Oxfam Transboundary Rivers of South Asia TROSA II 2023-2027

The programme has started delivering results and strengthening ties through its multi-partner network for inclusive governance of Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna river systems. The original target of the program was to reach 150,000 people through actions that contribute to climate resilience, ecosystem health improvement, capacity building and regional cooperation. According to the latest annual report more than 60% of that target has been met. Evidence of improved cooperation in governing shared water resources in the transboundary Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna River basins.? In the first two years of the programme, TROSA partners were able to strengthen people-to-people connections and informal processes for water cooperation, including the Mahakali Sambad, now connected to the Nepal Water-Energy Commission Secretariat through Oxfam in Nepal and to the various local governments in the basin through local partners. Similarly, the Brahmaputra Dialogue Process (facilitated by ICIMOD) now has participation from four riparian countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, China and India) with country chapters shaping up. Similarly, Meghna Knowledge Forum (facilitated by IUCN) was able to attract participation from officials, academics and civil society from both Bangladesh and India (with consensus shaping on Nature Based Solutions for the shared challenges of climate change). Regional institutions like SAARC and BIMSTEC have also been participating in regional dialogues of the partners ADPC and IUCN, as well as the UN Water Convention Secretariat representatives participating in TROSA events, recognising the role of the multi-stakeholder forums organised by TROSA. Bangladesh became the first South Asian country to sign up for the UN Water Convention putting South Asia in greater importance for the convention. Evidence(s) of strengthened climate resilience of riparian communities in the transboundary Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna River basins.? Contributions to climate resilience are happening at the local level through improved water supply initiatives by Women Empowerment Centres and agro-ecological capacity development of farmers (in Mahakali -Sarda Basin), influencing of the water related government agencies to support locally led erosion reduction mechanisms like the Bandals (Oxfam in Bangladesh and RDRS), supported by erosion monitoring tool of Stockholm Environment Institute (in Brahmaputra Basin) and joint-scoping of climate impact hotspots for adaptation planning (IUCN and partners) which then is being used by local partners for climate finance advocacy (CNRS and NEADS). The direct beneficiaries have surpassed 6,000 households with potential for strategic indirect benefits for the entire watersheds (like the municipalities in Rangoon River Basin or Haor regional of Bangladesh), which can benefit several hundred thousand people eventually, with improved climate adaptation and mitigation investments, especially in agriculture and fisheries sectors, as well as viable options for livelihoods diversification (like responsible tourism and associated value chains) in all target basins. Percent (%) of livelihoods options targeted in the project which demonstrated improved climate resilience Women Empowerment Centers (WECs) in Nepal successfully lobbied local governments, securing NPR 3.08 million for initiatives like climate-resilient agriculture, eco-tourism (rafting), and essential community infrastructure. Economic empowerment of women enhanced through training and support in Duna Tapari (leaf plate) production, mushroom and turmeric farming, sugarcane crushing and Gund (jaggery) production, off-season vegetable farming using polyhouses and irrigation tools. Formation of Women Economic Empowerment Centers (WEECs) strengthened women's leadership in livelihood initiatives. WECs influenced local planning and budgeting processes, particularly on gender-responsive governance. Increased evidence in government and/or private sector and riparian communities' commitment to guidelines and protecting the transboundary river ecosystems and biodiversity.? Stronger Recognition of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in the Meghna Basin: NbS is gaining momentum as a means to address various climate resilience, disaster, and societal challenges in the Barak-Meghna basin. This effort is mainly led by IUCN, NEADS, and CNRS under TROSA Phase-II. NbS is increasingly recognised by government institutions and local stakeholders as a valuable tool for climate resilience and disaster risk reduction. IUCN collaborated with Assam University (AU) in India and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) in Bangladesh, engaging the Youth for Meghna (Y4M) network to support strategy development. The methodology for strategy development is designed to be inclusive and evidence-based, combining ecosystem service assessments, land use analysis, and stakeholder consultations. A series of national expert group meetings took place in Dhaka, Bangladesh in December 2024, and in Silchar, India in March 2025. These meetings focused on co-developing the methodology and clarifying the role of expert groups in guiding the strategy and operationalising NbS in targeted districts. In Bangladesh, insights from participatory research and dialogue informed the design of the GCF-funded Wetlands-based Adaptation in South and South-East Asia (WASSA) proposal, submitted to the GCF in May 2025 with an endorsement letter from the Economic Relations Division (ERD) of