The TIGR2ESS Project is a collaborative research initiative aimed at addressing the paradox of high agricultural productivity alongside persistent malnutrition in tribal-dominated districts of Odisha. Implemented by a consortium of academic universities and NGOs from the UK and India, and funded by the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), this project is led by the University of Cambridge, UK, with KISS playing a critical role in on-ground implementation.
Despite advances in infrastructure and food systems, malnutrition rates remain alarmingly high in Odisha’s tribal districts, particularly Koraput and Kandhamal. Women and children of Scheduled Tribes face disproportionate levels of food insecurity, even as the region produces significant agricultural output. TIGR2ESS seeks to:
Understand the complex interplay between agriculture, labor, nutrition, and gender roles.
Highlight how food availability does not automatically translate into improved nutrition.
Empower tribal youth through participation in cutting-edge research, giving them tools to advocate for systemic change.
The project combined research, community engagement, and capacity building to uncover patterns in food security and livelihoods.
Brought together UK and Indian research partners.
Trained tribal youth and KISS-DU PG students as enumerators, enhancing their research capabilities.
Used wearable technology to explore gendered labor patterns and their link to nutrition and productivity.
Provided deeper understanding of seasonal work trends, intra-household dynamics, and nutrition outcomes.
Profiling conducted in six villages (three blocks per district, two villages from each block) across Koraput and Kandhamal.
Participatory village visits built trust and provided rich qualitative insights.
Data collection tools included:
households surveyed across six villages
food maps, seasonal calendars, and gendered labor analyses
tribal youth and 20 KISS-DU PG students trained in advanced research methodologies
participant films, animation videos, and knowledge briefs (linked to CHIRAG project outputs)
The project combined research, community engagement, and capacity building to uncover patterns in food security and livelihoods.
— Community Member, Kandhamal
IVRS gave us information in our own language. For the first time, women in our village could call and ask questions without hesitation.
Tribal Youth Volunteer, Koraput
Through CHIRAG, I learned to use technology to document our food practices and share our stories with the world. Earlier, I never thought I could operate a camera or moderate an audio platform. Now, our voices are being heard.
TIGR2ESS underscores how interdisciplinary research, combined with local participation, can drive transformational change in addressing food insecurity and malnutrition in tribal communities.
