Introduction:
Women in Sustaining the Environment (WISE) is a collaboration between Amrita University, Tel Aviv University (Israel), and ESRI India, focused on promoting sustainable water management. The project empowers women in rural communities by involving them in the selection, maintenance, and management of water resources using cost-effective technologies.
The Women in Sustaining the Environment (WISE) project was launched in response to the devastating Kerala floods of 2018. These floods caused severe environmental damage, especially in rural areas where landslides, soil erosion, and pollution of water sources became major issues. Without sustainable solutions, such disasters could worsen in the future.
The project also provides low-cost water quality monitoring systems, raising awareness and ensuring access to clean water. In collaboration with Tel Aviv University, WISE developed the “AmriTAU Protocol,” a system that combines community surveys and water testing to create a long-term, scientific database for sustainable water solutions.
Date:
April – 14, 2019
Empowering Women for a Sustainable Future: The WISE Project
The Women in Sustaining the Environment (WISE) project was launched to address critical challenges faced by rural communities, starting with the aftermath of the devastating 2018 Kerala floods. With environmental damage at its peak, topsoil erosion, diminishing tree cover, and polluted water sources—the need for sustainable, community-driven solutions became more urgent than ever.
In collaboration with Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Tel Aviv University (Israel), and ESRI India (a leader in Geographic Information Systems), WISE was developed to promote sustainable water governance. Central to this mission is empowering women, recognizing them as the primary caretakers of families and communities. Through skill training and active participation in decision-making, these women play a vital role in disaster resilience and natural resource management.
Our Approach
1. Training women as Water Ambassadors who monitor water quality and manage resources for their communities.
2. Using cutting-edge technology like the AmriTAU Protocol, which combines community surveys with sensor-based water quality monitoring.
3. Creating a scientific database for long-term water management solutions
Project Highlights
1. In Wayanad, Kerala, the WISE project trained women to monitor and mprove water quality in over 500 households.
2. In Raichur, Karnataka, Water Ambassadors reached 700 households across cotton and rice farming communities, improving sanitation and water access.
3. In Tanzania, Africa, twelve young women were trained to apply the AmriTAU Protocol, positively impacting livelihoods and economic opportunities by ensuring clean water access. By empowering women to lead these efforts, WISE is transforming communities, fostering economic growth, and enhancing environmental resilience.
Publcations
Ramesh, R., Frank, E., Padmavilochanan, A., Barda, Y., Eldar, I., Wolf, H., … & Fishman, R. (2024). Reliable Water Quality Monitoring by Women in Low-Resource Communities. ACS ES&T Water, 4(9), 3832-3841.
Ajith, V., Fishman, R., Yosef, E., Edris, S., Ramesh, R., Suresh, R. A., … & Mamane, H. (2023). An integrated methodology for assessment of drinking-water quality in low-income settings. Environmental Development, 46, 100862.
Ramesh, R., Sithara, G. S., Gireesh, G. S., Nair, R. R., Ajay, A., Von Lieries, J. S., & Bhavani, R. R. (2024). Training of Rural Women to Monitor the Water Quality at the Point of Use to Increase WASH Empowerment in Rural India. IEEE GHTC, 332–339.
Ramesh, R., Mohan, A., N. N., von Lieres, J. S., & Rao, B. R. (2023). Exploring the Role of Women in Technology-Driven Water Quality Monitoring Using a Participatory Approach. IEEE GHTC.
Ramesh, R., N. N., Mohan, A., von Lieres, J. S., & Rao, B. R. (2023). Enablers of Rural Women’s Adoption of Water Quality Monitoring Technologies for Ensuring Clean and Safe Drinking Water. IEEE GHTC.
Ramesh, R., Sithara, G. S., Nair, R. R., Gireesh, G. S., Ajay, A., von Lieres, J. S., & Bhavani, R. R. (2024). Enablers and Barriers to Improved Drinking Water Sources and Safe Water Practices in Rural India. IEEE GHTC.
PROJECT – Year: 2021 – Country -Africa
In 2021, the WISE project took off in Tanzania’s Moshi District, reaching four wards, each with 40-50 households. The villages had different water sources depending on their location, making water management a unique challenge for each community.
To tackle this, twelve young women from four villages were trained over two-and-a-half days to become Water Ambassadors. They learned to apply the AmriTAU protocol, which included surveying households on water treatment and storage practices, as well as using sensors to monitor water quality.
Women and girls were chosen for this role because they are traditionally responsible for managing water in their homes. By training them as Water Ambassadors, the project empowered them to take charge of water safety in their communities. The research team followed and supported the women in testing the protocol, ensuring they were fully prepared to carry out the work on their own.
The impact has been profound. Communities are now benefiting from cleaner, safer water, which has led to better livelihoods and new economic opportunities. This project proves that when women are empowered to lead, entire communities thrive, creating lasting change in both health and economic resilience.
PROJECT – Year: 2022 – Country -India
In 2022, the WISE project expanded to the villages of Dongarampur and Kuruvakurda in Raichur District, Karnataka, reaching around 3,600 individuals across 700 households, where cotton and rice farming are the main livelihoods. Located on the Indian Deccan Plateau, these communities rely on the Krishna River for both irrigation and drinking water. Their primary water sources include three government-provided Reverse Osmosis (RO) filters, managed by local leaders, along with piped water connections fed by a combination of Krishna River water and local borewells.
This initiative focuses on improving water quality and sanitation practices within these villages by empowering local women as Water Ambassadors. These Ambassadors, trained to monitor water quality, play a key role in ensuring access to clean water for their communities. By actively involving the community and utilizing technology, the project creates a scientific database for sustainable water solutions while promoting accountability and transparency.
This project exemplifies how empowering women can drive meaningful change, fostering sustainable development and stronger communities. Through collaboration and a shared commitment to improving water access, the WISE project continues to create lasting impacts on both individual lives and the broader community.
PROJECT – Year: 2022 – Country -India
In January 2022, the WISE project was officially launched in Nellarachal Village, Wayanad district, marking a significant step in promoting sustainable water governance and women’s empowerment. As part of this initiative, five women from the local community were selected and underwent an intensive one-month training program to become Water Ambassadors. Their training, rooted in both traditional knowledge and modern water management techniques, equipped them with the skills to monitor and maintain the water quality in their village.
These Water Ambassadors were trained to use the “AmriTAU Protocol,” developed in collaboration with Tel Aviv University, which includes both a community survey module to assess local water practices and a water quality monitoring module for accurate, scientific data collection. Armed with this innovative protocol, the Water Ambassadors began their crucial work, monitoring and testing the water quality in 500 households for a continuous period of four months.
Their responsibilities included regular water testing, identifying sources of contamination, and ensuring access to clean and safe drinking water. By empowering these women with knowledge and responsibility, the WISE project not only enhanced the health and safety of the village’s water resources but also reinforced the role of women as stewards of their environment, ensuring a more resilient and sustainable future for the community.
Conclusion
In past years, other places of intervention have included Kerala, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Himachal Pradesh in India.Overall, WISE stands as a remarkable stride towards women’s empowerment through nurturing empowered communities and cultivating sustainable development. The outcomes achieved serve as a testament to the potential for profound advances when people at the grassroots level are actively engaged as architects of their development.
