Online Workshops

Background

Schools across India have installed rainwater harvesting systems, yet many fall into disuse due to poor maintenance, lack of ownership, and inadequate technical capacity. Understanding what makes these systems succeed or fail is critical to ensuring their long-term sustainability.

Objectives

• 1Identify key challenges in the operation and maintenance of school-based rainwater harvesting systems.
• 2Share field experiences and innovative solutions from practitioners across India.
• 3Develop actionable recommendations for policymakers, school administrators, and NGOs.

Speakers

Background

Bangladesh's garment and textile industry is among the world's largest, yet it faces severe water stress. Transitioning from groundwater extraction to rainwater harvesting and conservation offers a viable path towards sustainable industrial water management and reduced environmental impact.

Objectives

• 1Explore the potential and challenges of rainwater harvesting in industrial settings, particularly the garment sector.
• 2Present case studies of factories and industrial zones implementing water conservation practices.
• 3Discuss policy enablers and industry incentives to accelerate uptake.

Speakers

Background

Young leaders across South Asia are driving grassroots movements in water conservation. This workshop showcases how youth-led networks are amplifying awareness, influencing policy, and implementing on-the-ground rainwater solutions in schools, communities, and cities.

Objectives

• 1Highlight successful youth-led rainwater and water conservation initiatives across South Asia.
• 2Strengthen cross-country collaboration through the Young Rainwater Champions network.
• 3Inspire and equip the next generation of water stewards with tools and advocacy skills.

Speakers

Background

Despite growing awareness, translating knowledge about rainwater harvesting into consistent policy and field practice remains challenging. This workshop documents WaterAid Bangladesh's journey in capacity building — from identifying barriers to co-creating solutions with governments, academia, and communities.

Objectives

• 1Share lessons learned from multi-stakeholder capacity building programmes on rainwater harvesting.
• 2Explore how policy frameworks can be strengthened to support scalable rainwater interventions.
• 3Discuss the role of academic institutions and NGOs in bridging knowledge and practice.

Speakers

Background

The New Water Paradigm proposes a fundamental shift in how we understand and manage water — from centralised infrastructure towards decentralised, landscape-based solutions that restore the small water cycle and build long-term water security at local and regional scales.

Objectives

• 1Introduce the core principles of the New Water Paradigm and its relevance to rainwater harvesting.
• 2Present European and global case studies of landscape-scale water retention and restoration.
• 3Facilitate dialogue on integrating the New Water Paradigm into national water policies.

Speakers