Most Indian cities rely solely on engineering solutions for water management. However, there is growing evidence that nature-based solutions can serve as significant complementary measures providing multi-functional benefits. In some cases, they have the potential to replace traditional infrastructural interventions. When such solutions are used to address the impacts of climate change, they are called Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA). 

The overall objective of this project is to create an enabling environment to mainstream the agenda for EbA solutions as a robust and sustainable approach for water management. It seeks to address two core challenges that are faced by most cities grappling with climate change i.e. water scarcity and urban flooding.

The project is being implemented in two phases. The first phase is focused on designing practical EbA interventions for flood control and groundwater recharge in Bhubaneshwar city.  The second phase aims to scale up EbA practices within the larger cohort of Indian cities, using the learnings and outputs of the first phase.