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Vidhisha Samarasekara

Strategic Program Director – Water Climate Change and Resilience

Vidhisha is an ecologist by training with over two decades of operational experience in agriculture, water resources management and climate change adaptation with proven project implementation successes across the Asia Pacific, Central West Asia and Africa regions. She has designed and led major environment and climate finance initiatives with support from several multilateral/bilateral organizations and has facilitated high-level climate change negotiations with public and private sector counterparts. Before joining IWMI she has held several senior staff positions with IUCN, KPMG and ADB. At ADB she served as the South Asia focal point on climate change adaptation planning (agriculture and water resources management), contributing towards the development of key climate change adaptation policy and legislation development in South Asia. She has also designed and led major environmental and climate finance initiatives with support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), Green Climate Fund (GCF), Climate Investment Fund (CIF) and UKAid. As Director for KPMG’s International Development Advisory Services in East Africa, she managed the UK Government financed BRACED program.


Current projects


Latest news for Vidhisha Samarasekara

COP30
Features

COP30 signals a paradigm shift from emissions-only thinking to resilience and water-centered solutions

In Belém, COP30 highlighted critical pathways for countries to advance water centric climate action ...
United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) Brazil, Amazonia. Graphic adapted from: Doers/Shutterstock
Features

The past, present and future of international commitments to water with COP30 in focus

IWMI reviews international water policy milestones, the urgent gaps that need attention and our own role in shaping the global water agenda ...
Dust storm in the Middle East. Photo: Shutterstock
Blogs

IWMI’s new Wiqaya project aims to build transboundary resilience to sand and dust storms 

On this International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms, IWMI is shedding light on its new Wiqaya project that is bringing together governments, communities and partners to deliver practical, ...
A farmer removes cocoa beans from the pods and places them in a sack in Cameroon. Photo: Media Lens King / Shutterstock
Publications

March-April 2025 Research Journal Roundup 

Roundup of research, journal and other academic articles from March and April 2025 ...
Partners of the Water Resilience Tracker (WRT) stand for a group photo at the end of a workshop at IWMI's Global Headquarters, 13 Feb. 2025. Photo: Pradeep Liyanage/IWMI.
Blogs

Partner collaboration on water resilience tool set to bridge science-to-policy interface

The Water Resilience Tracker will assist governments in Brazil, Egypt, Malawi and Nepal to strengthen national water governance and build climate resilience ...
Farmer drying maize in the village of Galenbindunuwewa in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka. Photo: Samurdhi Ranasinghe / IWMI
Blogs

Climate change and a national economic crisis are overworking rural women in Sri Lanka

Recognizing the labor of climate adaptation can lead to more equitable adaptation policies, according to IWMI research ...
A drying lake in Thanthirimale located in the Anuradhapura District of Sri Lanka. Photo: Samurdhi Ranasinghe / IWMI
News

Water Resilience Tracker enables cross-sectoral collaboration

Funded by the UK government, this project will help to transform climate and water policies in the Global South ...
The Qaa Valley in Lebanon features rolling rocky hills and gabions to slow water rushing down during flash floods. Photo: Stephen Fragaszy / IWMI
Features

Modern tools and ancient smarts

Al Murunah’s unique approach to climate adaptation and development combines nature-based solutions with agricultural water management interventions and a gender perspective ...
Think again: The climate conference does not only last for two weeks
Features

Think again: The climate conference does not only last for two weeks

To be effective, COP requires months of groundwork, continued support to negotiators, measuring progress and action for sustainable development ...
Promoting gender equality through applied research for development that supports drought resilience and land restoration
Blogs

Promoting gender equality through applied research for development that supports drought resilience and land restoration

The promotion of gender equality while effecting climate change adaptation is a political and moral imperative ...
The Economist: The challenge of the age
In the media

The Economist: The challenge of the age

Adapting to climate change is urgent, feasible and woefully underfunded, argues Edward McBride ...
Harvesting beans in Lebanon. Photo: Jano Hatem / IWMI
Features

Key takeaways from IWMI’s participation at the first-ever MENA Climate Week

A key stop on the road to COP27, the conference allowed IWMI to share blueprints for creating more water-secure, climate-resilient communities across the Middle East and North Africa ...

Latest publications by Vidhisha Samarasekara

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Contact

For media enquiries, please contact IWMI's communications team.

Languages

English, Sinhala, Basic Hindi and French

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