About IWMI

IWMI is a research-for-development (R4D) organization, with offices in 13 countries and a global network of scientists operating in more than 30 countries. For over three decades, our research results have led to changes in water management that have contributed to social and economic development.

Our Solutions

Farming has often been quoted as one of the noblest professions, shouldering the responsibility of feeding the world. At the same time, it has been globally identified as one of the professions under the most threat in the face of climate change resulting in a higher degree of vulnerability for farmers as compared to the general population. 

An estimated 750 million people in South Asia are being exposed to various climate hazards coupled with poverty, limited access to resources and technical skills, with agriculture being identified as the most vulnerable sector. Different technologies and solutions have emerged over the past few decades to enhance the adaptive capacity of farmers in the face of climate change. Still, the use of these technologies in isolation has limited the advent of a holistic solution. Bundling these solutions, however, has emerged as an effective hedging strategy to transform agricultural practice and provide climate safety nets among smallholder farmers. 

IWMI, CGIAR CCAFS, CGIAR WLE, ICAR and its private sector partners (i.e., Seed and Insurance companies) conducted pilot trials in India and Sri Lanka to promote innovations in bundled solutions among vulnerable smallholder farmers in order to transform agricultural risk management. The main objective of the pilots has been to provide Bundled Solutions of Index Insurance with Climate Information and Seed Systems to manage Agricultural Risks (BICSA). By bundling agricultural solutions and insurance, the insurance premium costs could be reduced and build resilience among vulnerable smallholder farmers. IWMI is presently developing service model for scaling to benefit millions of farmers to cope with climate shocks and enhance livelihood resilience in South Asia.