The global population is projected to reach approximately 10 billion by 2050, necessitating a 70% increase in food production to meet the rising demand. Concurrently, water demand is expected to soar, with climate change exacerbating challenges through irregular rainfall patterns, impacting groundwater recharge and runoff. In South and Southeast Asia, where agricultural innovators are scaling up, this could lead to significant water scarcity.

In response, a water availability dashboard for two river basins in the South and Southeast Asia (S/SEA) region has been developed. This tool provides crucial information on water availability within the basins and sub-basins, with forecasts for 2025, 2030, and 2035. The forecasts are based on baseline data from 2010 to 2020.

The dashboard is designed to assist WE4F’s donors, innovators, and stakeholders in predicting water availability, enabling them to determine whether interventions are necessary for scaling up or establishing innovations in the river basins. It offers a comprehensive visualization and description of the river basin, detailing challenges, hydroclimatic conditions, seasonal water availability analysis, and recommendations. The methodology adopted in the dashboard’s development is also explained.

Key features of the dashboard include:

• Available Water: Water remaining for anthropic uses after deducting all consumptive uses from non-manageable land use categories like forests.
• Utilized Water: Water already used for various activities.
• Utilizable Water: The portion of available water not yet committed and available for new uses, which is used to compute the incremental irrigation area.
• Groundwater Depletion: Data on groundwater depletion.

This data-driven dashboard provides stakeholders with the information needed to create awareness in sensitive areas, plan for sustainable water usage, and introduce innovative solutions to prepare for possible water shortages. Farmers and communities can utilize this information for crop planning and irrigation practices, helping to mitigate risks associated with water scarcity.

Innovators can leverage the dashboard to plan expansions in the river basin based on utilizable water. This information can serve as an early warning system for farmers, prompting thoughtful planning and the adoption of water-saving innovations.

For government entities, the dashboard aids in decision-making by providing data-driven insights for resource and fund allocation, policy development, and fostering collaboration and innovation in areas with the greatest needs and impacts.

By showcasing this dashboard, WE4F South and Southeast Asia Regional Innovation Hub underscores its commitment to sustainable water management and agricultural innovation.

Join us in our journey towards sustainable water management. Stay informed, get involved, and help make a difference. For more information, contact Bijay Thapa at bijay.thapa@tetratech.com.