South Asia
South Asia is home to over 1.8 billion people, many of whom depend heavily on agriculture for their livelihoods. The region is highly vulnerable to climate change, with increasing occurrences of extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts, and heatwaves, directly impacting food security, water resources, and livelihoods.
Approximately 70% of the region’s population relies on agriculture, which accounts for a significant portion of the economy, yet the sector is increasingly threatened by water scarcity, land degradation, and rising climate impacts. Transboundary water systems, such as the Ganges-Brahmaputra and Indus basins, are central to the region’s agricultural productivity, yet tensions around water rights and equitable distribution persist. With climate-induced shocks, South Asia faces a critical need for capacity building and sustainable water management to ensure food and water security in the coming decades.
IWMI in South Asia
IWMI is carrying out work to strengthen climate resilience and promote sustainable water management across the region. Through the South Asia Water Security Initiative (SAWASI) in Pakistan, IWMI is addressing critical water security challenges, while the Transboundary Rivers of South Asia (TROSA) project works to enhance river governance and resilience across multiple countries by focusing on rights, access, and environmental sustainability.
IWMI researchers also collaborate on improving climate adaptation strategies in agriculture, providing capacity building to enhance data-driven insights and strategic responses to agrifood system crises in Nepal. IWMI’s work supports smallholder farmers by promoting sustainable and inclusive irrigation development, which is key to increasing resilience against economic shocks and climate variability. By tackling transboundary water issues, strengthening water storage capacities, and fostering climate-smart agricultural practices, IWMI strives to build a more resilient, water-secure South Asia.
Latest South Asia news
New AI tool launched to support water allocation in Pakistan’s Indus Basin
Public-private partnerships scale solar-powered agriculture in Bangladesh
A hybrid governance model for irrigation management in Nepal
Mitigating the Madhes water crisis
Latest South Asia publications
Exploring microbial diversity, antibiotic resistance, and their environmental drivers in urban and peri-urban riverbed sediments of sub-tropical river basins
Environmental and social considerations in hydropower development in the South Asian Himalayas: a NEXUS perspective
Nexus governance in practice: a stakeholder-driven framework for groundwater sustainability in Barahathawa Municipality, Madhesh Province