Across large parts of India, agriculture is under growing pressure. Years of monocropping, intensive use of fertilizers and pesticides, and declining soil health have made farming increasingly difficult for many communities. In some of the country’s most vulnerable rural regions, farmers are now looking for new ways to restore both productivity and ecological balance.

One initiative addressing these challenges is the project “Agricultural Transition to Productive Biodiversity”, supported by the Dutch Government, Partners for Water programme and implemented by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). The project focuses on nature-based solutions that help farmers restore soil health, reduce crop losses and strengthen biodiversity while maintaining livelihoods.

At the centre of the project is Meghna Mukherjee, Programme Manager at MetaMeta Research, a Wageningen-based consulting organisation specialising in water management, climate adaptation and agricultural development. Originally from India, Mukherjee has spent the past eight years working at the intersection of water management, agriculture and social inclusion. Her role combines programme management with a strong focus on gender and community engagement. “We work on practical solutions that can be implemented directly in the field,” she explains. “The aim is not only to test innovative approaches but also to understand how they can be scaled and adopted by communities themselves.”

A global research network

MetaMeta Research was founded in 2004 in Wageningen and has since expanded into an international organisation with offices in countries including Bangladesh, Indonesia, Ethiopia and Yemen. The company collaborates closely with governments, NGOs and local communities to develop water management and climate-resilient solutions. “What makes us unique is that we combine research with on-the-ground implementation,” Mukherjee says. In 2024, the organisation became part of the German development consultancy GOPA, expanding its international reach while maintaining its focus on water and climate solutions.

Water, gender and daily realities

One of Mukherjee’s core research interests is the relationship between water access and gender. In many parts of the world, women are responsible for collecting water for both household use and agriculture, often walking long distances under difficult conditions. But the issue goes beyond physical labour. “There are also social norms and power dynamics,” Mukherjee says. “Even when water is available nearby, women are still expected to collect it.”

These dynamics also appear in everyday tasks such as laundry, which is still largely performed manually by women in many regions. The water used can contain chemicals or contaminants that cause health problems, yet this aspect of hygiene rarely receives attention. Despite growing awareness, Mukherjee believes much work remains to be done. “In some cases, women’s voices are heard but not included in decision-making,” she says. “In others they are not even heard at all.”

Connecting institutions and communities

Addressing these challenges requires cooperation between many actors. One of the project’s key strategies is therefore to connect stakeholders that normally operate separately. “Different institutions often work in their own ‘boxes’,” Mukherjee explains. “Water departments, agricultural authorities and gender programmes rarely coordinate their activities.” The project aims to break these silos by encouraging dialogue between government agencies, local organisations and farming communities. “When these groups come together, they begin to understand the problems from different perspectives,” she says.

Another important element is evidence building. The project documents result and shares them with policymakers and development organisations through reports, social media and professional networks. “We try many different strategies,” Mukherjee says. “Sometimes you don’t know which one will work, but together they help create awareness.”

Three nature-based solutions

The project focuses on three main interventions that aim to improve agricultural productivity while strengthening biodiversity.

Reviving traditional hedges
The first intervention involves reintroducing hedges as green corridors along agricultural fields. “Hedges used to be a common feature in farming landscapes, both in India and in Europe,” Mukherjee explains. “But over time they disappeared as farmers tried to maximise cultivation areas.”

The project is now reviving this traditional practice by planting species such as pigeon pea and acacia along field boundaries. These hedges serve several functions. They protect crops from animals, improve soil stability and help retain water. They can also generate additional income when crops such as pigeon pea are harvested. Research has also shown that hedges influence the microclimate of agricultural fields. “We are observing temperature differences of up to 2.5 degrees Celsius between fields with and without hedges,” Mukherjee says.

