The Forum for Watershed Research and Policy Dialogue (ForWaRD) is a collaborative effort of the Society for Promoting Participative Ecosystem Management (SOPPECOM), Pune, the Gujarat Institute of Development Research (GIDR), Ahmedabad and the Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in Environment and Development (CISED), Bangalore.

Its main objectives are:
	To build a comprehensive public domain and GIS-linked database on all completed and ongoing watershed development efforts.
	To develop coherent and comprehensive frameworks and indicators of watershed development success, and rigorous interdisciplinary methodologies for assessing outcomes and processes.
	To conduct multi-locational, multi-disciplinary research on pressing research questions identified in partnership with practitioners.
	To synthesise and disseminate as widely as possible key project findings through working papers, journal articles, policy briefs and popular articles.
	Actively participate in the formulation and modification of national and state level watershed guidelines, particularly in light of findings of the proposed research
	To work towards an institutionalised embedding of a minimum set of research protocols in watershed development activities.
	To create a partnership between researchers and practitioners to engage them in mutual identification of research issues and assist in the modification of research and watershed practices.

Regionally, the Forum focuses on five states in Western and Southern India, viz., Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Presently ForWaRD is supported by the Ford Foundation, Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and WaterAid India.

For further details contact:
K. J. Joy, SOPPECOM,
16 Kale Park, Someshwarwadi Road,
Pashan, Pune 411 008,
Tel: 020-25880786/6542
e-mail: soppecom@vsnl.com.