A global partnership for sustainable groundwater management
The groundwater challenge
Groundwater use is soaring. It is being used at unprecedented rates for irrigation, industry, and urban development. As surface water supplies dwindle, we are now making withdrawals from our subterranean water bank that cannot be sustained. This is damaging the environment and imperilling food supplies, jobs and health. Yet in some regions, groundwater remains plentiful. If managed sustainably, it has huge potential to boost agricultural production and lift millions out of poverty.
Climate change is likely to intensify our dependence on groundwater, so the need for solutions is becoming critical. Without coherent policies, attaining many of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be challenging.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach. Nevertheless with new technologies, smart governance and community action, there is huge scope for progress.
Join the GRIPP revolution
The GRIPP partnership, led by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), will strengthen, expand and connect current groundwater initiatives. Building on IWMI’s three decades of research, it will embed sustainable groundwater practices at the heart of natural resource management and the SDGs.
New members are invited to join GRIPP to:
- advance the agenda of sustainable groundwater management at a global scale, to achieve the SDGs;
- be part of a network of partners with the critical mass to confront today’s groundwater issues for the benefit of future generations;
- assist with recording and dissemination of proven technologies and approaches;
- provide a platform for guiding groundwater research and management in the long term; and
- capitalize on funding opportunities.
For more information on GRIPP contact: k.villholth(at)cgiar.org
Population pressure and increasing water competition in a changing climate require us to take stock of the availability and use of water across scales. Water availability not only influences farmers’ commercial prospects but also irrigation-related enterprises and agri-businesses. Greater water scarcity could jeopardize irrigation and agricultural markets while excessive water use can lead to declining ecosystems, water quality and soil health. IWMI advises development partners and the public and private sectors on all aspects of water resource availability and use through a variety of advanced modeling and remote-sensing products and tools, including 
The ability of farmers to engage in or expand irrigation depends on the prevailing socioeconomic, ecological and political contexts, which are often complex, non-linear and changeable. Overcoming systemic barriers to farmer-led irrigation development while taking advantage of existing opportunities 
A lack of affordable credit, particularly for women and resource-poor farmers, is one of the main barriers to expanding farmer-led irrigation in low- and middle-income countries. But 
Scaling farmer-led irrigation requires strengthening human capacity and knowledge exchange among all actors and stakeholders involved. IWMI takes an action research approach, working with national and international research institutions, governments, extension agents and public and private organizations to co-develop the scaling ecosystem and strengthen capacity to drive scaling networks and collective action. We support the