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Nico Roozen, Executive Director, Solidaridad Network was in India recently at the Governance Level meeting of the network, which is held in different countries each year. “This is the third time we are holding it in India; we have chalked out some crucial advisory planning for the next five years,” he told Business Line over phone from Goa.
Without getting into the details of the discussion, yet emphasising the need for sharpening the network’s vision, Roozen said “the perception of NGOs in India is negative. Being a 21 century Civil Society Organisation, Solidaridad is here to offer solutions for a more inclusive and sustainable market. And in this journey, we are trying to partner with the government, business communities and solution-oriented NGOs.”
“Markets are becoming legitimate channels for social and ecological change. The opportunities for new market-focussed approaches are opening up and these require solutions that are not simply based on single-issue strategies. This shift represents a challenge because both – public and private sector partnerships are important for leveraging the change.”
Solidaridad envisions a world where people who produce the resources on which we all depend can contribute to a change that matters, change that leads to prosperity for all without harming each other or the environment.
The global economy today is not organised in a sustainable way. Unsustainable way of life threatens food security and with a population projected to grow to 9 billion by 2050, we can be fed only if the agricultural sector makes a transition to smart and sustainable land use.
There is one challenge though – we have to produce more with less and ensure that it is done in a way that sustains people and the environment. Increased production or rather more efficient production must be coupled with less pollution, greater precision in the use of fertilisers and pesticides and a reduction in the use of water and energy.
“We start our work not on ideology or political issues but on sound note. We want to be pragmatic in understanding the reality and clear in results and impact. Local ownership of development is crucial,” he added.
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