Ecological rodent management
The second intervention addresses a problem that farmers often face but that rarely receives attention: crop losses caused by rodents. “Rodents are responsible for significant pre- and post-harvest losses,” Mukherjee says. “But people rarely talk about it.” Instead of using chemical rodenticides, the project promotes ecologically based rodent management (EBRM). Communities use techniques such as improved storage systems, hermetic bags and coordinated burrow control. The results have been striking. “In the last three months alone, more than 200 households have participated and over 90 rodent burrows have been closed,” she says. For many farmers, recognising the scale of the problem has been a revelation. “Some of them told us nobody had ever asked about rodents before.”

Water-efficient rice cultivation
The third intervention focuses on rice production through a method known as alternate wetting and drying. Traditionally, rice fields are kept continuously flooded. However, research shows that rice can grow well without standing water. The new method alternates irrigation with dry periods, reducing water use and improving soil conditions. “It requires a mind-set change for farmers,” Mukherjee says. “But once they see the results, many become interested.”

Working with farmers

The design of these interventions was strongly influenced by farmers themselves. For example, during discussions about hedges, farmers suggested the species best suited to local conditions. “They know the land much better than we do,” Mukherjee says. The adoption of alternate wetting and drying also began with a small group of inventive farmers. “In one village, two women farmers decided to try the new method,” she explains. “Their success encouraged others to follow.”

Building trust with communities took time. But partnerships with local organisations such as PRADAN and FES, which have long worked in the region, helped establish strong relationships. “At first there was some scepticism,” Mukherjee says. “If someone tells you that what you’ve been doing for years can be improved, you won’t immediately believe them.” Today, however, many farmers are sharing experiences with each other through WhatsApp groups and local networks. “It’s become much more organic,” she says.

Looking beyond pilot projects

The project currently operates in three Indian states – Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal – covering several districts within what is known as the Central India Tribal Belt. These regions are home to many vulnerable communities and smallholder farmers. The next challenge is scaling up successful interventions beyond the pilot areas. “We now have strong evidence that these approaches work,” Mukherjee says. “The question is how to integrate them into larger programmes and policies.” This requires collaboration with government authorities, donor organisations and international partners. “We are already discussing these ideas with district agricultural departments and water authorities,” she says.

A long-term perspective

For Mukherjee, the most rewarding aspect of the project is seeing different groups come together. “My role is often to act as a bridge between the field teams and the donors,” she explains. “I help translate local realities into strategies and policies.” She works closely with a local team that plays a key role in implementing the project on the ground. Pratik Ranjan focuses on ecological rodent management (EBRM), Shubham Jain works on the restoration of hedges and Arpan Mondal supports the implementation of alternate wetting and drying in rice cultivation. Although each has specific responsibilities, they collaborate closely, discussing challenges together and carrying out activities as a team.

Although the project itself will eventually conclude, its impact may continue through the networks and knowledge it has created. Farmers are already sharing techniques with neighbouring communities, and manuals developed during the project can be adapted for other regions. “These solutions are simple and flexible,” Mukherjee says. “That means they can potentially be used in many different countries.”

In the end, the goal is not simply to complete a project, but to initiate a broader transformation. “There is still so much potential,” she says. “But what we are seeing now gives us hope that agriculture can become both productive and sustainable again.”

What do you do when a city floods during the monsoon, yet faces water shortages in the dry season? Or when you aim to build resilient infrastructure but are confronted with challenges such as informal settlements? For many cities, climate change is exposing these urban vulnerabilities, particularly in delta and coastal areas. Yet it also presents an opportunity to make cities not only more resilient, but also more liveable. We explored what makes a climate-resilient city, and the experiences of five delta cities on the front line of climate change: Semarang, Thủ Đức, Cartagena, Chennai and Beira.

Climate change poses a direct threat to the wellbeing of billions of urban residents. In all cities, climate-related risks are on the rise. At the same time, urbanisation continues to intensify. By 2050, nearly 70% of the world’s population will live in cities. This growth is putting increased pressure on infrastructure, water, space and public health. Mitigation alone is no longer enough. We must adapt to a climate where extremes are the new normal: too much, too little, or polluted water, as well as heatwaves and droughts.

