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The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) actively involved in watershed development projects across India since last two decade, primarily focusing on Implementation, process monitoring and Impact evaluation through research Policy and capacity building, often collaborating with government departments and local communities to achieve effective results. Meanwhile it is well understood that to address the identified challenges and ensure the success of watershed management programs, several key considerations are crucial. An integrated approach that combines biophysical, socioeconomic, and institutional factors is essential for ensuring holistic and sustainable development. Projects must be designed with equitable benefit sharing to ensure a fair distribution of benefits and costs among all stakeholders, particularly marginalized communities.
Genuine community participation throughout the project lifecycle is critical, empowering local institutions to take ownership and manage resources sustainably in the long term. Adaptive management should be implemented through robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks that utilize modern tools and technologies to track progress, learn from experiences, and adjust strategies as needed. Additionally, investing in capacity building for all stakeholders and promoting knowledge sharing among government agencies, NGOs, research institutions, and local communities will enhance effectiveness. Strengthening the policy and legal framework, especially reviewing and updating water laws, is necessary to promote equitable access to and sustainable management of groundwater resources. Finally, leveraging modern technologies such as remote sensing, GIS, and data analytics can significantly improve planning, monitoring, and evaluation, contributing to more informed and effective watershed management.
TERI is organising this thematic track “Watershed Management for Agricultural Resilience: Challenges, Solutions, and Sustainable Development” with the following objectives