Projects

In partnership with GIZ India, GEAG has been implementing a critical initiative titled “Climate Resilience of Institutions and Vulnerable Systems in Bundelkhand Region” since January 2025, aimed at strengthening institutional capacities and climate-adaptive systems in one of the most vulnerable agro-climatic zones of India. Bundelkhand, a drought-prone region spanning seven districts of Uttar Pradesh, has been facing chronic climate-related challenges including erratic rainfall, extreme temperatures, prolonged dry spells, water scarcity, soil degradation, and biodiversity loss. The initiative has been focusing on empowering communities and institutions to prepare for, adapt to, and mitigate the impacts of climate change on agriculture, allied sectors, and water resources.

Bundelkhand’s socio-economic fabric, predominantly agrarian and dependent on natural resources—has been deteriorating due to increasing climate stress, with over 80% of its population relying on farming, livestock, forest produce, and seasonal migration. With droughts like the 2004–2009 episode having severely disrupted rural livelihoods, the program has been emphasizing the integration of climate risk into development planning to ensure long-term resilience, food security, and sustainability of local ecosystems.

Strengthening Institutions for Risk-Informed Development

Under this initiative, GEAG has been working closely with government departments in UP, Panchayati Raj institutions, and community-based organizations to build their capacity in understanding, assessing, and responding to climate risks. Through state-level consultations, district-level workshops, and Gram Panchayat orientations, officials and stakeholders have been sensitized to the UPSAPCC (2021–2030) mandates, and trained in risk-informed and gender-responsive planning. The program has also been supporting the mainstreaming of climate concerns into the Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) process by guiding stakeholders through the five critical steps—from environment creation to action plan implementation. Special emphasis has been placed on ensuring the inclusion of women and vulnerable communities in decision-making and prioritization processes. This initiative has been laying the groundwork for developing risk-informed GPDPs, contingency plans, and climate-smart investments that are locally relevant, technically sound, and socially inclusive.