THE CENTER FOR APPLIED RESEARCH AND PEOPLE ENGAGEMENT

In their own words

The Center for Applied Research and Peoples’ Engagement (CARPE), is an Aurangabad-based organization dedicated to developing and implementing research-driven solutions to civic and environmental challenges in Aurangabad city and beyond in collaboration with government, industry and NGO partners. At present our work is divided into three verticals: Solid Waste Management Skills Training and Education CSR Research and Advocacy We started with the intention of generating data and dialog around various civic needs of Aurangabad starting with solid waste management. We believed that the solutions were out there and that if we identified the gaps and brought the right stakeholders together civic processes would improve. Within Solid Waste Management we have worked extensively in Aurangabad to create a positive movement around the issue in the city, bringing together diverse stakeholders. We have developed a model SWM transformation process - BOTAMLine - that has been replicated in over 7 urban local bodies in Maharashtra. Through our partnership with McKinsey.org our processes are also being implemented in Argentina and Indonesia. Through workshops and training programs we have contributed to capacity building in the SWM sector in several other cities. As we have worked and learned on our journey, two things have become amply clear to us. First, that data is both crucial but also abysmally unavailable in the urban development and governance sector, especially in smaller towns and cities in India. Second that the urban development and governance sector is in dire need of professionals who are dedicated to finding and implementing solutions as a full time career. Volunteers and other part-time groups, while essential to building a movement and raising the right demands, are limited by commitments elsewhere. Developing a solution for one sector in one city requires tremendous work in terms of research, pilots, documentation, stakeholder integration, adaptation, execution, hand-holding, monitoring, finances etc. Building on our experience in SWM, we formalized our CSR Research and Advocacy vertical. Under this we have designed and implemented research projects and pilots in various sectors such as ecological restoration, education and menstrual health management. We have successfully developed government and corporate partners who have recognized the importance and effectiveness of actionable research in achieving sustainable impact. These projects have also helped us connect with organizations within and beyond Aurangabad, as we researched best practices and developed projects to bring them to Aurangabad. This research has been applied to help our corporate partners implement effective CSR interventions, associate with the right government partners and create long-term CSR strategies. In many ways, this vertical lies at the heart of all that we do, contributing tremendous value to the other verticals and assisting in constant improvement within the organization. The Skills Training and Education vertical has developed out of our research work in the education sector, bringing several pioneering ideas and programs to schools and colleges in the Aurangabad region. Data-driven decision-making and professionalism, is lacking not because it is difficult but because it is undervalued. Responding to both these challenges we are proud of the team we have become today. Fifty six trained professionals dedicated to developing and implementing need and impact driven solutions to civic and environmental challenges! While our focus has been Aurangabad, the adaptability of our solutions and the abilities of our team have enabled us to engage with urban local bodies beyond Aurangabad.

Written by the company on its public Startup India profile. Not verified by us.