Without action, damage to urban infrastructure could reach $415 billion per year. The urban poor are hit hardest, often living in high-risk areas without adequate protection. Yet urgency also brings opportunity. By approaching cities as interconnected systems, and working with water and nature, we can build climate-resilient cities that are not only robust, but also greener, healthier and more inclusive.

What is a climate-resilient city?

A climate-resilient city can absorb shocks, adapt to changing conditions, and recover quickly from extreme weather events such as sea level rise, heatwaves, flooding or drought. Resilience goes beyond physical structures – it also applies to institutions, governance systems, and communities. Increasingly, cities are moving from a mindset of control to one of working with change. With smart design, risks can be turned into opportunities: rainwater is captured and reused, urban heat becomes a driver for green and shaded spaces, and nature is integrated as vital infrastructure. Cities that plan ahead and reduce future risks can remain liveable, even under pressure.

Nature-based Solutions and climate-resilient cities

Nature-based solutions (NBS) are approaches to societal challenges that harness natural processes, such as vegetation, soil and water. For cities, they offer an important alternative to traditional ‘grey’ infrastructure such as drainage systems and concrete flood barriers. Because they evolve with changing conditions and deliver multiple benefits simultaneously, NBS are particularly well suited to strengthening urban resilience. Examples include green roofs that reduce heat stress and retain rainwater, or city parks and mangroves that buffer water and slow down flooding. When they are well integrated into urban planning and policy, NBS can create synergy between climate mitigation and adaptation, while also enhancing liveability and biodiversity.

Despite their proven value, NBS are still applied on a relatively limited scale compared to grey infrastructure. Upscaling is essential to ensure cities can withstand increasing pressure from heat, drought and extreme rainfall. Partners for Water works from a systems perspective to maximise the benefits of these solutions, developing sustainable approaches with a strong focus on operation and maintenance.

Five climate-resilient cities around the globe

Semarang

Semarang is a fast-growing coastal city on Java’s north shore that faces some of Indonesia’s most pressing climate challenges. The city’s population has grown from around 1 million to about 1.7 million over the past twenty years. Severe land subsidence – in some areas up to 20 centimetres per year – combined with tidal flooding, flash floods and water scarcity affects residents’ daily lives. Rapid urbanisation and reliance on groundwater extraction further worsen the risks. But the tide is turning: the city aims to become climate-resilient by 2045 through long-term, integrated planning.

To tackle its water challenges, Semarang applies a mix of measures. These include rainwater harvesting in homes and shared spaces to mangrove rehabilitation along the coast, vetiver planting to prevent landslides, and early warning systems for floods and vector-borne diseases. Building on these efforts, the Water as Leverage programme, supported by Partners for Water, pilots integrated, multi-stakeholder solutions that combine NBS with conventional infrastructure and smart data technologies. By bringing together Dutch and Indonesian expertise with strong local involvement, these projects support Semarang towards becoming a climate-resilient city. Read more about Semarang.

Cartagena

Colombia’s historic port city Cartagena is under pressure. The city is growing rapidly but faces rising sea levels, flooding and extreme heat. Most of its one million residents live in low-lying areas, making them especially vulnerable to flooding. By 2050, projections suggest that sea levels around Cartagena – amplified by ongoing land subsidence – could rise by more than 30 centimetres. These predictions put even greater pressure on coastal neighbourhoods. Through the Water as Leverage programme, with support from Partners for Water, residents, local experts and city officials are working together on plans that address both climate risks and socio-economic inequality.

The projects are small in scale but strategically placed, and include water plazas, elevated walkways, mangrove restoration, and improved access to drinking water. This approach integrates all the relevant aspects: design, nature, the social and environmental aspects, as well as the economic and financial ones. By placing local ownership at the heart of the process, the city is building a strong foundation for lasting, inclusive change. Read more about Cartagena.

