SWITCH-Asia

The Challenge

There are more than 5 million people, half of them being women in the tribal regions across 18 states out of the 29 states of India where abundant quantity of bamboo is available as a resource for their livelihoods. However, in the bamboo processing and product manufacturing segment, the number is likely to be only around 3 million. While bamboo has been augmented by a range of public initiatives, it is not sufficiently harnessed in terms of its market applications. There is a huge scope for replacement of less sustainable resources like timber, plastic, steel, etc. and for creation of green jobs by effectively harnessing bamboo by upgrading existing products and introducing new products duly linked with markets.

The Objectives

The overall objective of this project is to promote bamboo as a sustainable resource and generate green jobs. The activities are designed to help local communities and other stakeholders to collaborate for the promotion of a green economy, sustainable growth, economic prosperity and poverty reduction in India along with mitigation of climate change.

The Way Forward

• 2250 MSMEs of which 40% are owned by women owned, start or expand bamboo product supply worth 25.3 million Euros to existing or new markets, impacting 10,000 livelihoods (more than 50% women) through new income to the tune of 13 million Euros;
•  Improved OHS and social security.
• At least 20 new buyers undertake sourcing of 5 high potential bamboo products in each of the targeted clusters through 20 successful business start-ups; 
• 9 local Facilitating Agencies (FAs) provide services beyond Action; 50 Producer Networks (PNs) created; 9 CFCs created and strengthened; 20 equipment/ inputs suppliers and 140 BDSPs provide strategic services sustainably;
• At least 10 FIs provide credit through cluster financing instruments to 2250 MSMEs worth 9 million Euros;
• 200 Policy makers from at least 3 SAARC countries sensitised and 9 Indian states initiate replication of similar intervention models.