A snapshot of projects I work on, with colleague-friends and co-conspirators.
Climate Change Local Adaptation Pathways (CLAPs)
Funded by FCDO and in partnership with the University of Exeter, University of East Anglia, Centre for Migration and Integrated Development (CMID), and Gram Vikas, the project examines the interface of climate change adaptation, urbanisation, and livelihood dynamics in India. Focussing on Kerala, Karnataka, and Odisha, the project takes an impact-first approach to research (2024-25).
Intersections of Just Energy Transition and Climate-Induced Migration in India
A project on climate-induced migration within India with the goal to develop a comprehensive, forward-looking, and impactful research agenda on climate migration and regional development. The project is partnership between Population Council (PC) and Indian Institute of Human Settlements (IIHS) and funded by MacArthur Foundation (2023-2026).
Scoping Assessment on Sustainable Mountain Settlements across the Hindu Kush Himalayas
A scoping study funded by ICIMOD, Nepal, to examine sustainable urbanisation in the Himalayan context, with sites in India, Nepal and Bhutan. (2023-24)
Spatialising Climate Impacts on Health: A Focus on Vulnerable Settlements in Megacities of the Global South
This project contextualises the impacts of climate change on health in vulnerable urban settlements in India, Kenya, South Africa and Sierra Leone and co-produces stories of health-related climate impacts and solutions. I’m a Co-Investigator on the project focussing on vulnerability to heat and floods in informal settlements, and ongoing pathways of action. (2024-2027)
Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture as Green Infrastructure: implications on well-being and sustainability in the Global South (UPAGrI)
Funded under the GCRF-British Academy’s “Infrastructures of Wellbeing” Programme, the UPAGrI project is examining the sustainability and wellbeing outcomes of urban and peri-urban farming in four cities across India and Tanzania (2019-2022). As Co-Investigator on the project, I work with a team in Pune, Bangalore, Chennai, Dar es Salaam, and Morogoro.
Recovery with Dignity
A British Academy-funded project examining representations of post-disaster impacts and needs and how that shapes ideas of long-term disaster recovery. As Co-Investigator of the project, I led the work across Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Kerala (2019-2021). A repository of outputs is available here. [Paper on ‘representing recovery’]
The COVID Observatories: Monitoring the interaction of pandemics, climate risks, & food systems among the most disadvantaged communities
This GCRF-funded COVID Observatories project documented, monitored, and examined how COVID interacted with multiple stresses to affect the food systems of Indigenous Peoples (IPs) globally, co-generating knowledge and capacity to strengthen resilience. The work was done with 24 distinct Indigenous peoples in 14 countries, through a network of ‘COVID Observers’ within communities. [Media Review, Paper] (2020-2022).
Scoping study of human migration and displacement within India
A scoping study on climate change and migration in India which examined how current formal and non-formal interventions are enabling or constraining internal migration along development corridors (2022).
Climate Resilient Development Pathways for Semi-arid Regions of Africa and South Asia
An FCDO and IDRC-funded project synthesising knowledge on climate-resilient development in Kenya, India, and Botswana. I work within the India team examining climate resilient development in the dryland districts of north Karnataka (2020-2022).
Collaborative Adaptation Research Initiative in Africa and Asia (CARIAA)
An IDRC-DFID-funded international project working in climate hotspots (deltas, mountains, drylands). Within the broader project, I worked in the Adaptation at Scale in Semi-Arid Regions (ASSAR) consortium and lead research on differential vulnerability and adaptation in rural Karnataka (2013-2018).
Exposure to and impact of air pollution on urban life and livelihoods
An ICIMOD exploratory study on air pollution in Lahore (Pakistan), Kathmandu (Nepal), and Mandalay (Myanmar). I support methodology development using life history approaches to capture dynamic impacts of air pollution (2019-2021).
Migration, Livelihood Trajectories and Climate Resilience
An SDC-funded project under their CapaCITIES programme exploring migration and city resilience planning in medium-sized Indian cities. I am part of the team exploring informal livelihoods, climate vulnerability, and city-wide action to build resilience in Siliguri and Coimbatore (2017-2018).
Long-term Implications of Short-term Humanitarian Responses
An IIED-funded project under the Urban Crises Learning Fund examining how short-term, relief-oriented responses shape longer-term urban planning and development trajectories. The project was situated in Chennai, a site of multiple hazards from a drought in 2002, to the tsunami in 2004, and heavy flooding in 2013 and 2015. [Working paper, policy brief] (2016-2017)
Understanding Actions Needed for a 1.5°C Warming Scenario in India
A CIFF-funded project examining 1.5C-compatible mitigation/adaptation pathways for India (2020-2021).
chandnisingh.info 