Building Climate-Resilient Water Systems

How Frank Water is evolving to meet the challenges of climate change

Climate change is reshaping how communities access and manage water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH).  Across Asia and Africa, unpredictable rainfall, long droughts, and sudden floods are making it harder for rural and remote communities to rely on traditional water sources.

At Frank Water, climate-resilient WASH must be the central focus of how we plan, deliver, and sustain our programmes. Rather than simply providing clean water through infrastructure, we are evolving our work to strengthen the water systems that communities rely on, ensuring they can anticipate, cope with, and adapt to the challenges of climate change.

System-wide solutions

Since our early days, delivering clean water through reverse osmosis systems, Frank Water has shifted towards system-level change. Working with research and technical partners across South Asia and East Africa, we now combine hydrogeological science, traditional knowledge, and community participation to design locally led approaches that are both scientifically sound and socially equitable.

Water Security Plans: local blueprints for resilience

At the heart of our evolution are Water Security Plans (WSPs) – co-created with communities and local authorities.  These plans guide action on:

• Groundwater recharge in Maharashtra, India.
• Spring rejuvenation in Uttarakhand, India and Kavrepalanchok, Nepal
• Watershed management in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, India and in Kenya.

Each plan is designed to secure water today while building resilience for the future.

Inclusive, community-led action

Equity and inclusion remain central to our work. Women, marginalised groups, and local organisations are supported to lead decision-making and monitoring progress, ensuring that the benefits of resilience reach those most affected by water and climate risks. 

Innovation and data for better decision-making

Innovation plays a central role in making this evolution possible. Our WASH Basins Toolkit, developed with Arup, helps translate complex climate and hydrogeological data into actionable insights for communities, practitioners, and local governments. By combining technology with local knowledge, we’re enabling smarter, climate-informed water management.

Working together for climate-smart governance

Finally, we are strengthening policy and systems engagement to scale climate resilience. Through multi-stakeholder workshops, government partnerships, and our Water Dialogue Series, we share insights from the field and help integrate climate-smart approaches into local and national water governance.

Climate is water, and climate resilience is water sustainability

Through collaboration, inclusion, and innovation, Frank Water is evolving its programming to respond to climate change. As we continue to “climate-proof” our Water Security Plans, we are learning that the future of water security depends on combining science, community action, and adaptive governance. By doing so, we aim to build WASH systems that are not just reliable but resilient to the realities of a changing climate.