OUR
PROJECTS
Solutions on the Ground.
Our Spotlight Projects
Restoring Landscapes, Strengthening Livelihoods
Learning with Rainwater
See how rain
becomes a resource.
IRHA implements projects that turn rain into a shared resource for water security, food systems, ecosystem restoration, and climate resilience.
Our projects are rooted in IRHA’s core programmes and adapted to local contexts, geographies, rainfall patterns, and social realities, ensuring solutions respond to real needs on the ground while remaining scalable across regions.
Our Projects over Time
From the first Blue Schools to landscape-scale Rain Communities: field projects implemented with trusted local partners in each country, and rainwater activities at home in Geneva.
- 27projects since 2007
- 16countries
- 72Blue Schools built by IRHA and its partners since 2007
- 200+Blue Schools by the Swiss Water & Sanitation Consortium since 2011
- 2007–2015Rainwater for WASHCompleted
Blue Schools in Africa and Asia
The first IRHA Blue Schools: India and Mali (2007), Ghana (2009–2011), Benin, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo (2011), Burundi (2014). The concept was later taken to scale by the Swiss Water & Sanitation Consortium (200+ schools since 2011).
Discover the project2 activities
- Presented at the Swiss stand of the 5th World Water ForumIstanbul, Türkiye · March 2009
- “The Great Blue Schools Challenge” at the Swiss Pavilion of the 6th World Water ForumMarseille, France · March 2012
- 2011–2013Rainwater for WASHCompleted
Blue Schools in Kaolack
(years to confirm)
Discover the project - 2014–2021Rainwater for WASHCompleted
Blue Schools in Pokhara
(years to confirm)
Discover the project1 activity
- Workshop “Blue Schools: a case study from Nepal” at the 30th anniversary of FEDEVACO, the Vaud federation of development cooperation (Les écoles bleues : cas pratique au Népal)Vaud, Switzerland · 2019
- 2015–2017Disaster Risk & RestorationCompleted
Emergency Rain
Rainwater for schools and displacement camps after the 2015 earthquake.
Discover the project1 activity
- IRHA writes to Kathmandu Metropolitan City after the earthquake7 May 2015
- 2015 & 2018Rainwater for WASHCompleted
Blue Schools in Latin America
Mexico (2015) and Bolivia (2018).
Discover the project - 2017–2018Disaster Risk & RestorationCompleted
Rain Community Bhaktapur
Discover the project - 2017–2018Rain in the CityCompleted
Rain Poetry and workshops (Pluie de poésie)
Discover the project1 activity
- Workshops “(Rain)water and the city” for children, submitted to the Swiss Ethics Prize (HEIG-VD) (Eau (de pluie) et la ville)Geneva, Switzerland · 2016 and 2017
- 2018–2020Disaster Risk & RestorationCompleted
Rain, Forest and People
Discover the project - 2019–2021Disaster Risk & RestorationCompleted
Rain Communities Nepal – Phase 1
Discover the project - 2019–2021Disaster Risk & RestorationCompleted
Out of Earth and Rain
Discover the project - 2021–2024Rain-fed AgricultureCompleted
Women of the Land
Discover the project - 2021–2024Disaster Risk & RestorationCompleted
The Forest of the Sea
(end date to confirm)
Discover the project - 2021–2025Rain-fed AgricultureCompleted
Transition to Agroecological Ecosystems
(end date to confirm)
Discover the project - 2022–2024Rainwater for WASHCompleted
Blue Schools Chitwan
Discover the project - 2023 –Rain in the CityOngoing
PluiË
Creative activities on rainwater with cultural partners. In 2026:
Discover the project4 activities
- Exhibition “Live my rain – From here or elsewhere, rain connects us” (Vis ma pluie – D’ici ou d’ailleurs, la pluie nous relie) (Odoo gives 22 March to 17 June 2026 – end date to confirm)Jardins des Moraines, Carouge, Switzerland · from 21 March 2026 (World Water Day)
- Ceramic workshop “Shaping porous jars” with Céramiques des subsistances (Façonnage de jarres poreuses)Jardins des Moraines, Carouge, Switzerland · 17 July 2026
- Exhibition “Live my rain” and rain walk (Balade de pluie)Plage de la Savonnière, Collonge-Bellerive, Switzerland · 5 September 2026
- Rain walk and collective ceramic workshop at the Food Day “Africa at the heart of the plate” (Journée de l’alimentation « L’Afrique au cœur de l’assiette »)Ferme de Budé, Geneva, Switzerland · 17 October 2026
- 2023 –Rain in the CityOngoing
PartageÖ
Knowledge sharing on rainwater management, supported by the Geneva Federation for Cooperation (Fédération genevoise de coopération). Activities organised by IRHA:
Discover the project6 activities
- Webinar “Beyond plastic tanks!”Online · 27 June 2024
- Blue Schools webinar “900 students, 1 school, no water”Online · 19 September 2024
- Webinar “Let’s recharge the wells!”Online · 24 October 2024
- Workshop “Rainwater management: from theory to practice” (Gestion de l’eau de pluie : de la théorie à la pratique)Bujumbura, Burundi · 28–29 September 2026
- Workshop “Rainwater management: from theory to practice” (Gestion de l’eau de pluie : de la théorie à la pratique)Kaolack, Senegal · 13–15 October 2026
- Webinar with the Food Sovereignty Platform (PSA), also an FGC member: “Water at the heart of food sovereignty: what solutions for cooperation projects in Africa?” (L’eau au cœur de la souveraineté alimentaire : quelles solutions pour les projets de coopération en Afrique ?)Online · 24 November 2026
- 2023–2026Disaster Risk & RestorationOngoing
Rain Communities Nepal – Phase 2
Discover the project - 2025Rainwater for WASHOngoing
Blue Schools Sri Lanka
4 schools, 16,000-litre rainwater systems, 732 pupils and teachers.
Discover the project - 2025 –Rainwater for WASHOngoing
Support to Caritas Kasese
(start year to confirm)
Discover the project - 2025–2028Disaster Risk & RestorationOngoing
Rain Communities Sri Lanka
Discover the project - 2025–2028Disaster Risk & RestorationOngoing
Rain Communities Cambodia
Discover the project - 2025–2028Rain-fed AgricultureOngoing
Women of the Land and Rain
Discover the project - 2025–2028Rain-fed AgricultureOngoing
Transition to Resilient Territories
Follow-on to Transition to Agroecological Ecosystems.
(partner and place to confirm)
Discover the project - 2026–2029Rain in the CityOngoing
Rain Box (Boîte à Pluie)
An educational kit on rainwater for children and young people.
Discover the project - 2026–2028Rainwater for WASHOngoing
Rainwater in schools
Sharing Blue Schools practice across Alliance members.
(start date to confirm)
Discover the project - 2026–2029Rainwater for WASHIn preparation
Blue Schools Cambodia
Discover the project - NextDisaster Risk & RestorationIn preparation
Rain Community Malawi
Discover the project
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