International Conference 2021

Aheeyar Mohammed has long years of experience in designing and executing multidisciplinary research and training projects in the areas of agrarian development and natural resources management with a special focus on socio-economic, and institutional issues associated with natural resources management. He has served many leading government sector organizations, donor agencies, NGOs, and the private sector. He is currently a Researcher at the International Water Management Institute, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Anisha Karn is a specialist in technology management and design solutions for merging markets. She has engaged in providing solutions in the IT, Telecom and WASH, sectors in both Nepal and Indian markets. Anisha has been leading SmartPaani’s water and sanitation business in Kathmandu, Nepal since 2015. SmartPaani is an enterprise working in WASH since 2011. Through its interventions, SmartPaani works toward providing affordable accessibility of safe and clean water to different segments of society. Currently, she is the Chief Executive of SmartPaani, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Han Heijinen is a senior environmental health professional operating in policy and strategy development at the national and regional level in South Asia. Since 1982 Han Heijnen has been living in several Asian countries and has served the Governments of Nepal and Sri Lanka, jointly with WHO, UNICEF, and other national and international NGOs and Knowledge Management Institutions. He has contributed as a mentor for many junior and mid-level professionals. Among his contributions include implementing successful and sustained community water supply and sanitation programmes, and associated infrastructure for development (roads, bridges, irrigation) in Nepal and Sri Lanka, developing and application of community management and participatory processes in urban or urbanizing areas for local improvement in water, sanitation and promoting affordable rainwater harvesting systems in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal leading to large scale adoption by households for water security, and acceptance by development professionals. Han is currently the Vice-President of External Relations of the International Rainwater Catchment Association and in 2015 he was elected as President of the International Rainwater Harvesting Alliance, based in Geneva.

Prakash Amatya has made key contributions as a development practitioner in policy advocacy in the WASH sector. He has long years of experience in rainwater harvesting and conservation of freshwater. Prakash is adept in understanding environmental issues in the perspective of the needs and limitations of businesses, municipalities, and non-profits. Currently, Prakash is a Technical Advisor to GUTHI a nonprofit organisation promoting rainwater management practices and techniques in Nepal.

Rajindra Ariyabandu is a development researcher with a special interest in water resources management and community development. He has served several key international institutions such as the Global Water Partnership, UNEP etc., on water resources management and disaster risk management in the Asia Pacific region contributing to research and policy advocacy. Ariyabandu has authored several publications and research papers on rainwater harvesting, water governance and policy. Currently, he is the Chairman of the Lanka Rainwater Harvesting Forum.

Dr Suresh Kumar Rohilla is a development practitioner and has served many leading international and national NGOs including the Worldwide Fund for Nature, INTACH – Natural Heritage Division and academic institutes such as the University of Bradford, ASCI – India. He has served in many government organisations such as National Capital Region Planning Board, State / Local Governments in India. Dr Rohilla has contributed towards establishing a partnership with both government and non-government key water and sanitation actors in Africa (Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania) and South Asia (Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka). Currently, he is associated as Senior Director at the Centre for Science & Environment – a New Delhi based global think tank. He is also the Academic Director at CSE School of Water and Waste.

Dr Sarika Kulkarni is a development practitioner, academic and author. She has served as a professor at leading business schools in Mumbai, initiated and scaled up an ITES business, and makes her mark by starting and establishing Raah Foundation. Raah Foundation is an NGO that has directly impacted over 30,000 indigenous people by making their village’s water secure, creating agriculture and art-based entrepreneurial opportunities, facilitating health interventions and helping them adapt and mitigate climate change. Dr Kulkarni’s contributions to development have won the recognition of many national and international organisations. She serves on several important national and international councils and Think Tanks. Currently, Dr Kulkarni is the Founder and Chief Executive Director of Raah Foundation.

Dr Polanki Sivaram is a development researcher and a trainer with long years of experience in the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Hyderabad, India. He has contributed towards enhancing the capacity of multi-stakeholders on various themes of Rural Development including drinking water and sanitation by organising over 175 National and International training programmes including workshops, seminars and exposure visits. Dr Sivaram has also contributed as a researcher for several research projects on different aspects of Rural Development. Currently, Dr Sivaram is working as a freelance consultant on drinking water and sanitation in India.

