1. Stockholm, Sweden
1 September 2013
Lal Induruwage, Programme Manager,
Water & Climate Resilience Programme
(WACREP)9/2/2013 1

2. • South Asia spreads over about 4% of the World’s
land area
• Possesses about 4.5% of the water resources
• The sub region is the home for about 23% of global
population
• world’s highest concentration of poor people with
over 1 billion living on less than USD 2 per day
• high levels of malnourishment
• high economic growth
• high urban growth
• low access to energy.
• The resources are considerably stressed
(even without climate change)
• Shrinking glaciers, soil erosion, pollution,
groundwater degradation—and trans-boundary
issues

3. Key Water Challenges in South Asia
• Coping with likely economic and physical water shortage in relation to population,
economic growth and improved living standards impacting on water security, resulting in
access, adequacy and equity issues.
• Coping with increased and more intense climate change /variability disasters such as
floods, landslides and droughts and resultant migration.
• Addressing Trans-boundary water sharing, allocation and development issues.
• Addressing /mitigating increased overexploitation, contamination and pollution of both
surface and ground water.
• Improving water productivity, water quality and waste water management within the
context of rapid population growth, urbanization and competing demands.
• Inadequate use of technology / media in the water sector.
• Addressing environmental changes due to global warming and climate change considering
South Asia as an ” Environmental Hot Spot”.

4. • Incorporating IWRM in all stakeholder activities including institutions and
communities, backstopped through appropriate institutional changes, policies
and laws.
• Planning for use, allocation and management of water (intra and inter basin),
to be based on principles of IWRM and Good Governance
• Promoting water use efficiency, conservation of water resources and resilience
through conjunctive use, supply augmentation such as rain water harvesting
and water saving technology.
• Sharing climate, metrological, technical data and information on agricultural
and water use best practices.
• Capacity Building and knowledge dissemination on IWRM, Climate Change
Adaptation and disaster coping.
Key Water Challenges in South Asia
Contd..
IWRM Related Challenges;

5. Water & Climate Resilience
Programme (WACREP), South Asia
• Goal: To improve the resilience of South Asian countries to
withstand the impacts of climate change.
• Objectives:
- Water security & climate resilience enhanced through better water
resources management in South Asia,
- Capacities of partnership, institutes and stakeholders enhanced to
integrate water security and climate resilience in development
planning and decision making process,
- Local climate resilience investment programme and plans
developed and government begin to implement them.
9/2/2013 5

6. Expected Benefits
• Improved and focused investment
strategies that ensure efficient and timely use
of resources for climate resilient
development,
• Improved sustainability of poverty alleviation,
rural development and water resources
development projects and programs,
• Improved livelihoods at local level by
communities directly involved in pilot projects
on climate resilience with stress on
agriculture and food security.
9/2/2013 6

7. WACREP Status
• Concept initiated at the meeting of Regional
Chair in November 2012
• Consultant was appointed to develop the
Project Document
• Country Consultation Meetings were held in
Q1 & Q2 2013 and Country Status Reports
Produced (Funded by WACREP)
• Draft Project Document developed by the
Consultant
9/2/2013 7

8. Process of WACREP WP Development
• Final Work Plan with working Sheets (Excel)
shared with the Water & Climate Focal
Point/Global Coordinator – W&CP, GWPO
• With the guidance of GWPO, activities to be
implemented under Phase 1 (800,000 Euros)
were identified (80 tasks to 48)
• Work Plan & LF under review by GWPO
• Funds for Q4 will be released upon the WP
endorsement by GWPO
9/2/2013 8

9. Challenges & Constraints
• Time Frame
From Q4 2013 To Q1 2015
• Political Will & Commitment
• Participatory approach of Communities &
CBOs
• Capacity of the CWPs
– Staff, Technical Knowledge etc.
9/2/2013 9

10. Thank You..!
9/2/2013 10