Himalayan Institute For Environment, Ecology Development (HIFEED), Uttarakhand :

In present day time beauty and tranquility of Himalaya is at stake. Usually marginalized people have less economic opportunities and have over bearing dependence on their natural resource base in their immediate surroundings. Himalayan Institution For Environment, Ecology & Development (HIFEED), established in May 1995, being a dedicated Voluntary Organization is committed for relevant empowering education and all round development of hill communities irrespective of any kind of discrimination.

HIFEED has it’s headquarter in a mountainous eco-fragile zone in Uttarakhand Himalaya. HIFEED would also have to shoulder new roles, strategizing its new and old programmes of people’s empowerment and also their sensitization in changed contexts so as to maximize the gains in livelihood opportunities and minimize backlashes of  multipurpose project.

Human development particularly, while perusing economic growth does not necessarily degrades ecology and environment. But, instead good economic conditions and proper sensitive human development can also enhance the quality growth of the habitat and surroundings ecology and environment. The basic requirement is of providing to the people the appropriate technology with operational skill transfers. However, in skill transfers particularly in the case of mountains would have to keep women in focus.

About Organization :

Himalayan Institute For Environment, Ecology & Development (HIFEED) is an autonomous Research & Development Organization working for upliftment and sustainable development of mountain communities since 1995 without discrimination of race, caste, creed, sex, community and religion. The Organization is registered under Societies Registration Act, 1860 having its registration No. 161/1995-96 dated 24.05.1995.

The Organization is set up by a team of experienced and eminent professionals with a view to tap various aspects of development and research to unfold the hidden bottlenecks of strategies and policies although the original thrust of the Organization is to focus different innovative research and development activities. Ours team of professionals provide long-term as well as short-term management support services to development initiatives. We specialize in the creation of multi-disciplinary teams where the domain perspective and the management support capabilities provided by HIFEED. The teams are capable of addressing and resolving an assortment of needs.

Objectives :

The objective of the Institution is to serve the less privileged, downtrodden, less visible, under educated and marginalized people of the Himalayan region through multiple income and employment generation activities, human resource development, research and development programmes for the betterment of their quality of lives, devising appropriate strategies and delivery systems for better and efficient resource usages. For this, our objective is to chart special strategical measures, which basically are guided with the vision of happy empowered families in happy cohesive communities.

Vision & mission of the Organization :

The vision of HIFEED is of a Rainbow society, blooming and flourishing in a horizon, where growth is harmonious bridging various manmade and inflicted inequalities and the development is inclusive attend through social action of empowered and informed people respecting individuals identity values with acceptable social and cultural norms in pristine mountainous surrounding of Himalaya.

Services provided by the Organization :

1. HIFEED have wide-ranging experience in undertaking studies involving the various research methods with core competencies in multiple niches in each of the following areas i.e. Rural Development, Urban Development, Tribal Development, Health and Family Welfare, Labour and Employment, Empowerment of Women, Micro Credit and Micro Enterprise Development, Formal and Non-Formal Education, Child Rights, Good Governance, Social Justice, Poverty Alleviation, Livelihood, Food Security, Minority Affairs, Agriculture and Horticulture Development, Forest and Environment, Rehabilitation and Re-settlement, Institutional Design and Change Management, Entrepreneurship Development, etc.

2. It has laid substantial emphasis on need for conducting research, participatory monitoring, evaluations, impact assessment, training and capacity building and institutional assessments etc. of development initiatives by NGOs. These exercises facilitate in assessing the results achieved, process of development undertaken, utilization of resources and the levels of capacity with a view to draw learning’s and enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

3. HIFEED believes that for holistic understanding of an issue or an area, both qualitative and quantitative data are required. The study on any issue is strengthened when both qualitative and quantitative information are used in conjunction with one another. Thus, baseline surveys and PRA are complementary to each other. A survey tool is devised and similarly PRA techniques are selected on the basis of the objectives of the assignment.

4.It conducts both participatory mid-term and end line evaluations involving all major stakeholders viz. Institution’s leadership, functionaries, beneficiaries, non-beneficiaries and agencies linked with.

5. It believes that monitoring leads to greater degree of awareness of results and constant improvement through efficient and effective use of resources and ultimately in fostering the sense of responsibility amongst the people. For effective monitoring a system must be built into the programme design and management plan and should provide continuous feedback on an ongoing basis. More significantly, it must actively involve the implementers as well as programme participants in measuring, recording, collecting, processing and analyzing information.

6. HIFEED’s team of professionals has in-depth domain expertise, which has helped in strategic planning at various levels.