Empowering communities for sustainable water management: Insights from Justdiggit and the Paani Foundation

Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, Praha – Suchdol, 165 00, Czech Republic

^* Corresponding author: merei@fzp.czu.cz

Abstract

Community engagement is critical for effective sustainable water management initiatives because it facilitates public participation in decision- making. This study looks at Justdiggit and the Paani Foundation's community participation techniques, which are focused on water management and landscape restoration in water-stressed regions. We conduct a comparative analysis to determine the effectiveness of various initiatives in encouraging sustainable water practices and landscape restoration. Using official data and project evaluations, we assess the socioeconomic and environmental impacts of community-based water management programs. The findings reveal that, Justdiggit and the Paani Foundation actively engage the public through a variety of strategies, including community workshops, local champions, digital platforms, hands- on training, collaborative decision-making, job creation, and milestone celebration. Our findings show strong popular support and favorable effects on water conservation and community development. These findings are useful for practitioners, politicians, and researchers working to address global water concerns. Enhanced community engagement, as demonstrated by Justdiggit and the Paani Foundation, has the potential to achieve more resilient and sustainable water management solutions in the face of growing water issues.