Thủ Đức City

Thủ Đức City in Vietnam is a city in the making. Today it has just over one million inhabitants, but by 2050 it is expected to grow to around three million residents. Situated between the Saigon and Đồng Nai rivers, the new city is highly exposed to flooding. Extreme rainfall, high river levels, land subsidence and the interaction of these factors make water management a central challenge for its development.

With support from Partners for Water, a blue-green vision has been developed. It combines natural buffers, flood retention zones and smart urban design to better manage excess water. This vision has been translated into spatial plans and policy recommendations focused on working with water, alongside digital systems that support real-time water management. Without adaptation, annual flood-related losses are estimated at nearly USD 67 million and could more than double by the end of the century. By embedding Nature-based Solutions and digital water management systems into its spatial planning, Thủ Đức aims to grow into a resilient metropolis that can withstand both climate pressures and urban pressures. Read more about Thủ Đức City.

Chennai

Chennai is a fast-growing megacity in southern India. It faces a paradox of water extremes: severe flooding during the monsoon followed by extreme drought. Simultaneously, the city is steadily losing its capacity to retain water due to paved-over infrastructure, unregulated urbanisation and polluted waterways. Chennai’s traditional water bodies, known as ‘tanks’, once held around 188 million m³ of water. Urbanisation since the early 1900s has reduced this capacity by about 7%. The remaining 93% is located mostly outside the city and is increasingly threatened by encroachment, pollution and poor maintenance. To reverse this trend, the Water Resources Department aims to triple the city’s storage capacity by 2050.

The City of 1,000 Tanks project, supported by Partners for Water, supports this goal by drawing on the city’s ancient water infrastructure. The project restores these systems and links them to new NBS such as infiltration fields, retention ponds and other green infrastructure. By capturing, filtering and slowly recharging water locally, the project tackles both water scarcity and excess. The approach is modular, scalable and rooted in local collaboration with schools, businesses and communities. Chennai shows that climate adaptation is not only about innovation, but also about reviving and revaluing traditional knowledge. Read more about City of 1000 Tanks.

Beira

Mozambique’s port city of Beira is on the front line of climate change. In 2019, it was devastated by Cyclone Idai, which damaged around 70% of the city’s housing stock. Two years later, Cyclone Eloise in 2021 left another 20,000 homes – roughly 17% – damaged or destroyed. Together, the two storms caused over USD 2.4 billion in losses. But rather than focusing solely on recovery, Beira is pursuing structural transformation. Through the Masterplan 2035, developed with support from Partners for Water, the city is investing in climate-resilient urban development: from improved drainage and wastewater treatment to coastal protection and stronger local governance.

Through public and private partnerships, Beira is building climate-resilient homes with minimal construction costs or rent-to-buy schemes. This makes safe housing accessible to residents for whom home ownership would otherwise be entirely out of reach. Simultaneously, the city is updating its municipal cadastre to improve property registration and enable the collection of property taxes. This is a long-term strategy, focused on system change in order to become a truly climate-resilient city. Read more about Beira’s system change approach.

Seven building blocks for a climate-resilient city

1.        Systems thinking and integrated approaches

Climate adaptation only works when water, infrastructure, public health and governance are seen as part of an interconnected system. It must be addressed across all spatial scales, from the pavement to the metropolitan region.

2.        Making space for water

When cities actively allocate space for water through buffers, temporary retention zones and natural systems, rainfall becomes a manageable design element. It can even become a resource for future droughts.

3.        Flexibility and adaptive capacity

A resilient city is flexible and evolves as the climate and associated risks change. This requires future scenarios, room for experimental development, phased planning, and the ability to adjust course when needed.

4.        Monitoring and data analysis

Digital tools and modelling software can help detect risks early and support an effective response. Data collection and management form the foundation for improved policy and governance.

5.        Participation and local ownership

Solutions only have lasting impact when they are supported by the local community. Local engagement ensures context-specific solutions and fosters long-term ownership.

6.        Collaboration and governance

Coordination between governments, public and private organisations, knowledge institutions and residents are crucial for implementation and lasting impact.

