

Reference and administrative information is set out on page 1 and forms part of this report. The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities. 

## **STATUS AND GOVERNING DOCUMENT** 

PRAGYA was registered as a charity on 20[th] October 2000. 

## **Charitable Objects** 

The objects of the charity are: 

- i. to stimulate development in vulnerable and neglected communities, particularly in mountain systems and other ecologically fragile areas, enabling and empowering them through the use of appropriate technologies, traditional knowledge and indigenous solutions; 

- ii. to encourage improved natural resource management, and conservation and sustainable utilisation of the natural and cultural heritage in sensitive ecosystems and communities; 

- iii. to institute alternative, sustainable development forms in mountain systems and other ecologically fragile and pristine areas, through development action and policy change; 

- iv. to conduct research in the development sciences with special reference to the target areas and groups (as above), develop appropriate models/products/tools/techniques, and document, publish and exchange the learnings acquired; 

- v. to raise funds to support activities towards meeting the above objectives of the Charity. 

## **TRUSTEES** 

Trustees serving during the year and up to the date of this report were as follows: 

Mr. Arasan Aruliah 4, Middleton Grove London N7 9LU 

Ms. Gargi Banerji - Chair 102, Tower 4, The Palms, Sector 30 Gurgaon - 122001, India 

Mr. Pratap Rughani 22, Sugar Loaf Walk Bethnal Green London E2 OJQ 

_**Charity No. 1082476**_ 

_4_ 



**PRAGYA** _**Financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022**_ 

**Trustees’ Report** 

**______________________________________________________________________________________** 

## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** 

The Trustee Board meets two times a year. 

## **Internal Control, Management and Risk Review** 

Governance activities include maintaining ongoing controls and procedures to ensure effective stewardship of financial and other resources, and monitoring of annual objectives against an agreed strategic and business plan for the organisation. The Trustee Board receives regular reports from management staff and conducts an in-depth review at least twice a year.  This review includes an assessment of key internal and external factors affecting the achievement of the charity’s general and specific objectives – and forms the basis of agreed updates and amendments to the strategic plan. 

The systems of internal control are designed to provide reasonable, but not absolute, assurance against material misstatement or loss.  They include: 

- A strategic plan and an annual budget approved by the trustees; 

- Regular consideration by the trustees of financial results, variance from budgets, non-financial performance indicators and benchmarking reviews; 

- Delegation of authority and segregation of duties, and identification and management of risks. 

The trustees are pleased to report that the charity’s internal financial controls, in particular, conform to guidelines issued by the Charity Commission. The trustees have reviewed risks and are satisfied that appropriate mitigating controls and actions are in place. 

## **CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES** 

## **Beneficiaries** 

The primary beneficiaries of the charity include the disadvantaged communities living and/or working in Bangladesh, India, Kenya and Nepal. In addition, the wider public, policymakers and others that can influence and bring about a positive change in the condition of the primary beneficiaries are also targeted by the charity through its interventions. 

## **Objectives** 

The objectives of the charity include: 

- i. Build the capacity of marginalised and disadvantaged communities to access their rights and achieve their own development goals. 

- ii. Enhance the economic and livelihood opportunities available to disadvantaged communities. 

- iii. Support vulnerable and disadvantaged communities to conserve and utilize their surrounding ecosystem in an environmentally and socially sustainable manner. 

- iv. Conserve and promote traditional culture and knowledge. 

- v. Utilize this traditional knowledge alongside new technology to improve the management of natural resources in the ecologically sensitive areas. 

- vi. Advocate within the UK and internationally on the importance of supporting community-led development and environmental conservation. 

Our objectives are achieved through: 

- Mobilising resources and providing knowledge and monitoring inputs for projects being implemented by partners in disadvantaged regions. 

- Documenting needs of communities and project learnings and sharing with stakeholders and the development community in the UK. 

- Participating in various fora and networking for developing wider awareness and building a support base for target issues/region in the UK. 

_**Charity No. 1082476**_ 

_5_ 



**PRAGYA** _**Financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022**_ 

**Trustees’ Report** 

**______________________________________________________________________________________** 

## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** 

Our key financial objectives were to secure funding for current services and to increase our unrestricted reserves to expand and develop new areas of work. We were successful in enhancing resources for existing programmes as well as in scaling up new areas of work. 

