Ms. Devika Singh

 

Q1. Hi Devika! Welcome! Before we start, can you tell us about your background? 

Thank you! I have studied English Literature and Public Policy, both at the Masters’ level. My past experience has been as a Policy Analyst at a global climate change resilience advisory firm. I’ve worked on projects in climate change adaptation, climate change and water risk assessments, climate finance, and communications and knowledge outreach at the local, national and international levels. I have also worked in agriculture, trying to set up a small organic farming enterprise.

 

Q2. That's interesting, Devika. So what inspired you to work intensively on agriculture and climate action?

I initially got into agriculture as my father does organic farming in Uttar Pradesh, India. That experience introduced me to the strong influence of multiple environmental and government policy factors on farming at the local level, which became the push for me to study public policy and work in climate change. I am strongly interested in the policy framework and climate-related factors that form the larger enabling or disabling environment for sustainable food production and livelihoods.

 

Q3. Great! What is your role going to be at ICA and how does working with cooperatives align with what you have done and what to do?

 

I will be working with ICA-AP as the Communications and Member Development Officer for the ICA-EU Partnership: Cooperatives in Development: People-centered Businesses in Action. In this role, I will be responsible for implementing the joint visibility strategy and in stewardship of members. From my experience, I feel the cooperative business model can be a very suitable model to address a number of current environmental, social and economic problems: from climate action and sustainable food production to sustainable livelihood generation and economic growth. I’m very excited about working with ICA-AP as it gives me the opportunity to work closely with cooperatives from different sectors, across the region. ICA-AP is also a great platform to disseminate the sustainable cooperative agenda and enable knowledge sharing across sectors and regions.