7.        Working with nature

By cooperating with the natural processes of vegetation, rivers or mangroves rather than trying to control them, cities can develop sustainable and flexible solutions that support both climate adaptation and urban liveability.

Partners for Water for climate-resilient cities

When we view cities as interconnected systems and choose to work with nature rather than against it, we can build urban environments that are more resilient, greener, and more liveable than ever before.

Partners for Water supports cities around the world in building climate resilience through an integrated, systems-based approach. We promote the use of NBS and advise cities on innovative and sustainable water management. In doing so, we not only address water security, but also biodiversity, food security and healthy living environments.

Our support spans strategic guidance, from policy advice and planning to capacity-building within local governments. We also fund and facilitate pilot and feasibility studies that test scalable, sustainable and innovative water solutions.

On Monday 7 July, Partners for Water hosted the India Water Platform Meeting in The Hague. The well-attended session brought together professionals from across the Dutch water sector to discuss the latest developments in Dutch-Indian water cooperation and to explore upcoming opportunities for collaboration.

Key highlights

The meeting was opened by H.E. Mrs Marisa Gerards, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to India. She shared valuable insights into the evolving partnership between the Netherlands and India, with a focus on the Strategic Partnership on Water. Two major new initiatives were announced:

• The upcoming launch of the International Centre of Excellence on Water, in collaboration with the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD). This initiative will open new doors for Dutch and Indian water organisations alike.
• Dutch involvement in the Coalition for Disaster and Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), including the development of a capacity-building programme on urban water resilience, that will become publicly accessible later this year.

Two ongoing initiatives were also presented, offering practical insights into current bilateral cooperation efforts. Mr. Jasper Leuven of the Dutch engineering consulting firm Haskoning explained about improving flood resilience in the Sundarbans.

Ms. Esmee van de Ridder (RVO – Netherlands Enterprise Agency) and Mr. Hans Gehrels (Deltares) gave a presentation about the Water as Leverage initiative for Resilient Cities in India. And last but not least, Mr. Leon Weisscher explained about Invest International and its work in India.

Upcoming activities

Participants were informed about several opportunities to stay engaged:

• A Dutch sector visit to IFAT India trade fair, taking place in Mumbai from 14–16 October 2025.
  If you are interested to visit IFAT, please contact Ms. Mirjam van Buchem for more information and registration.
• A delegation programme around the opening of the Centre of Excellence on Water, in New Delhi, planned for 17 October 2025 (date to be confirmed), aimed especially at water technology companies.
  Water technology companies can contact Mr. Steven van Rossum directly in order to express an interest and participate in a visit during the planned opening of the Centre of Excellence.

Download the presentations

The presentations shared during the meeting are now available for download:
📥 Download the presentations

Want to stay involved?

Partners for Water regularly organises platform meetings and matchmaking opportunities focused on priority countries and themes. Interested in joining future events or connecting with the India water platform? Visit our events page.

Furthermore, the Delta team in India is working on developing the Centre Of Excellence on Water. More information about this can be obtained from Mr. Sander Carpaij (Ministry of Infrastructure & Water Management), Ms. Fernanda van der Velde (RVO – Netherlands Enterprise Agency), and Ms. Nishi Pant (Ministry of Foreign Affairs).

Rapid urbanisation, industrial expansion and agricultural runoff are all contributing to deteriorating water quality around the world. According to a recent report from the European Commission, global urbanisation is the leading factor in landscape changes that are responsible for declining water quality. Rivers and lakes that once provided clean water are now at-risk due to unchecked pollutants entering water systems.

Traditional testing methods rely on periodic manual sampling, which lead to delays in detecting contamination. By the time pollution is identified, it has often already spread, making it difficult to trace its source and to take timely action. However, Planys Technologies (Planys), a company specialising in underwater inspection and monitoring solutions, is set to change that. Through the Partners for Water (PfW) subsidy scheme, Planys is pioneering real-time water quality monitoring, providing authorities with instant data, allowing them to swiftly detect, track and respond to pollution at its source.