Bangladesh. If approved, the project will mobilise approximately USD 35 million for implementing the NbS strategy in the Haor region. Increased evidence of targeted government and private sector actors, including riparian community members' perspectives, in their policies/plans as a result of the influencing work done by the community and partner organisations. In Bangladesh, nine community representatives (including five women fishers) successfully lobbied the Labour Reform Commission, securing recommendations for standardised wages, financial inclusion mechanisms, and equal pay in shrimp farms. Their testimonies directly influenced the Commission's final report, which now prohibits destructive fishing gear confiscation without alternative livelihood provisions. At the transboundary level, youth-developed frameworks like the Kanchanpur Declaration are informing regional governance agendas, while CUTS International's research on Border Haats has provided evidence for cross-border trade policy reforms. Institutional recognition has been secured through Nepal's Sudurpaschim Province adopting formal policies for Women Economic Empowerment Centres, with local governments now routinely incorporating WEC activities into official planning cycles. Increased number of water resource joint management plans at basin and community levels developed and implemented across and between the transboundary GBM river basins that aim to enhance cooperation and collaboration. Transboundary cooperation has been enhanced through practical, community-led initiatives. The operational Nepal-India flood early warning system in the Mahakali Basin has improved disaster preparedness for over 15,000 households, while regular Mahakali Sambad dialogues have created sustained platforms for addressing shared water governance challenges. These complement joint rafting expeditions that combine technical knowledge exchange with cultural diplomacy, fostering trust between riparian communities. Increase evidence of cooperation and collaboration on sharing relevant and timely information among cross basin communities, CSOs and Government stakeholder to reduce water related shocks and protecting biodiversity. Innovative knowledge-sharing mechanisms are closing information gaps across borders. Stockholm Environment Institute's Riverbank Erosion and Wetland Monitoring Tool (asiarivermonitoring.com) supplies hydrological data to communities and policymakers throughout the GBM basin, while CUTS International's comparative studies on Border Haats have identified replicable models for sustainable cross-border resource management. Digital youth networks sustain ongoing collaboration between basin communities, ensuring continuous exchange of best practices beyond formal project timelines. Bangladeshs inclusion as a signatory of the UN Water Convention was a highlight of the year, and those who contributed to the process have been directly and indirectly engaged and influenced throughout the year through the TROSA programme since 2018. Efforts to engage stakeholders in the region through the UN Water Convention and other agreements available in the region (including bilateral treaties, agreements and MOUs and customary laws) are ongoing, including highlighting in the Rivers Rights Resilience Forum, Brahmaputra Dialogue and Meghna Knowledge Forum.

The overall objective of the intervention is improved cooperation in governing shared water resources, strengthening resilience to climate change in riparian communities in the transboundary Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) river basins. The four expected outcomes are; 1) Strengthened climate-resilient livelihoods of communities living in the transboundary GBM river basins 2) Improved and inclusive management of transboundary river ecosystems and protection of biodiversity across the GBM river basins 3) Strengthened leadership of civil society, especially women, Indigenous People, and youth to influence government and private sector on water governance across and between the transboundary GBM basins 4) Strengthened cooperation, collaboration and accountability across and between the transboundary GBM river basins. The programme will work directly with communities in selected locations within the transboundary GBM river basins across Bangladesh, India, Nepal and also to a lesser extent in Bhutan. The direct target group is approximately 150 000 individuals (50% women) including: - Riparian communities including small holder farmers, fisherfolk, boat-dwellers and people engaged in water or natural -resource-based livelihoods - Civil society organisations representing women, youth, Indigenous communities and livelihood groups, community groups and advocacy forums, and Women Empowerment Centres - Future civil society leaders with focus on women and youth In addition to the direct target groups, the programme will engage with other stakeholders including: - Government and political stakeholders at all levels (local, state/province, national and regional) - Private sector organisations engaged in water and natural resource use and management - Academic and reserach institutions - Media organisations The programme will be implemented by Oxfam at regional and country level in collaboration with six international/regional organisations and nine national and local organisations. Due diligence of a couple of the organisations is still ongoing. The international/regional organisations are: International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Consumer Unity and Trust Society International (CUTS), Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC) where the latter three are new.