Total incoming resources for the year were £682,634 (2021 - £528,781); total expenditure was £501,056 (2021 - £396,997). A breakdown of expenditure by activity areas is on Statement of financial Activities (page 9). 

Total funds during the year increased by £181,578 (2021 – £131,784), bringing the funds carried forward to £313,719 (2021 - £132,141). 

## **Reserves Policy and Going Concern** 

Reserves are needed to bridge the gap between the spending and receiving of income and to cover unplanned emergency repairs and other expenditure. The trustees consider that the ideal level of unrestricted reserves as at 31 March 2022 would be at a level sufficient to cover three months' expenditure, i.e. £15,000. The Trustees have reviewed the circumstances of the charity and consider that adequate resources continue to be available to fund the activities of the Charity for the foreseeable future. The trustees are of the view that Charity are a going concern. 

## **STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES** 

The charity trustees are responsible for preparing a trustees’ annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). 

Charity law requires Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income or expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. 

In preparing these accounts, the Trustees are required to: 

- select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently 

- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP 

- make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent 

- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in business 

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper and adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions. 

_**Charity No. 1082476**_ 

_6_ 



**PRAGYA** _**Financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022**_ 

**Trustees’ Report** 

**______________________________________________________________________________________** 

## **PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT** 

The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in section 4 of the Charities Act 2006 to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit, _‘charities and public benefit’._ 

Pragya’s charitable purpose is enshrined in its objects - to support and develop the disadvantaged communities living and/or working in the underserved regions.  The Trustees ensure that this is carried out for the public benefit by delivering programmes and services that are of value to the participants of the projects. The participants are members of the public known to and/or identified by Partner organisations (e.g. NGO’s, Local Authorities, Aid Agencies) with whom and for whom Pragya develops the projects. These partnerships ensure that Pragya’s activities reach the right recipients and thus fulfil the charities core objectives. 

Approved by the Board on 30 January, 2023 and signed on their behalf by: 


Gargi Banerji Chairperson 

Date: 30 January, 2023 

_**Charity No. 1082476**_ 

_7_ 



**PRAGYA** 

**Report of the Independent Examiner** 

_**Financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022**_ 

**______________________________________________________________________________________** 

**R E P O R T    O F    T H E    I N D E P E N D E N T    E X A M I N E R    T O T H E    T R U S T E E S    O F    P R A G Y A** 

We report on the accounts of the company for the year ended 31 March 2022, which are set out on pages 9 to 14. 

## **RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEES AND EXAMINER** 

The trustees (who are also the directors of the company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. The charity is required by company law to prepare accrued accounts and I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of CIPFA. 

Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under company law and is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility to: 

- examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act; 

- to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and 

- to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. 

## **BASIS OF INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT** 

Our examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. 

## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S STATEMENT** 

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: 

- i.  which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements: 

   - to keep accounting records in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006; and 

   - to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records, comply with the accounting requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities have not been met; or 

- ii. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. 


Andi Dollia, CPFA Additude Ltd 9 Rhapsody Court Wakeman Road London NW10 5DF 

Date: _27 January 2023_ 

_**Charity No. 1082476**_ 

_8_ 



**PRAGYA** _**Financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022**_ 

**______________________________________________________________________________________** 

## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES** 

## **(Incorporating income and expenditure account)** 

||Note|Restricted<br>(£)|Unrestricted<br>(£)|**2022**<br>**Total (£)**|2021<br>Total (£)|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Income from:**||||||
|||||||
|Donations and legacies|2|678,434|4,200|**682,634**|528,781|
|Charitable activities||-|-|**-**|-|
|Investment and other income||-|-|**-**|-|
|**Total(Total Income)**||**678,434**|**4,200**|**682,634**|528,781|
|||||||
|**Expenditure on:**|3|||||
|Raisingfunds||16,596|-|**16,596**|24,645|
|Charitable activities||484,460|-|**484,460**|372,352|
|Other||-|-|**-**|-|
|||||||
|**Total(Total Expenditure)**||**501,056**|**-**|**501,056**|396,997|
|||||||
|**Netgains/(losses) on investments**||-|-|**-**|-|
|||||||
|**Net income/(expenditure)**|4|**177,378**|**4,200**|**181,578**|131,784|
|||||||
|**Transfer between funds**||(18,129)|18,129|**-**|-|
|||||||
|**Net movement in funds**||**159,249**|**22,329**|**181,578**|131,784|
|||||||
|**Reconciliation of funds:**||||||
|||||||
|**Total funds brought forward**||125,712|6,429|**132,141**|357|
|||||||
|**Total funds carried forward**||**284,961**|**28,758**|**313,719**|132,141|



All of the above results are derived from continuing activities. There were no other recognised gains or losses other than those stated above. Movements in funds are disclosed in Note 9 to the financial statements. 

