Tech for Climate Action Residency - Calling NGOs, Skilled Volunteers!
A transformative 5-day program that brings together NGOs and skilled volunteers to co-create tech-driven solutions for climate action. They will collectively understand barriers faced by organisations working in climate action and which of those barriers can be meaningfully solved by leveraging technology.
Apply Now →This workshop reinforced the idea that digital skills and content creation are not optional for non-profits—they are essential. Using technology to streamline processes can help non-profits work smarter, not harder.
The Challenge
Climate-focused NGOs are at the forefront of environmental protection, but many lack the technological resources to maximize their impact. Meanwhile, skilled professionals and students eager to contribute to climate action often struggle to find meaningful ways to apply their expertise.
Quick Facts
Duration: 5 days [Monday to Friday]
Batch Size: 8-10 Participants per batch; 2 batches a month
Location for Workshop & Stay: aikyam space at Kochi, Kerala
Format: Residential, Workshops, Hands-on learning
Cost: Free Workshop, Stay, Food & Tech tools. [Participants cover only travel costs. Note: Students can get a travel allowance, if selected]
Why you should Apply?
For NGOs:
- Co-create ideas to leverage tech in your work with free, simple tools
- Learn to make institutional knowledge accessible, streamline day-to-day ops like staff & expense management
- Enhance discoverability, visibility, storytelling of your work to reach more volunteers, team, donors
- Implement data-driven programs, decision-making with vulnerable communities at the centre
For Volunteers - Professionals & Students:
- Understand climate change complexities directly from NGOs
- Apply your skills in real climate action contexts
- Gain hands-on experience with tech tools that amplify your skills
- Build a network of climate tech peers and potential employers
How will we learn together over 5 days?
- Co-create the role technology could meaningfully play in your climate action work
- Identify the tools, budgets, software, donations, volunteers that we could leverage
- Enhance discoverability and visibility
- Create engaging content and develop effective digital outreach & fundraising strategies
- Learn data lifecycle, participative analysis, and simple visualisation techniques
- Apply data insights to inform program development and impact assessment
- Create a centralised information repository that is easy to access, live translations
- Implement collaborative knowledge sharing systems
- Leave, Expense, Staff Management
- Inventory, Procurement, Donations Management
Some tools that you will try, based on your needs
Data Collection
Open Data Kit, Kobotoolbox
Data Analysis
Metabase, DataWrapper
Web Presence
Ghost, GitHub Pages
Design
Canva, DataWrapper
Fundraising
Razorpay, Frappe CRM
Operations
Frappe HRMS
Knowledge Management
Bookstack, Danswer
Infrastructure
Digital Ocean, Coolify, Cloudflare
What could success of the residency look like?
Confidence with tech: You feel more confident about leveraging tech in your important work
Actual Tech products: Based on your needs, the residency helps you set up tech. This could be your
website
, content management plan, an outreach tool,
data analysis
tools, etc
Live Results: You raise actual donations using methods you learnt, analyse your program data and go back with dashboards & results, etc
Maker Mindset: You become a self learner and actively improve upon the learnings from the residency
Our Pillars of Support
We are able to provide this residency free of cost because of their support.
Facilitators
Testimonials
Bookstack helped us in making our training content into a user-friendly, searchable and language compatible tool.
Who Should Attend?
- NGO Staff: Mid-to-senior management from climate-centric NGOs (up to 3 participants per NGO)
- Skilled Volunteers & Professionals, Students: Experts & Students in fields listed below, who are eager to contribute to climate action
Some skills we are looking for from applicants:
- All Environmental Sciences
- Field Experience & Management
- Monitoring Learning & Evaluation Skills
- NGO Operations & Program Management
- DevOps & FOSS: Your skills can help organisations implement available open-source solutions into valuable solutions for NGOs.
- Outreach & Communications: Your skills can help craft compelling messages, engagements for climate action initiatives.
- HR & Operations: Your skills can help streamline processes for more efficient day to day operations.
- Fundraising & Sales: Your skills can help develop strategies to secure resources for impactful projects.
- Marketing: Your skills can help amplify the reach and visibility of important causes.
- Data Analytics: Your skills can turn real data into actionable insights for climate programs.
- Design: Your skills can create visually compelling materials to engage audiences.
- Project Management: Your skills can help ensure climate initiatives stay on track and deliver results.
How to Apply?
Ready to make a difference?
Whether you're an NGO looking to enhance your tech capabilities or a skilled professional eager to contribute your expertise to climate action, we want to hear from you!
Check out the upcoming batches and use the Apply Now button below to send in your applications. All completed application forms should reach us by the deadlines mentioned below.
Review Process
You will hear back from us within 7 days of the application deadline date, accepting or declining the application. In case you are unable to join one of our workshops, we encourage you to post your requirements at our forum to connect to other tech resources.
Upcoming Batches
FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions
About the Residency
Will we solve all the problems and implement all solutions in just 5 days?
