Centre for Science and Environment 2019-2024

It is proposed that Sida will give core support to CSE for a 5-year period, 2019-2024, of a total of 120 million SEK. CSE does not channel any funds to third parties. The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) is an Indian non-governmental, reserach-policy organisation established in 1980 with its office located in New Delhi, India. The main objectives are to create public awareness and policy change on environmental issues, equality and sustainable development. The work consists of research, advocacy, information, communication, training and capacity building in the areas of sustainable urban development, water and sanitation, sustainable industrialisation, renewable energy and climate change. CSE is one of the first research organisations established in India focusing on environment and pollution, and since its inception it has grown into an internationally renowned organisation working on policy change in Asia, and on global environment and climate issues. The collaboration between Sida and CSE originally started in early 1990’s, and in 1996 Sida became the first organisation to support CSE’s work against pollution. Funding from Sida for the period 2014-2019 has been for core activities, with a total of SEK 90 million. These funds have provided support to CSE’s process of globalizing their work and expanding their work towards African countries with a special focus on establishing a global think tank to take CSE’s activities and initiatives to a global level and influence South-South partnerships. During this phase they strengthened their work and developed into an influential voice based on knowledge and on-the-ground experience to place Southern perspectives in the global development debate. They were also able to promote South to South cooperation, and linkages between local and global initiatives and processes on enviroment and climate policy and negotiations. CSE has seeked to create change and influence the thinking through engagement on different levels with an approach and perspective that have been and still are highly relevant for poverty reduction and gender equality. Their work over the years has had clear objectives to target the needs of the most marginalized and to see how their knowledge, labour and organization can be integrated into sustainable development strategies. In the proposed “Phase 2" of the support for the period 2019 to 2024, CSE aims to continue to use the same strategic focus and plan as previously. They aim to deepen their engagement in the countries and areas where they have worked during phase 1. CSE also plans to somewhat expand their work in Africa and Asia, as well as to initiate a number of new programs focusing on capacity development, but they do not plan to set-up new offices.