_**Charity No. 1082476**_ 

_9_ 



**PRAGYA** _**Financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022**_ 

**_______________________________________________________________________________________** 

## **BALANCE SHEET** 

||**Note**|**2022**(**£)**|**2021**(£)|
|---|---|---|---|
|||||
|**Fixed Assets**||||
|Tangible fixed assets||**-**|-|
|||||
|**Current Assets**||||
|Debtors||**399**|-|
|Cash at bank||**319,543**|140,275|
|||||
|**Total Current Assets**||**319,942**|140,275|
|||||
|**Current Liabilities**||||
|Creditors: amounts fallingdue within oneyear|7|**6,223**|8,134|
|||||
|**Net current assets**||**313,719**|132,141|
|||||
|**Net assets**|8|**313,719**|132,141|
|||||
|**Funds**|9|||
|Restricted||**284,961**|125,712|
|General||**28,758**|6,429|
|||||
|**Total funds**||**313,719**|132,141|



For the year ended 31 March 2022 the company was entitled to exemption under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006; and no notice has been deposited under section 476. No members have required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question. The directors acknowledge responsibility for: i) Ensuring the company keeps accounting records which comply with section 386; and ii) Preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company as at the end of its profit and loss for the financial year in accordance with requirements of section 394 and 395, and which otherwise comply with requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far applicable to the company. These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime. 

Approved by the trustees on ………………………………. and signed on their behalf by: 


Gargi Banerji Chairperson 

Date: 30 January, 2023 

The accompanying accounting policies and notes form part of these financial statements. 

_**Charity No. 1082476**_ 

_10_ 



**PRAGYA** _**Financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022**_ 

**_______________________________________________________________________________________** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

## **1. Accounting policies** 

- a. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standards for Small Entities (April 2008) and the Companies Act 2006. They follow the recommendations in the Statement of Recommended Practice, Accounting and Reporting by Charities (issued in March 2005). 

- b. Voluntary income is received by way of donations and gifts and is included in full in the statement of financial activities when receivable. Volunteer time is not included in the financial statements. 

- c. Grants are recognized in full in the statement of financial activities in the year in which they are receivable. d. Resources expended are recognized in the period in which they are incurred. Resources expended include attributable VAT which cannot be recovered. 

- e. Restricted funds are to be used for specific purposes as laid down by the donor. Expenditure which meets these criteria is charged to the fund together with a fair allocation of management and support costs. 

- f. Unrestricted funds are donations and other incoming resources receivable or generated for the objects of the charity. 

- g. The costs of raising funds relate to the costs incurred by the charitable company in raising funds for the charitable work. 

## **2. Donations and legacies** 

|||**2022**||2021|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Restricted (£)|Unrestricted<br>(£)|**Total (£)**|Total (£)|
|Allan and Nesta Ferguson Charitable<br>Trust|-|-|-|20,000|
|Balbir Chowdhary|-|2,400|2,400|3,200|
|Elrha|257,483|-|257,483|142,946|
|JAC Trust|28,558|-|28,558|-|
|Guernsey Overseas Aid &<br>Development Commission|23,729|-|23,729|23,729|
|Harbinson Charitable Trust|-|1,450|1,450|1,400|
|Other Trusts and foundations|180,518|350|180,868|318,917|
|The KirbyLaingFoundation|10,000|-|10,000|-|
|The Brian Mercer Trust|10,000|-|10,000|-|
|The Margaret Hayman Charitable Trust<br>Fund|-|-|-|15,589|
|Solidar Suisse|154,146|-|154,146|-|
|Souter Charitable Trust|5,000|-|5,000|-|
|The Haramead Trust|5,000|-|5,000|-|
|Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust|4,000|-|4,000|-|
|W F Southall Trust||||3,000|