Dr Tanuja Ariyananda is a hydro biologist with a passion to promote and campaign for sustainable water resources management. Dr Ariyananda has steered the Lanka Rainwater Harvesting Forum since its inception for over 25 years. She has also served as a Member of the Ministerial Committee for Developing Policy and Strategy for Rain Water Harvesting in Sri Lanka 2005 and the Past President (2008-20012), and Secretary-General Director Women’s programme of International Rainwater Catchments Systems Association. Dr Ariyananda has authored several publications and research papers at national and international forums. Currently, she is the Chief Executive Officer/Director of the Lanka Rain Water Harvesting Forum (LRWHF).

Roseleen Gurung is a development practioner with long years of expereince in working with disadvantaged and remote rural communities on livelihood, poverty alleviation, climate change & green technologies and women empowerment. She currently serves as the Director of Programmes at the Tarayana Foundation, Bhutan.

Syed Zaheer Hussain Shah Gardezi has long years of experience in the public service of Pakistan. He has contributed to Planning, Designing, Execution and Monitoring of Social Development Programs for developing physical Infrastructure, including WASH, Community Schools and Rural Access Roads. Syed Zaheer Gardezi has held key positions and has worked with multi-stakeholders. He has served in the capacity of State Coordinator “Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Program” for AJK, Project Director, OFID-Assisted “Rain Water Harvesting Project”, Senior National Advisor to Economic Affairs Division (EAD) Govt. of Pakistan and Director General (DG) LGRDD GoAJK. Federal & Provincial Ministries, Planning Commission, donors such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, UNICEF, UNDP and international organisations.

Prof. C.S. Weeraratne has extensive experience as an academic and as a development practitioner in agriculture and water resources management. Professor Weeraratne has served as the Head, Dept. of Agronomy, Ruhuna University the University of South Pacific, Professor and Head, Dept. of Soils and Water Resources Management, of the Faculty of Agriculture, Rajarata University and Chairman of Sugarcane Research Institute Sri Lanka. He is currently a board member of the Lanka Rainwater Harvesting Forum.

Dr S.K Weragoda is a charted engineer and has long years of experience in groundwater pollution, water treatment plant design, construction and operation. He has collaborated in several international research initiatives of China, Singapore, South Korea, India, Thailand, the United Kingdom, Australia and many other countries. He also serves as a visiting Lecturer in many national universities such as the University of Peradeniya, the University of Rajatara and the University of Uwa Wellassa in Sri Lanka. Currently, he is serving as the Project Director of the China Sri Lanka Research Grant Project attached to the Ministry of Water Supply, Sri Lanka.

Han Heijinen is a senior environmental health professional operating in policy and strategy development at the national and regional level in South Asia. Since 1982 Han Heijnen has been living in several Asian countries and has served the Governments of Nepal and Sri Lanka, jointly with WHO, UNICEF, and other national and international NGOs and Knowledge Management
Institutions. He has contributed as a mentor for many junior and mid-level professionals. Han is currently the Vice-President of External Relations of the International Rainwater Catchment Association and in 2015 he was elected as President of the International Rainwater Harvesting Alliance, based in Geneva.

Kusum Athukorala has worked extensively as a consultant, researcher, and activist on development issues. Currently, her special interests include impacts of water transfers out of agriculture and post-tsunami river sand mining on rural sector in Sri Lanka and capacity building in the water sector.
A long-term researcher, specifically on gender and water, she is part of several international water organisations, capacity building and promotion of allied issues. She has also worked as an adviser and consultant for water-related programmes. Currently she is a regional council member of the Global Water Partnership South Asia.

Md. Motaleb Hossain Sarker has long years of extensive experience in water resources, climate change impacts, water supply & sanitation, agriculture water management, arsenic & water quality monitoring and ecological monitoring for environmental management. He is also a development planner at national and international level organisations. He has also worked as Director Ecology, Forestry and Biodiversity division and Agricultural and Fisheries Division of CEGIS. He is currently the Director to Centre for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS).

