Hydrological Status and Outlook System for Integrated Water Resources Management and Climate Resilience in Bangladesh and Nepal (HydroSOS-BaNe)
- Climate Resilience and Adaptation
- Disaster Risk Reduction
- Capacity Development
- Governance
- Observations
- Data Management
- Forecasting
- Service Delivery
- Early Warnings
Project background
The Hydrological Status and Outlook System for Integrated Water Resources Management and Climate Resilience in Bangladesh and Nepal (HydroSOS-BaNe) is a four-year regional initiative approved by the Adaptation Fund to strengthen climate resilience and hydrological services in Bangladesh and Nepal. With a grant of USD 12.09 million, the project is implemented by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in collaboration with the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), and Nepal’s Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM).
The project aims to enhance countries’ capacities to monitor, assess, and communicate hydrological conditions and outlooks to support informed water resources management and climate adaptation. Bangladesh and Nepal face significant water-related risks, including floods, droughts, and increasing hydrological variability associated with climate change. Strengthening hydrological information and forecasting capabilities is therefore essential to improve preparedness, reduce disaster risks, and protect vulnerable communities.
A key focus of HydroSOS-BaNe is to strengthen national hydrological monitoring, forecasting, and early warning systems while improving the availability and use of reliable hydrological information for decision-making. The initiative supports closer coordination between meteorological and hydrological institutions, helping translate observations, forecasts, and hydrological assessments into actionable information for governments, water managers, disaster management authorities, and other stakeholders.
The project also contributes to strengthening institutional and technical capacities for integrated water resources management and climate resilience. By improving hydrological services and supporting risk-informed planning, HydroSOS-BaNe is expected to enhance preparedness for floods and droughts, support more effective water management, and contribute to the broader objectives of the Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative.
Overall, HydroSOS-BaNe represents a significant investment in strengthening hydrological services in South Asia, promoting evidence-based decisions, and building more resilient communities and institutions in Bangladesh and Nepal.
Objective(s)
The proposed project objective is to increase the climate adaptive capacities and resilience to hydro-climatic risks of the beneficiary communities in the Ganga Brahmaputra Meghna (GBM) River Basin in Bangladesh and Nepal. The project aims to strengthen community resilience by enhancing awareness and local ownership of climate change adaptation and risk reduction processes, while simultaneously diversifying and reinforcing the livelihoods of vulnerable households through the adoption of sustainable, climate-resilient livelihood strategies that secure income and promote long-term adaptive capacity to climate change events.
Outputs
- Strengthens hydrological monitoring, flood and drought forecasting, and early warning systems.
- Develops hydrological status and outlook products, risk maps, databases, and integrated information platforms to support decision-making.
- Enhances institutional and community capacities for risk assessment, preparedness, and climate adaptation.
- Promotes community-based flood and drought management measures, particularly in vulnerable areas.
- Strengthens national and regional cooperation, policy integration, and coordination among national institutions and stakeholders for sustainable water resources management and climate resilience.
Expected outcomes
- Enhanced capacity of Bangladesh and Nepal to monitor, assess, and forecast hydrological conditions and water-related hazards.
- Improved availability of reliable, timely, and actionable hydrological information for flood and drought preparedness and water resources management.
- Strengthened early warning systems and disaster preparedness, reducing risks and impacts on vulnerable communities.
- Increased community resilience through locally tailored adaptation measures and risk-informed planning.
- Improved institutional coordination and local, national and regional cooperation across the Ganga–Brahmaputra–Meghna (GBM) basin.
- Greater integration of hydrological information and climate risk assessments into national adaptation policies and sustainable development planning.
Project team
- Region:
- Region II: Asia
Implemented in
Donors