_**Charity No. 1082476**_ 

_11_ 



**PRAGYA** _**Financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022**_ 

**_______________________________________________________________________________________** 

**Total 678,434 4,200 682,634 528,781** 

## **3. Total Expenditure** 

|**Expenditure**|Cost of<br>raising funds<br>(£)|Cost of<br>charitable<br>activities(£)|Support<br>Costs(£)|**2022 Total**<br>**(£)**|2021 Total<br>(£)|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Staff costs(note 5)|13,764|27,530|13,765|55,059|58,441|
|Rent, insurance,<br>utilities,services|-|-|10,020|10,020|10,037|
|Bank Charges|-|-|945|945|1,036|
|Postage and<br>telephone|-|-|95|95|140|
|Membership<br>Subscriptions|-|-|1,792|1,792|1,144|
|Independent<br>Examination|-|-|1,100|1,100|1,000|
|Consultancyfees|-|-|600|600|2,138|
|Direct project<br>expenses|<br>-|431,445|-|431,445|323,061|
|**Total**|**13,764**|**458,975**|**28,317**|**501,056**|396,997|
|Add: allocation of<br>support costs|2,832|25,485|(28,317)|-|-|
|**Total expenditure**|**16,596**|**484,460**|**-**|**501,056**|396,997|



## **4. Net income/(expenditure) for the year** 

|**4. Net income/(expenditure) for theyear**|||
|---|---|---|
|This is stated after charging /crediting:|||
||**2022** (**£)**|2021(£)|
|Depreciation|**-**|-|
|Trustees' remuneration|-|-|
|Trustees' reimbursed expenses|-|-|
|Independent Examiner's remuneration|**1,100**|1,000|



_**Charity No. 1082476**_ 

_12_ 



**PRAGYA** _**Financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022**_ 

**_______________________________________________________________________________________** 

## **5. Staff costs and numbers** 

|Staff costs were as follows:|**2022(£)**|**2021(£)**|
|---|---|---|
||||
|Salaries and wages|54,218|57,000|
|Social securitycosts|841|1,441|
|Pension contributions|-|-|
|Total emolumentspaid to employees were:|**55,059**|58,441|
||||
|No employee earned more than £60,000 during the year (2021 - 0)|||
|The average weekly number of staff (expressed as full-time equivalents) during the year was 1.8 (2021:<br>1.8)|||
||**2022(FTE)**|2021(FTE)|
|Raisingfunds|0.5|0.5|
|Charitable activities|1.0|1.0|
|Support costs|0.3|0.3|
|**Total**|**1.8**|1.8|



## **6. Taxation** 

The charitable company is exempt from corporation tax as all its income is charitable and is applied for charitable purposes. 

## **7. Creditors: amounts due within 1 year** 

|**7. Creditors: amounts due within 1year**|||
|---|---|---|
||**2022(£)**|2021(£)|
|Trade Creditors|**-**|1,134|
|Other Creditors|**4,823**|5,700|
|Independent Examination|**1,100**|1,000|
|Accruals and Provisions|**300**|300|
||||
|**Total**|**6,223**|8,134|



## **8. Analysis of net assets between funds** 

||Restricted Funds(£)|General funds(£)|**Total funds(£)**|
|---|---|---|---|
|Tangible fixed assets|-|-|<br>**-**|
|Net current assets|284,961|28,758|<br>**313,719**|
|**Net assets at the end of theyear**|**284,961**|**28,758**|<br>**313,719**|



_**Charity No. 1082476**_ 

_13_ 



**PRAGYA** _**Financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022**_ 

**_______________________________________________________________________________________** 

## **9. Movements in Fund** 

|||At the start<br>of the year<br>(£)|Incoming<br>resources (£)|Outgoing<br>resources (£)|Transfers (£)|**At the end of the**<br>**year (£)**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Unrestricted funds:**||||||
||**Total unrestricted**<br>**funds**|**6,429**|**4,200**|**-**|**18,129**|**28,758**|
||||||||
||**Restricted funds:**||||||
||**Total restricted**<br>**funds**|**125,712**|**678,434**|**501,056**|**(18,129)**|**284,961**|
||||||||
||**Total funds**|**132,141**|**682,634**|**501,056**|**-**|**313,719**|
||**Purposes of funds**||||||
||<br>**General funds:**These are the free reserves of the Charity, which can be used for any purpose within its<br>charitable objects.||||||
||**Restricted funds:**The following restricted funding was received over the course of the financial year for use<br>in projects related to Livelihoods, Food Security, Education, Gender, Informal workers and Disaster Risk<br>Reduction & Management.||||||



_**Charity No. 1082476**_ 

_14_