Deadline: 5-Jul-22
The Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA) of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out the “Built Water Storage in South Asia” project to build technical and policy capacity to develop and manage built water storage in the region.
Goals
This project will:
- Increase understanding of gaps in water storage needs in the context of climate change, and increase country and regional capacity to address these gaps and optimize water use.
- Build capacity for integrated water resources management, including data collection and modeling, to address water management challenges in addition to storage gaps
- Promote transboundary cooperation to address gaps in water storage needs.
- Facilitate cross-border and regional dialogue to address gaps in water storage in the context of climate change.
- Propose and develop policy solutions to address gaps in water storage.
Program Objectives
- Climate change is reducing water resources in South and Central Asia, which creates need for more water storage and improved water management. Shrinking glaciers, over-reliance on groundwater, changes in monsoon cycle, and increasing droughts –combined with growing populations and developing economies demanding more water for energy and agriculture–have highlighted water stress, threatening sustainable development and societal stability. Increased water storage (including built storage, groundwater and nature-based solutions) combined with improved water management could strengthen regional water security. Policy, engineering, and scientific communities may not fully recognize the scope and impact of these storage gaps. This project will build the technical and policy capacity of governments, water management professionals, civil society organizations, and other relevant actors to address these water resource challenges.
- The project will be implemented in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Pakistan. At the applicant’s discretion, and if the allocated budget permits, it may also be implemented in Maldives and Sri Lanka. Please specify in your proposal which countries will be included in the project.
- Provide technical assistance to appropriate government agencies, including but not limited to Ministries of Environment, Water, Agriculture, Energy, Public Works (may vary by country), as well as relevant authorities at the state and provincial level.
- Build capacity for data collection, modeling, and remote sensing, which can equip regional stakeholders to better understand existing water resources and changing climate conditions and to optimize water use and infrastructure management.
- Facilitate engagement to explore cross-border water storage, joint data collection and sharing, and transboundary water management through technical assistance, feasibility studies, and regional dialogue.
Funding Information
- Length of performance period: up to 36 months
- Anticipated award amount: $1,280,000
Participants and Audiences
The intended beneficiaries of this project are national and provincial/local government officials in appropriate offices/departments in the targeted countries; water management, environmental and energy management, and other related professionals; faculty members and advanced students in relevant university faculties.
Priority Region: The program will take place in the following SCA countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Pakistan, and may also include Maldives and Sri Lanka.
Eligibility Criteria
Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=340132