The transboundary Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) basins provide for food, water, and energy to a very large population. However, unregulated infrastructure developments, unsustainable land use practices, and climate change pose a threat to the river system. Conflicts over natural resources cause poverty and marginalization of riverine communities, with women being adversely affected by how water resources are managed, having to deal with flash floods, temporary displacement and other water related shocks, including water scarcity in summer months. The women in these villages have no voice, platforms, organization or unions to influence the decision making at the local or state level. The Transboundary Rivers of South Asia (TROSA) is a five-year (2016-2021) regional programme that, embracing a gender and human rights-based approach, facilitates communities’ participation in water governance by helping them advocate for their rights and shape decision making.
Region