Empowering Action: Lessons from India’s Data Capacity Accelerator for Climate and Health

Alokita Jha

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Role: CAN Fellow
Current organisation: ICRISAT
Graduated from: AshokaX

With a Master’s in Sustainable Livelihoods and Natural Resources Governance, I had a foundation in addressing socio-environmental challenges. However, I recognised the need to develop technical skills to leverage data for impactful solutions. This realisation led me to pursue the Data Science for Social Impact course, which provided a strong introduction to handling complex datasets, deriving actionable insights, and understanding the significance of data in shaping evidence-based interventions. The course helped me transition from a non-technical to a technical approach, enhancing my ability to analyse and interpret data effectively. 

Building on these skills, the IDCA Fellowship was a pivotal step in applying this knowledge in practical, multi-dimensional settings. My work at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Topics (ICRISAT) as part of the IDCA Fellowship taught me to look at problems from multiple angles and reinforced the critical importance of understanding the theory behind the data. In climate and health, where multiple factors interact and influence outcomes, the fellowship emphasised the need to approach data with a multifactorial lens. I learned that the utility of data depends on the context in which it is applied and the effort to comprehend its interconnected dimensions. This skill was invaluable in addressing the complex interactions between climate, health, and socio-economic factors. 

These experiences have been instrumental in shaping my journey. They have not only enhanced my technical skills but also deepened my understanding of how to bridge the gap between data science and real-world applications. My aspiration is to continue leveraging these learnings to create sustainable, evidence-based solutions at the climate-health nexus, ensuring impactful outcomes for vulnerable populations.

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