Project implementation:
About the project
The project “Jal Sakhi” aims to enhance women’s leadership in freshwater governance in Barkote block, Deogarh district, Odisha, where tribal communities, particularly the Paudi Bhuyan, face severe water scarcity despite being close to the Brahmani River. Seasonal drying of ponds, streams, and tube wells forces families to rely on unsafe sources, with women bearing the heaviest burden to fulfil the need for water for their family’s daily use. Over the period of nine months, the project will map local water resources, establish and strengthen women-led Village Water Committees, and build women’s capacity to engage in local governance, initiative on Eco-restoration initiatives, including soil and moisture conservation, afforestation and water body revival, will enhance recharge and ecological balance. Low-cost technologies such as iron removal plants will improve water quality, while convergence with schemes like MGNREGA will ensure sustainability and scale. By reducing women’s labor, improving water security, and fostering inclusive governance, the project will empower women as central actors in freshwater management.
Key objectives
- To enhance water security and ecological sustainability by mapping and managing freshwater sources, installing Iron Removal Plants, reviving traditional water bodies through convergence, and implementing eco-restoration and afforestation measures.
- To strengthen women’s leadership in water governance by building the capacity of women leaders and Village Water Committees to actively participate in GPDP processes, manage water systems, and champion for equitable, sustainable water use at community and governance levels.
- To promote community ownership, accountability, and knowledge sharing through participatory monitoring, documentation, and regular review mechanisms, ensuring transparency, replication of best practices, and long-term sustainability of interventions.
This project is part of the BRIDGE (Building River Dialogue and Governance) initiative grants: Gender Mainstreaming Grants / Women Leadership Grants. The BRIDGE Grants aim to address barriers to gender equality and women’s empowerment in transboundary water governance. The grants support practical actions to strengthen inclusive institutions and promote women-led solutions for managing and restoring freshwater ecosystems. BRIDGE is made possible through the Water Diplomacy Programme of the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation (SDC).
