We’re FECT, a non-profitorganization with a rich history
The Federation for Environment, Climate, and Technology (FECT) is dedicated to developing usable social scientific, and technological data for societal well-being and environmental preservation. FECT brings together 20 scientists whose activities cover some of the Indian Ocean Islands and its littoral. We began researching and developing of climate and environmental analysis, computation, monitoring, and prediction technologies in Sri Lanka.
Our work in Sri Lanka has been going on without a break for a quarter-century. FECT’s contributions to sustainable development and climate change adaptation are underpinned by our expertise in climate, hydrology, adaptability, information technology, social sciences, and engineering. Our efforts focus on developing practical scientific and technological knowledge for risk management in areas such as water resources, disasters, agriculture, energy, the environment, and public health. Our charter mandates that we develop local capabilities for the greater societal and environmental good rather than for private profit. We have partnered with 40 government organizations, research institutes, colleges, and universities. We work with the private sector, civil society, and vulnerable communities.
Since 2008, FECT has been working in the Maldives and FECT-Maldives was established. We have started operations or analytical work in other Indian Ocean Islands namely Comoros, Chagos, and Zanzibar. We also undertook specific work in countries bordering the Indian Ocean such as India, Tanzania, Thailand, and Botswana. We have undertaken over 30 projects which were externally funded by International Science and Development organizations. 100+ emerging scientists, IT, and administrative personnel have got exposure and training at FECT which they have valued.
Project Work: We have demonstrated the use of hydro-climatic information with projects for water resources management, human-elephant conflict, plantation and food crop agriculture, malaria and dengue risk assessment and disaster risk management.
Climate, Hydrological and Environmental Research and Application: We have undertaken climatic diagnostics, climate prediction, hydro-climatic analysis, modeling, prediction, and climate change assessments. We continue to build a state-of-the-art hydrometeorological monitoring and prediction system.
Societal and Legal Research: Our staff have undertaken research on impacts related to vulnerabilities of communities and societies, on valuation of climate impacts on sectors, and its role in the economy and local regions. They have undertaken legal research on environmental and on non-profit sector regulations and laws
Information Technology: We have undertaken IT infrastructure development, website development, interactive map servers and software development for scientific computation. We are developing high-performance computing and web services.
In-Service Training: Our staff has obtained on the job training. Sixty persons have been employed full-time and part-time over the last two decades. They have been engaged in Research, IT , administrative services, publishing, communication and advocacy. Twelve of them have obtained post-graduate degrees and five have obtained undergraduate degrees. They’ve also attended training programs all over the world and obtained training at local and international forums. Twelve are currently pursuing higher education after leaving FECT.
Education: We partnered with the University of Peradeniya to launch a Masters in Sustainable Development Practice. We partnered formally with Maldivian Zonal Education authorities on implementing a program to use our work in Secondary school education. Informally, we contribute to various school programs.
Publishing: We have published in newspapers, scientific journals, magazines, Internet, posters, newsletters and books.
To sustain a think tank and center of excellence in climate, environment and information technologies with quality research to address societal concerns and ecological protection
Our vision is to sustain FECT as a center of excellence in climate, environmental, information technologies and related areas where state of the art research is pursued; technological capability is advanced and disseminated and where all of this is combined to execute socially valued projects
Support societal welfare and prioritize the vulnerable, maintain credibility of research, maintain institutional technological capabilities, free dissemination of knowledge, maintain a culture of valuing, non-discriminatory treatment, proactively engage with the most-motivated and most-giving, supporting and engaging with staff for developing competencies, team-work and reaching their potential
We use research for the benefit of the environment and society, particularly the vulnerable
FECT has been supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Academy of Sciences, USAID, MacArthur Foundation among others.
Our work has been funded through grants from
- International Research Institute for Climate and Society,
- The Earth Institute at Columbia University,
- System for Analysis Research and Training (START),
- Global Environmental Facility (GEF)
- Office of Global Programs at US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA),
- the Provention Consortium, USA,
- WHO SEARO, Thailand,
- Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO),
- International Foundation for Science, Sweden,
- UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education,
- MacArthur Foundation, Chicago, USA,
- Agriculture Model Inter-comparison and Improvement Program (AgMIP),
- US National Academy of Sciences (NAS),
- United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and
- Center for Capacity Building, the University of Colorado.