India’s ‘The Godavari Initiative’ Showcased as a Place-Driven Model for Collective Water Stewardship at AWS Global Forum 2025

TGI featured in the session on Collective Action, which explored emerging models of collaboration across geographies, sectors, and governance systems.

Representing Diageo, a founding partner and Basin Champion- David Onyango, Global Partnerships & Advocacy Manager, shared insights on how the initiative is evolving as a basin-scale effort in India’s Godavari River Basin, one of the country’s most vital and complex river systems.

The presentation highlighted TGI’s three-pillar framework:

• Gyan (Knowledge)

• Karm (On-ground Implementation)

• Jan (Community Engagement and Awareness)

This structure enables multi-stakeholder partnerships across government, industry, and local communities to address interconnected challenges such as groundwater depletion, biodiversity loss, and fragmented governance.

Key examples included:

• Nature-based Solutions (NbS) pilots on afforestation, wetland rejuvenation, and groundwater recharge

• Formal engagement with district, state, and national government agencies

• The launch of the WaterWise Platform to promote water stewardship among MSMEs

TGI’s role in supporting a more sustainable Simhastha Kumbh 2027 in Nashik, through collaboration with the Nashik Municipal Corporation, was also highlighted. The Kumbh Mela is one of the world’s largest religious gatherings, drawing millions of pilgrims to sacred rivers across India. The initiative presents a unique opportunity to align ecological restoration with cultural and civic planning at scale, ensuring that environmental sustainability is embedded in the event’s infrastructure and legacy.

The session concluded with a call for corporations to actively engage in basin-level transformation by investing in long-term, trust-based partnerships that drive systemic impact.

About AWS Global Water Stewardship Forum

The AWS Global Water Stewardship Forum is a premier international platform for advancing water stewardship. It brings together members, implementers, and practitioners to share insights, reflect on evolving practices, and explore new directions through dialogue and collaboration.

About The Godavari Initiative

The Godavari Initiative (TGI) is a multi-stakeholder platform dedicated to sustainable river basin management in India. It unites corporates, government agencies, civil society, and communities to restore the Godavari River through nature-based solutions, data-driven planning, and inclusive engagement.

Contact:
The Godavari Initiative

secretariat@thegodavariinitiative.in
https://thegodavariinitiative.in/