Innovative pollution detection: real-time monitoring for cleaner water

At the heart of this innovation is a network of sensors that measure critical indicators such as nitrate levels, chlorine, pH, oxygen content and biochemical and chemical oxygen demand. These sensors transmit data instantly to a cloud-based dashboard, enabling real-time alerts when contamination levels exceed safe thresholds.

This simple, yet ground-breaking solution helps authorities to detect contamination in real time, significantly reducing response time and preventing pollutants from spreading unnoticed. Unlike many existing sensors, which are costly and often come with proprietary software that limits data accessibility, Planys is addressing these constraints by developing a fully integrated, end-to-end solution that is both affordable and scalable.
The system includes:

• Fixed in-situ sensors – Strategically placed in rivers and lakes for continuous water monitoring.
• Solar-powered systems – Providing reliable operations even in remote areas.
• Cloud-based dashboards – Delivering real-time alerts and visual data for swift decision-making.
• Customisable deployment – Adapting installations to meet location-specific challenges.

As Tanuj, the founder of Planys, says: “The biggest challenge is not just developing the technology, but ensuring its seamless deployment—making it accessible, affordable and effective for long-term monitoring.”

Selecting the right location

One of the biggest challenges in implementing such a system is not the technology itself, but rather its deployment and integration. The pilot project in India, will test the system at five carefully selected sites, chosen for both their pollution risks and potential for future scaling-up the technology. “Together with our counterparts we are selecting stakeholders who are serious about long-term adoption,” Tanuj explains.

The selection process takes into account a range of water bodies, including major rivers like the Yamuna and Ganga, which are undergoing extensive clean-up efforts. Additionally, smaller industrial zones and municipal water systems are also included to examine the technology’s adaptability across different contexts. Planys ensures that the solution is tested under a range of conditions, making it more robust and scalable. “The first five sites are critical,” says Tanuj, “as they will serve as a model for future deployments and demonstrate real-world impact.”

A three-way partnership for impact

Planys is leading the initiative in collaboration with:

• Planys BV (Netherlands): A subsidiary of Planys Technologies, specialising in marine robotics and underwater inspection for infrastructure owners in ports, municipalities and industrial plants.
• Varya Tech (India): An experienced player in marine, oil & gas and metallurgical industries, providing sensor deployment, logistics and quality assurance.
• Planys Technologies (India): A leader in marine robotics, holding 25+ patents and developing customised solutions for complex underwater inspections.

This collaboration combines technological innovation, field expertise and operational capabilities, enabling an effective and scalable solution adaptable to diverse environmental conditions.

Looking ahead: deployment and future scaling

The project is currently in the design and procurement phase, with sensor production underway. Over the next 3-4 months, the team will finalise the site selection and prepare for installation. By Q3 2025, the sensors will be fully deployed, followed by a 2-3 month testing and optimisation phase to ensure the system functions effectively in real-world conditions.The entire system is expected to be ready (including problem corrections) by Q4 2025.

However, implementing technology alone is not enough – making sure that authorities can act on the data is equally as important. To make real-time monitoring truly effective, Planys is working closely with local stakeholders to train users, integrate the data into existing regulatory frameworks and provide decision-making support. This ensures that when contamination is detected, authorities have the knowledge, tools and protocols in place to take immediate action, prevent further pollution and improve long-term water management strategies.

“By providing authorities with real-time, reliable data and the ability to act on it, we empower them to enforce regulations more effectively and ultimately improve water quality for millions of people,” says Tanuj. If successful, this initiative could serve as a model for other countries facing similar water quality challenges, paving the way for smarter, faster and more effective water management worldwide.

Innovation in progress series

As part of the Partners for Water 2022 – 2027 programme, several projects that received a Partners for Water subsidy will be followed from start to finish. Over the next few years, they will share their transformative journey providing insights into their promising solutions, innovative processes and collaborations with local partners, as well as their struggles, challenges and valuable lessons learned. Stay tuned and follow their journey through the Partners for Water website and LinkedIn page!