A number of policies plans and schemes are being announced by the central and state governments for the development of the semi-arid regions. However, development activities are not climate resilient as it has been observed that these plans, programmes and schemes do not take into consideration climate change and its impacts. Therefore, there is a need to apply the "climate change lens" to the government plans, programmes and schemes.

Development needs to be directed in a manner so as to mitigate further effects on the climate system. Mitigating climate change would mean promoting practices and enterprises which use lesser or renewable forms of energy.

Bundelkhand is a typical example of a semi-arid region. It is a socio-economically backward region in central India and straddles the states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The region has been drought hit in last four out of five years. The people in the region are extremely vulnerable to impacts of climate change, with their dependence on subsistence agriculture and livestock in climate unfriendly ways. The Bundelkhand Knowledge Platform is envisaged to fill this critical gap in relation to semi arid regions in general and Bundelkhand in particular by bringing together different stakeholders as partners in the process of integrating climate change concerns in development practices and policies.

The Development Alternatives Group has been working in this region on several aspects of development, but a need was felt to collaborate with other agencies working in the region to pool together, information and strengths as the risks of climate change have become quite widespread.

Government of India and some State governments have articulated, through initiatives such as the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) and National Missions, a vision, together with strategies, to combat the impacts of climate change. With respect to Bundelkhand, the Government of India has taken note of the special needs of the region and has announced the "Bundelkhand Drought Mitigation Package" primarily to address the vulnerability of the Water and Agriculture sector. Bundelkhand Package has made budgetary allocations for credit, watershed management, water resources, agriculture, animal husbandry, horticulture and enhancing forest regeneration. The activities identified, have potential for both adaptation and mitigation. However, the benefits can be maximised and the negative impacts reduced to a minimum if proper planning is in place. These and other such plans and packages provide a window of opportunity whereby, climate change may be integrated into the planning processes at village, district and state levels in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, utilising the forum of Bundelkhand Knowledge Platform.

The Objectives of the Platform were laid down and decided as

It was decided that the Knowledge Platform would bring out material such as policy briefs, case studies, perspective notes etc. which would help the decision makers in taking informed decisions and design sound policy. Apart from this, a compilation of materials available from various partners such as literature, tools, manuals, etc. will be maintained as a common good.

The target audience of the Bundelkhand Knowledge Platform are primarily two fold. First, the Experts were to provide critical inputs and recommendations so as to influence policy. Second, the State Government Officials would be a target in order to bring about amendments and implementation guidelines.

A number of players are involved in the development planning and implementation spheres. Each of these partners has a unique role and lessons to be shared which have potential to contribute to policy formulation and its implementation.