CFAs: Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Plan for El Niño-Affected Rural Areas (India)

Deadline: 23-Sep-2026

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is seeking partners to develop a multi-sector climate change adaptation and mitigation plan for rural Maharashtra in response to monsoon deficits and climate impacts associated with the El Niño effect. The initiative aims to assess the effects of changing rainfall patterns on drinking water, groundwater, irrigation, agriculture, household incomes, migration, food security, and health. The findings will help generate evidence for climate-resilient water governance, preparedness planning, and community-level adaptation.

About the UNICEF Maharashtra Climate Resilience Initiative

Maharashtra is experiencing increasingly variable and deficient monsoon rainfall. The strengthening El Niño effect has contributed to prolonged dry spells, high temperatures, and episodes of intense rainfall. These changing climate conditions are affecting rural communities through: - Reduced groundwater recharge. - Stress on rural drinking-water sources. - Deterioration of water quality. - Increased food insecurity. - Risks of malnutrition. - Heat stress. - Climate-sensitive health challenges. - Reduced agricultural productivity. - Pressure on rural household incomes. Children and other vulnerable communities are particularly exposed to these risks. Climate Impacts in Maharashtra The Marathwada region has been particularly affected by rainfall deficits, experiencing a 71% rainfall deficit in August. At the state level, rainfall was approximately 14–15% below normal during June to August. The resulting water stress threatens agricultural production, household food availability, and rural livelihoods. It may also increase exposure to heat-related stress and climate-sensitive diseases. Indicative Budget The indicative budget for the proposed partnership is INR 30.00000. The funding will support activities associated with assessing climate impacts, documenting community responses, generating evidence, and developing recommendations for climate-resilient water governance and preparedness. What Will the Partnership Do? The proposed partnership will conduct an interval-based assessment in 60 Gram Panchayats across Maharashtra. The assessment will take place in two phases and track conditions from the pre-Rabi to post-Rabi seasons.

The assessment will examine changes in:

- Drinking-water availability. - Groundwater conditions. - Irrigation. - Surface water. - Agricultural operations. - Household income. - Migration. - Community adaptation measures. - Coping strategies. - Stakeholder responses.

Objectives of the Assessment

The project aims to:

- Document the impacts of El Niño on rural communities. - Track changes in water security across seasonal periods. - Assess community adaptation and coping measures. - Examine impacts on agriculture and household livelihoods. - Generate evidence for climate-resilient water governance. - Support preparedness planning. - Strengthen understanding of multisector climate impacts. - Share findings with relevant stakeholders. Multi-Sector Situational Analysis The project will conduct a village-level situational analysis covering multiple sectors.

The analysis will focus on:

- Water security. - Agriculture and irrigation. - Household income. - Migration. - Drinking-water sources. - Groundwater. - Surface water. - Community responses. - Stakeholder actions. The findings will be benchmarked against seasonal progression to understand how climate and water conditions change from the pre-Rabi to post-Rabi period. Regions Covered The selected villages will represent key regions of Maharashtra, including: - Marathwada. - Vidarbha. - West Maharashtra. - North Maharashtra. This geographic coverage will allow the assessment to capture variations in climate and water-related impacts across different parts of the state. State-Level Dissemination Workshop The project will also organize a state-level dissemination workshop. The workshop will help sensitize stakeholders to the multisector impacts of El Niño and provide an opportunity to share findings from the village-level assessment. The workshop will contribute to broader discussions around climate resilience, water governance, preparedness, and community adaptation. Expected Result The expected result is a comprehensive assessment report documenting the local and temporal impacts of El Niño at household and community levels. The report will provide evidence on how changing rainfall and water conditions affect rural communities and will contribute to planning for climate-resilient water management and preparedness. Key Facts About the UNICEF Maharashtra Climate Resilience Partnership

- Organization: United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF)

- Location: Maharashtra, India

- Focus: Climate change adaptation and mitigation

- Primary climate issue: Monsoon deficits associated with the El Niño effect

- Indicative budget: INR 30.00000

- Assessment coverage: 60 Gram Panchayats

- Assessment phases: Two

- Assessment period: Pre-Rabi to post-Rabi seasons

- Key sectors: Water, agriculture, livelihoods, migration, food security, and health

- Regions: Marathwada, Vidarbha, West Maharashtra, and North Maharashtra

- Key activities: Situational analysis, climate-impact assessment, adaptation assessment, evidence generation, and stakeholder dissemination

- Expected output: Comprehensive assessment report

- Dissemination activity: State-level workshop

Frequently Asked Questions About the UNICEF Maharashtra Climate Resilience Partnership What is the UNICEF Maharashtra Climate Resilience Initiative? It is a partnership opportunity focused on developing a multi-sector climate change adaptation and mitigation plan for rural Maharashtra in response to monsoon deficits and the impacts of the El Niño effect. How many Gram Panchayats will be assessed? The project will conduct an interval-based assessment across 60 Gram Panchayats in Maharashtra. How many phases will the