Dr Polanki Sivaram is a development researcher and a trainer with long years of experience in the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Hyderabad, India. He has contributed towards enhancing the capacity of multi-stakeholders on various themes of Rural
Development including drinking water and sanitation by organising over 175 National and International training programmes including workshops, seminars, and exposure visits. Dr Sivaram has also contributed as a researcher for several research projects on different aspects of Rural Development. Currently, Dr Sivaram is working as a freelance consultant on drinking water and sanitation in India.

Rajindra Ariyabandu is a development researcher with a special interest in water resources management and community development. He has served several key international institutions such as the Global Water Partnership, UNEP etc., on water resources management and disaster risk
management in the Asia Pacific region contributing to research and policy advocacy. Ariyabandu has authored several publications and research papers on rainwater harvesting, water governance and policy. Currently, he is the Chairman of the Lanka Rainwater Harvesting Forum.

Dr Tanuja Ariyananda is a hydro biologist with a passion to promote and campaign for sustainable water resources management. Dr Ariyananda has steered the Lanka Rainwater Harvesting Forum since its inception for over 25 years. She has also served as a Member of the Ministerial
Committee for Developing Policy and Strategy for Rain Water Harvesting in Sri Lanka 2005 and the Past President (2008-20012), and Secretary- General Director Women’s programme of International Rainwater Catchments Systems Association. Dr Ariyananda has authored several publications and research papers at national and international forums. Currently, she is the Chief Executive Officer/Director of the Lanka Rainwater Harvesting Forum (LRWHF).

Prof. C.S. Weeraratne has extensive experience as an academic and as a development practitioner in agriculture and water resources management. Professor Weeraratne has served as the Head, Dept. of Agronomy, Ruhuna University the University of South Pacific, Professor and Head, Dept. of Soils and Water Resources Management, of the Faculty of Agriculture, Rajarata University and Chairman of Sugarcane Research Institute Sri Lanka. He is currently a board member of the Lanka Rainwater Harvesting Forum. Prof. C.S. Weeraratne has extensive experience as an academic and as a development practitioner in agriculture and water resources management. Professor Weeraratne has served as the Head, Dept. of Agronomy, Ruhuna University. Later he joined the University of South Pacific and subsequently functioned as Professor and Head, Dept. of Soils and Water Resources Management, of the Faculty of Agriculture, Rajarata University and Chairman of Sugarcane Research Institute Sri Lanka. He is currently a board member of the Lanka Rainwater Harvesting Forum.

The event will be held on three consecutive afternoons from 2 pm. to 6 p.m. (India Standard Time) on the 14th, 15th, and 16th of September 2021 (Tentative) and will take the format of a hybrid conference. The conference will be coordinated from the Rain Centre at the Lanka Rainwater Harvesting Forum premises in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

While a limited number of participants will join physically from the host country other participants will join the conference virtually via zoom and live streaming on Facebook. The organizers will facilitate/support country-level Focal person/organization to invite relevant representatives to host small country level gatherings to join the event online.

Each country-level meeting will engage relevant policymakers and relevant local government and ministerial level representatives to attend the country level meeting. Participation of policymakers at the country level meetings.

Each country representative to submit a proposal with an estimated budget specifying the venue, invitees, connectivity cost etc., for organizing the country level gathering.

The conference will provide an opportunity to share research findings, success stories and innovations related to the following main broader thematic areas.

1. Rainwater harvesting for water supply (urban and rural)
2. Rainwater harvesting for home gardening and small-scale agriculture.
3. Rainwater harvesting for disaster situations.
4. Rainwater harvesting technology innovations.
5. Business opportunities in RWH for SMEs
6. Rainwater harvesting for health and water quality

The conference organizers will also enable an online submission system of abstracts and papers.

On the third day of the event with the participation of the members, we aim to develop together a 3-year action plan for SARNET focusing on developing its capacity, developing linkages with policymakers and national/local RWH initiatives, supporting the promotion of good practice, etc. The objective is to develop SARNET because it represents respected Rainwater Harvesting agencies in the South Asia Region and its quality of vision becomes a voice for activating rainwater solutions benefitting all.