Drought Early Warning and Forecast Tool for Arid Regions in India

Partenaire de mise en œuvre: Build Change

Project name:Drought Early Warning and Forecast Tool for Arid Regions in India

This project advances drought monitoring by integrating human-induced water stress factors, including reservoir operations, into real-time assessments.

Focusing on Northwestern Rajasthan’s arid region, it evaluates climate change and anthropogenic impacts on water availability.

With droughts increasing in frequency and severity, this approach strengthens early warning systems and enhances water management strategies. By improving predictive capabilities, it supports proactive resource allocation, ensuring resilience and sustainability in vulnerable, water-scarce environments.

India’s land affected
by drought in 2022
0 %
Projected per capita water
availability in India by 2031
0

Impact and Key Findings

1

This project develops a real-time, open-access web portal for water stress data, empowering stakeholders—from farmers to policymakers—with timely insights to monitor drought conditions and make informed water management decisions in Northwestern Rajasthan’s arid landscape. 

2

By integrating reservoir operations and demand patterns, the study enhances drought monitoring precision for improved water management. This enhances predictive capabilities and adaptive management, ensuring proactive responses to escalating water stress under shifting climatic conditions for improved resource sustainability. 

3

Insights on climate change and human impact will shape sustainable water policies, aiding planners in optimizing irrigation, enhancing reservoir management, and building resilient infrastructure to mitigate drought risks and secure long-term water availability in the region. 

Ressources

Aishwarya Pillai

Lead Specialist

Alpana heads institutional partnerships, governance, and resource mobilization at CDRI, advancing cross-sector collaborations that drive resilient infrastructure programming across Member Countries and organizations. With over 25 years of experience spanning international development, global health, and the non-profit sector, she brings deep expertise in fundraising strategy, donor engagement, and delivering strategic change. 

At CDRI, Alpana has been pivotal in forging strategic alliances with governments, international organizations, and philanthropies. She also plays a key role in fortifying institutional systems and board governance mechanisms as the Coalition transitions into an international organization. 

Before joining CDRI, Alpana held senior leadership roles at The George Institute for Global Health, Plan India, WaterAid India, and SOS Children’s Villages, leading institutional fundraising and cultivating strategic partnerships for social impact. 

She holds a Master’s in Finance & Control from Aligarh Muslim University and completed Executive Education at Harvard Business School (CSR India). Her work is driven by a commitment to building enduring, values-based partnerships that accelerate sustainable development outcomes. 

Alpana Saha

Director, Partnerships, Governance, and Resource Mobilisation 

Alpana heads institutional partnerships, governance, and resource mobilization at CDRI, advancing cross-sector collaborations that drive resilient infrastructure programming across Member Countries and organizations. With over 25 years of experience spanning international development, global health, and the non-profit sector, she brings deep expertise in fundraising strategy, donor engagement, and delivering strategic change. 

At CDRI, Alpana has been pivotal in forging strategic alliances with governments, international organizations, and philanthropies. She also plays a key role in fortifying institutional systems and board governance mechanisms as the Coalition transitions into an international organization. 

Before joining CDRI, Alpana held senior leadership roles at The George Institute for Global Health, Plan India, WaterAid India, and SOS Children’s Villages, leading institutional fundraising and cultivating strategic partnerships for social impact. 

She holds a Master’s in Finance & Control from Aligarh Muslim University and completed Executive Education at Harvard Business School (CSR India). Her work is driven by a commitment to building enduring, values-based partnerships that accelerate sustainable development outcomes.