Water to Wealth: Promotion of Small Irrigation Systems for Rural Livelihoods December 2026 Batch
India’s rainfed regions support a large share of the country’s smallholder and tribal farmers and contribute significantly to food production. Despite receiving substantial seasonal rainfall, these regions continue to face agricultural vulnerability because water is inadequately captured, stored and distributed beyond the monsoon period. In the context of increasing climate variability, decentralised irrigation has become critical for enhancing agricultural productivity, strengthening livelihood resilience and improving water security for rural communities.
Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) working in these regions are important actors in watershed development, community mobilisation and natural resource management. However, consultations with practitioners reveal a critical capacity gap. While many organisations are able to create water-harvesting structures, they often lack the technical and institutional capabilities required to assess irrigation potential, design small irrigation systems, access government support mechanisms and establish sustainable community-led management. As a result, water conservation efforts frequently do not translate into improved irrigation and livelihood outcomes.
Who should attend?
Project managers and frontline functionaries of CSOs who work on the ground to guide the implementation of irrigation projects, preferably with more than 3 years of experience.
| Day/Theme and topic covered | Number of sessions |
|---|---|
| Critical perspective on irrigation in rainfed areas | 4 |
| Diagnosis — reading the landscape | 4 |
| Engineering design — life irrigation, diversion-based irrigation and earthen tank systems | 4 |
| Field immersion | 4 |
| Integrated design studio | 4 |
| Construction, commissioning and O&M | 4 |
| Social, institutional and sustainability aspects | 4 |
| Project preparation and assessment | 4 |
Eligibility and selection
All applicants must possess a working knowledge of Hindi and English, and Basic Arithmetic skills. Applicants will be shortlisted based on their applications followed by a telephonic interview.
Important dates to remember
Last date of application for First round: 15 Oct 2026
Last date of application for Second round: 30 Oct 2026
Last date for fee payment: 15 Nov 2026
Pedagogy
The course will be transacted through interactive discussion, small group activities, videos, hands on exercises, case stories, exposure visits, etc.
Medium of instruction
A mix of English and Hindi. The course will be conducted face-to-face only. Course materials will be available in English.
Course faculty
The course will be facilitated by Manas Kr Satpathy, Binju Abraham , Prabhat Kr Jha, Pankaj Kumar & Sumit Sow faculty members of Azim Premji University and a pool of noted resource persons from across India.
Certificate of participation
The participants will be awarded a Certificate of Participation after successfully attending all the days and submitting assignments.
Get in touch: water.course@apu.edu.in
Course Faculty
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Binju Abraham
Binju is a faculty at the School of Continuing Education – University Resource Centre (SCE-URC), Azim Premji University. He contributes to the University’s work on rural livelihoods and the design and delivery of practice-based learning programmes for civil society organisations, practitioners, and government functionaries.With over 25 years of experience at PRADAN, one of India’s leading…
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Prabhat Kumar Jha
Prabhat Kumar Jha works on rural livelihoods, sustainable agriculture, water resource management, climate resilience, and community institutions. At the School of Continuing Education, Azim Premji University, Ranchi, he contributes to the design and delivery of practice-based learning programmes for development professionals, civil society organisations, and government practitioners. His work draws on nearly two decades of experience across civil society, government, and CSR sectors, supporting initiatives in sustainable agriculture, decentralised irrigation, watershed development, farmer collectives, and climate adaptation. He is particularly interested in strengthening rural livelihoods through ecological approaches, improved water management, regenerative farming practices, and community-led institutions that enable equitable and sustainable development.
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Pankaj Kumar
Pankaj Kumar is a passionate development practitioner with nearly fifteen years of experience in managing water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programmes, strengthening local institutions and promoting health, wellbeing, and community resilience. Pankaj’s work sits at the intersection of public health and sustainable development, with a strong emphasis on the health-WASH nexus and community‑driven approaches that create long‑lasting impact.
Fee Structure
| INR 11505 | For individuals from non-partner organisations |
|---|---|
| INR 1770 | For individuals from partners of Azim Premji Foundation, including field practice partners of Azim Premji University. |
*This fee includes GST.
*Accommodation and food will be borne by Azim Premji University.