No, we won't solve everything in 5 days. Our goal is to help you get started and create momentum. We aim to make you feel confident about using these tools and provide remote group support as you continue your journey after the residency.
How does this differ from other tech workshops?
Our residency is tailored specifically for climate action NGOs, focusing on your unique needs and challenges. It's entirely hands-on, allowing you to implement solutions in real-time with no theory-only sessions.
What level of technology expertise is required to participate?
We welcome participants with varying levels of expertise. The most important qualities are a willingness to learn, collaborate, and apply your skills. If you're comfortable using tools like Google Docs, Google Sheets, Gmail, and Google Drive in your daily work, our facilitators can guide you through the process.
Are there any prerequisites or preparation needed before the residency?
While there are no strict prerequisites, we recommend familiarising yourself with basic concepts of climate change and the role of NGOs in climate action. We'll provide a list of recommended readings upon acceptance to the program.
Can I get a certificate of participation?
Yes, all participants who complete the residency will receive a certificate.
For NGOs
How will this help my small NGO with limited resources?
We focus on free, open-source tools and cost-effective strategies specifically designed for resource-constrained environments.
Can I bring specific challenges from my NGO to work on?
Absolutely! We encourage you to bring real challenges. Our facilitators, volunteers, and peers will help you develop practical solutions during the residency.
Will I be able to implement what I learn without a dedicated IT team?
Yes! We've chosen low-maintenance, user-friendly tools and will share implementation strategies that don't require extensive technical expertise. It's similar to how we don't need an IT team to use Gmail, Google Drive, etc.
Will there be any technology-related costs?
No. All the technology we use is high-quality Free and Open Source Software, along with a few other software options that are freely available to non-profit organizations.
For Volunteers, Professionals, and Students
As a student, what can I gain from this residency?
Students can gain practical experience in applying their skills to real-world climate action projects, build a professional network in the non-profit sector, and potentially find internship or job opportunities. The residency also provides a unique addition to your resume, demonstrating your commitment to social and environmental causes.
I'm a professional looking to transition into the climate action sector. How can this residency help me?
This residency offers an opportunity to understand the unique challenges and needs of climate action NGOs directly from the organisations themselves. You'll learn how to apply your professional skills in this context, make valuable connections, and gain hands-on experience that can help you transition into roles within the climate action sector.
Will there be opportunities for ongoing collaboration after the residency?
Yes! We encourage participants to stay connected through our collective. Some past participants have gone on to collaborate on projects, share job opportunities, and provide ongoing support to each other's initiatives.
Post-Residency Support
What ongoing support is available after the residency?
You'll join a community of fellow participants and have access to our facilitators for post-residency guidance and troubleshooting. This support will be remote only. The purpose of the residency is to build your confidence to learn to troubleshoot yourself, self-learn, and improve over time.
Logistics and Accommodation
About aikyam space?
aikyam space, located in Kochi's Panampilly Nagar, will be the venue for both your stay as well as the residency program. aikyam space is born from the idea that all changemakers have access to psychologically safe spaces, people and resources to amplify their impact. You can find details of the space and amenities here.
Where is aikyam space located? What's the best way to get there?
aikyam space is situated in Panampilly Nagar, a residential neighbourhood in the heart of Kochi city.
- By Air: Cochin International Airport is 45 min-1 hour away. Take a taxi or the airport feeder bus to Aluva metro station, then metro to Kadavanthra station (900m from aikyam space).
- By Train: Ernakulam Junction (1.2km) or Ernakulam North railway station (5.2km).
- By Bus: The nearest mobility hub is at Vyttila (4km).
- Local transport: Uber, Ola, and Yatri are available 24/7.
How should I plan my travel? Can I leave the same day the bootcamp gets over?
We encourage you to come a day before, and to leave a day after the residency is done. For instance, if you are coming for the Nov. 4-8 workshop, do reach aikyam space by Nov. 3, and plan your return for Nov. 9. This will give you the right headspace for the duration of the program, without having to worry about travel logistics.
What does the stay at aikyam space look like?
The accommodation is on a shared basis with spacious bedrooms and attached bathrooms. Our cook, Jasentha, prepares breakfast, lunch, and dinner for all guests. The cuisine is mostly Kerala cuisine with occasional variations. While we can't accommodate specific dietary preferences, a large part of the menu is vegetarian.
The schedule looks pretty rigorous. What are our options to unwind?
You'll be engaged in the workshop from 9am to 5pm. Evenings are free for you to explore the city, spend time in our library, or enjoy our collection of indoor games and puzzles.
What is the Kochi climate like? What kind of clothes should I pack?
Expect pleasant weather in Kochi from November to January, with temperatures ranging between 23°C to 29°C. Pack comfortable, light clothing and don't forget to bring an umbrella, as rains are fairly common.
For any additional questions, please email us at hello@aikyamfellows.org.